Action from the Zebbug Rangers-Rabat Ajax match at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Vittoriosa Stars 7
Gudja United 0

Vittoriosa chalked up their third consecutive win to continue with their march at the top positions of the standings. On such form, Vittoriosa should rank among the main contenders for promotion out of the division at the end of the season.

Gudja must improve if they want to avoid the drop. Yesterday, they were penned inside their own half for most of the 90 minutes.

Richard Mercieca’s side forged ahead on 17 minutes and what a goal it was. A Clive Spiteri shot was partially stopped by Daniel Balzan, the ball ran into the path of Milan Lukic whose cross was headed home by Steven Meilaq.

Four minutes later, Lukic fed Sheldon Grech whose first-time effort just missed the target but the Stars soon made it 2-0. A Lukic cross was punched away awkwardly by the Gudja keeper and Miljan Milovojev was on the right spot to head home.

Vittoriosa almost made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time but Milivojev headed just wide from a Lukic cross.

The second half was a nightmare for Renzo Kerr Cumbo’s Gudja as Vittoriosa applied an extra gear to romp to victory.

Liam Gauci, put through by Meilaq, slotted the ball past Balzan and right on the hour it was 4-0 as Milovojev chipped the ball inside an empty net with Balzan out of position.

Michael Camilleri hit the ball home from close range for the fifth goal and 14 minutes from time the Gudja substitute did it again when he controlled a Charles Newuche cross before firing home.

Camilleri turned provider on 79 minutes when he released Newuche who hit home from close range.

Vittoriosa Stars: K. Magri, R. Previ (J.C. Galea), C. Spiteri, D. Fava, A. Galea, S. Grech (M. Camilleri), L. Gauci, M. Lukic, S. Meilaq (G. Sultana), M. Milivojev, C. Newuche.

Gudja: D. Balzan, I. Cachia, G. Chircop, J. Maulgve, D. Martini (K. Xherdan), B. Bondin (S. Buttigieg), A. Agius, D. Pirotta, J. Clifford (J. Waseem), M.Schembri, B. Cassar.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Milan Lukic (Vittoriosa Stars).

Żebbuġ Rangers 0
Rabat Ajax 1

A Brandon Micallef goal four minutes from time handed Zebbug their second loss of the season as Rabat were back to winning ways.

The first action on goal was created by Rangers when Diego Pereira Fernando tried his luck from outside the box, the keeper stopped with the danger cleared away by the Magpies rearguard.

Rabat went close when the ball fell kindly to Chris Vella who from the edge of the area drove his shot high and wide.

On 38 minutes Rangers almost opened their account when Angelo Catania and Periera Fernando exchanged passes with the latter hitting just over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time Periera Fernando hit a first-time effort which was saved by Rabat keeper Jamie Azzopardi.

On resumption both sides continued sharing play and a David Azzopardi cross-shot was saved by Justin Spiteri. Zebbug hit back immediately when first a Sergio Hili drive finished just wide and the same fate then happened to Catania from an acute angle.

A Joseph Caruana strike was turned to a corner by Spiteri.

Zebbug were unlucky when they were denied by the woodwork twice. Kurt Zammit released Hili who turned well but his grounder from the edge of the area hit the foot of the upright. From the rebound Pereira Fernando blasted the ball against the bar.

Then, with four minutes to go, Rabat scored the winner.

From an Adam Smeir free-kick, Wayne Borg hit the crossbar and from the rebound Brandon Micallef poked the ball home.

In time added on Borg sprinted clear and looked like he was going to double the score but Spiteri foiled him with a timely save.

Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, R. Bakare, K. Sacco (K. Vella), G. McKay, K. Zammit, A. Catania, T. Paris (C. Pace), M. Gauci, D. Tabone (S. Hili), L. Galea, D. Pereira Fernando.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, F. Azzopardi (W. Borg), B. Micallef, C. Vella, A. Smeir (Z. Tanti), D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, D. Azzopardi.

Referee: Etienne Mangion.

Man of the match: Lawrence Chiedozie (Rabat Ajax).

Standings