Title challengers held to a draw, Għajnsielem secure win

Three of the four matches from GFA Division One ended goalless, while Għajnsielem scored the only goals of the weekend so there were no changes at the top half of the standings.

Għajnsielem moved out of the red zone while bottom-placed Oratory Youths bridged the gap from fellow relegation rivals Xagħra United by a point.

League leaders and champions Nadur Youngsters were held to a goalless draw by Kerċem Ajax so that the former missed an opportunity to regain a five-point lead over their closest rivals, while Kerċem failed to improve their position in the standings. 

The match between Nadur and Kerċem was well contested, and the outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle. 

Kerċem were more adventurous than their opponents, but Nadur went closest to scoring when a header by Manwel Tabone was stopped by the post on 63 minutes.

Qala Saints failed to close the gap from the leaders as they earned just a point following a goalless draw against third-placed SK Victoria Wanderers. 

The match was quite balanced during the first hour with very few scoring opportunities, but the Maroons increased their efforts late on to put Victoria’s defence under pressure. 

Qala went very close to win the encounter on 73 minutes but an effort by Christian Mercieca hit the bar.

Għajnsielem clinched a 2-0 win over Xagħra United to move clear of the relegation places.

This was a direct clash between two sides who were sharing the second place from the bottom before this match and therefore both sides were aiming for the win. 

Għajnsielem were the better side and managed to clinch the win with two goals scored after the break, through a free kick by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa (58) and a header by Godwin Emmanuel (82) who took the rebound from the goalkeeper following a strike by Da Silva Barbosa.

In the other match, bottom-placed Oratory Youths and Xewkija Tigers also earned a point each following a goalless draw. 

Oratory seemed more motivated to obtain a win in an attempt to re-open their chances to move away from the bottom place but they were denied time and again by the in-form Xewkija goalkeeper Nikola Kosanin. 

Xewkija had their good moments throughout the 90 minutes and went very close to scoring on 37 minutes when an overhead kick by Brian Alejandro Parada hit the post, with the goalkeeper beaten.

GFA Division Two

Victoria Hotspurs scored two goals in each half to overcome rivals Sannat Lions 4-0 and move three points clear at

the top and regain their status as hot favourites for promotion.

The Hotspurs seemed more determined and took the lead early on through Wellington (7). 

Sannat’s reaction was sterile and the Hotspurs extended their lead with two more goals through Shaun Attard (35) and Lorenzo Atzori (53).

The Citizens sealed the win by scoring the fourth goal on 88 minutes through skipper Shaun Attard.

Munxar Falcons missed an opportunity to remain close to the top position as they were defeated by St Lawrence Spurs 2-1. 

Munxar seemed heading towards a win over lowly St Lawrence as they took the lead on 20 minutes through Vitor Gabriel Soarez Sousa. 

However, the Spurs had a strong reaction after the break and turned the result in their favour through a brace by Mark Dingli (47, 70).

NEXT FIXTURES

PLAYING FRIDAY – GOZO STADIUM

GFA DIVISION ONE

Oratory Youths vs Qala S.       18.00

Kerċem vs Għajnsielem          20.00

SATURDAY – Kerċem Stadium

GFA DIVISION TWO

Għarb R. vs St Lawrence        14.30

Żebbug R. vs Sannat L.            17.00

SUNDAY – GOZO STADIUM

GFA DIVISION ONE

Xagħra United vs Xewkija       16.00