Nadur Youngsters back on top as Kerċem climb to third place

Nadur Youngsters returned to the top of the standings while Kerċem Ajax were back to winning ways to move up to third place at the end of Match Day Eight of the GFA Division One.

Nadur earned their sixth win in the championship with a 3-0 victory over Victoria Hotspurs.  The Hotspurs shared play during the first half hour as they seemed determined to extend their positive run.

But the Citizens failed to capitalise from the early chances and compromised the result by conceding two goals towards the end of the first half.

Nadur took the lead through a close-range shot by Joseph Xerri before Manwel Tabone headed in the second goalf from an unmarked position just before the break. 

After the break, Nadur controlled Victoria’s reaction and sealed the win with a third goal from Marcelo Barbosa four minutes from time

Kerċem Ajax defeated Xewkija Tigers courtesy of a goal scored during the first part of the encounter. 

The match was a direct clash between two teams who were in a mid-table position and both needed a win in their ambition to secure a place in the championship pool for the second phase of the season.

The match was well-contested but produced few scoring opportunities. 

Kerċem scored the only goal of the match on 14 minutes when Gabriel Cardona was at the right place to fire the ball home from a Marcos Soares Da Silva cross.

,Xewkija could have score a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time but a shot by Matthias Mercieca ended just over the crossbar.

GFA Division Two

St Lawrence Spurs moved away from the relegation places when they edged past Xagħra United 1-0.

Jurgen Mario Portelli netted the all-important goal on 55 minutes.

Xagħra failed to live up to their expectations and during the final stages they also became nervous when substitute Christian Debono was shown a red card in the third minute of stoppage time for fighting.

Żebbuġ Rovers obtained a 3-0 win over Għarb Rangers. 

With this win, Żebbuġ bounced back from two consecutive defeats while Għarb conceded their first defeat after three draws. 

Żebbuġ’s win matured with three goals scored during the second half through a brace by Lorenzo Atzori (52, 67) and a goal by Eric Gauci (65).

NEXT FIXTURES

PLAYING ON FRIDAY

GFA Division One

Victoria H. vs Għajnsielem     19.00

PLAYING ON SATURDAY

Kerċem Arkafort Stadium

GFA Division Two

SK Victoria W. vs Għarb R.    13.00

Munxar F. vs St Lawrence S. 15.15

Gozo Stadium

GFA Division One

Nadur Y. vs Victoria H.           14.00