A penalty by Martin Davis thirteen minutes from time handed Gzira United a narrow win over Lija Athletic at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The Maroons, therefore, keep the pace with Hamrun and Hibernians as they stay four points and two points behind them respectively. This was their seventh consecutive league win, counting the game over Gudja which they won after the protest they filed was upheld by the MFA Protests Board.

Lija, on the other hand, remain second from bottom on 13 points. The result was definitely harsh on Lija considering that they shared the exchanges with their opponents for long stretches.

Miguel Jimenez was unlucky to hit the foot of the upright with a shot from the edge of the area on the 29th and on the 38th, it was Maxuell Samurai who hit the foot of the post when served from the right by Martin Davis from the right.  

On the 76th minute, Gzira were awarded a penalty for dangerous play by Clayton Giordimaina on Andrew Cohen and from the penalty spot, Martin Davis converted.

On the 90th, Clayton Giordimaina was sent off for Lija.

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Steve Borg, Steve Pisani, Dexter Xuereb, Martin Davis, Nevin Portelli, Maxuell Maia, Sacha Borg, Bahrudin Atajic, Filype Pinheiro Mendonca (71′ Andrew Cohen), Jefferson de Assis.
Subs not used: Justin Haber, Krassimir Zammit, Ryon Falzon, Nashton Taliana, Hytem Kabar, Alexander Scicluna.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Carl Cassar, Ismael Borg, Fernando Brandan, Harry Wood, Walter Omar Serrano, Miguel Jimenez, Juan Cruz Gill, Clayton Giordimaina, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano (84′ Daniel Scerri), Carlos Flores.
Subs not used: Dylan Galea, Neil Micallef, Gianluca Falzon, Andrea Mizzi, Alessio Galea, Beppe Antignolo.
Coach: Joseph Galea

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referee: Mitchell Scerri, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Sacha Borg, N. Portelli, D. Xuereb, I. Borg, C. Giordimaina
Red Cards: 90’ Clayton Giordimaina
BOV Player of the Match: Martin Davis