Ghajnsielem stay three points clear at end of first round

Gozo
by Antoine Busuttil

Leaders Ghajnsielem finished the first round of the BOV Gozo Football League First Division three points clear of second-placed Nadur Youngsters thanks to a 4-2 win over SK Victoria Wanderers.

Igor Nedeljkovic converted a penalty on the 4th minute and a minute later, Rodney Buttigieg doubled the score. Nedeljkovic made it 3-0 six minutes from the end of the first half. The Wanderers hit back with goals by Aud-Gustinre James Obaje on the 57th and Gabriel Cardona on the 68th but Nedeljkovic completed his hat-trick with a goal on the 81st to seal the issue.

Nadur Youngsters registered a most-comfortable 6-1 win over Oratory Youths. Ederson Bruno Domingos handed Nadur the lead on the 11th and Marcelo Barbosa Junior doubled the score on the 26th. Just before half-time, Domingos made it 3-0 for Nadur. Diego Steven Gomez Maldonado converted a penalty to reduce the gap for Oratory on the 61st but Marcelo Barbosa scored twice on the 76th and 83rd with Stefan Cassar adding another on the 80th.

Victoria Hotspurs registered a fine 4-1 win over Xewkija Tigers. A brace by Paulo Santos de Azevedo on the 29th and 46th gave the Hotspurs a two-goal lead before Christian Mercieca made it 3-0 on the 54th. Emiliano Lattes pulled one back on the 64th but Henrique Maciel scored a fourth goal on the 90th.

In another match, Kercem Ajax defeated Sannat Lions 4-2. Damon Hili put Sannat ahead on the 4th minute but goals by Nathaniel Mercieca on the 17th, Joshua Mizzi on the 24th and Andrew Mizzi on the 27th soon turned the score in Kercem’s favour. Andrew Mizzi added another on the 78th with Damon Hili reducing the gap four minutes from time.

Meanwhile in the second round of matches from the group stage of the Second Division Knock-Out, Munxar Falcons registered a comfortable 5-0 win over Zebbug Rovers thanks to a poker by Ayessler Carvalho (14 penalty, 19 penalty, 29 and 62) and a goal by Steve Dimech on the 55th.

On the other hand, St. Lawrence Spurs and Gharb Rangers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw, goals by Joseph Cefai Farrugia (45+2) and Luke Attard (48) for Gharb, Wayne Hili (73) and Daniel Micallef (90+3) for the Spurs.