Għajnsielem and Victoria Hotspurs extend their winning form

Għajnsielem and Victoria Hotspurs maintained their positive run of late when they had the better of Oratory Youths and Sannat Lions respectively

On the other hand, SK Victoria Wanderers and Xagħra United boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with victories over Kerċem Ajax and Xewkija Tigers respectively.

Għajnsielem were in rampant form as they crushed Oratory Youths 6-1 to strengthen their grip on top spot.

For the Blacks this was their seventh successive win in what has been an impressive campaign so far despite the fact that coach Daniel Bogdanovic continues to rotate his players from one match to the other.

Oratory Youths managed to contain Għajnsielem for much of the opening half hour, but once the Black scored there was no stopping them.

Għajnsielem took the lead after 33 minutes when Sebastien Martinez Turizo backheeled the ball into the net.

Four minutes later, Rodney Buttigieg made it 2-0 with a close-ranged shot.

Nine minutes into the second half, Għajnsielem added a third goal through Turizo before Jhon Arboleda Valencia made it a 4-0 following a personal action.

Oratory were clearly struggling and Dejan Bogdanovic fired the ball home on 70 minutes.

Seven minutes from time, Oratory pulled a goal back when Jurgen Portelli was floored by Adrian Parnis and from the spot Rafael Ledesma made no mistake.

Għajnsielem wrapped up the points in stoppage time with a low shot by substitute Kurt Grima.

Victoria Hotspurs remained four points adrift of leaders Għajnsielem after a 3-1 win over Sannat Lions.

The Hotspurs were the better side throughout and paved their way to a win with two goals scored in the first half netted by Shaun Attard on 27 and 37 minutes. 

Spectacular goal

Sannat tried to hit back and reopened the match with a Brandon Said goal on 57 minutes.

The Hotspurs soon regained possession and Christian Mercieca was unlucky to see his shot hitting the upright.

Victoria wrapped up the points on 70 minutes with a spectacular overhead kick goal from Paulo Santos De Azevedo.

SK Victoria Wanderers bagged three precious points following a 3-1 win over Kerċem Ajax to move three points clear of the relegation zone.

Kerċem were favourites to bag all three points as they were coming from a string of impressive results that saw them climb in the top part of the standings.

But the Wanderers had other plans and took the lead on 36 minutes courtesy of a goal from Aud-Gustine James Obaje.

The Ajax’s hopes of a comeback were all but ended by Gabriel Cardona who netted a brace on 78 and 83 minutes.

The Wanderers ended the match with ten men when Neil Camilleri was sent off for elbowing on Anthony Zammit inside the area and the referee also awarded a penalty.

Samuel Saldanha made no mistake from the spot but it was too little too late for Kerċem.

Xaghra United registered the biggest surprise of the weekend after defeating Xewkija Tigers  3-1. 

With this win, Xagħra also earned their first points in the championship and reopened their hopes that they may still avoid relegation.

It looked as though Xewkija were heading to a win when Jake Saliba put them ahead after five minutes.

Xagħra, however, had a strong reaction and managed to turn the result in their favour before the break with goals from Etienne Xiberras (29) and a header by Savio Galea (44). 

Xewkija’s reaction was sterile after the break and Xagħra continued to be dangerous and went on to seal the points with a third goal on 72 minutes scored by Felipe Rodrigues De Souza Santos. 

Felipe could have had another goal in stoppage time but his shot came off the upright.