BOV Amateur League II MD13 Review: Kalkara continue fine season, Santa Venera beat Ghaxaq

Photos by Malta FA

BOV AMATEUR LEAGUE II 2025/26
MATCHDAY 13

Kalkara United 3-0 Gharghur
In the late Sirens Stadium kick-off last Sunday, Kalkara United registered a twelfth win in thirteen matches as they defeated Gharghur 3-0. A clinical victory for the team of Bruno Menezes, who scored twice in the opening 45 minutes and easily consolidated their advantage after the change of ends.

The leaders went out in search of an early goal and after going close with attempts by Mario Jude Dominicus and Miguel Perez-Jimenez within the first nine minutes, they managed to take the lead on 14 minutes through Dominicus whose fine effort hit the crossbar before ending at the back of the net. Gharghur replied with a good move which saw Clayton Vella and Shamison Farrugia having consecutive shots blocked by the Kalkara defence on 27 minutes.

But seven minutes later, Kalkara doubled the score thanks to club debutant Ryan Dalli (ex-St George’s) whose conclusion from outside the area beat goalkeeper Leon Seisun. Just before half-time, Kalkara went close as a great freekick by Dalli was turned into a corner by Seisun.

Shamison Farrugia was unlucky to hit the upright with a freekick for Gharghur six minutes in the second half and on 72 minutes, a fine Jean Claude Annati effort was parried by Seisun. However, 10 minutes from time, Kalkara scored the third goal courtesy of Perez Jimenez who beat Seisun with a shot from close range. With eight points ahead of their nearest competitor, the Gran Harbour side look to cruise comfortably to promotion with on Sunday the next text against Ta’ Xbiex.

Dingli Swallows 2-0 Marsaskala
In Sunday’s early afternoon game at the Sirens Stadium between Dingli Swallows and Marsaskala, the former claimed what could prove to be a vital three points in their push for promotion, defeating the seasiders 2–0, a result made even more significant as Msida dropped points against Mdina, lifting the Swallows into second place.

The team of coach Nicolai Caruana began the encounter on the front foot and went close in the 10th minute when Sven Fabri’s corner from the right was met by Maximilan Borg Bartolo, whose header flashed just wide. Marsaskala responded and nearly took the lead five minutes later, with Craig Joyce’s long-range effort destined for the top left corner before Andrew Zammit intervened, tipping the ball into a corner. The Swallows continued to apply pressure and, in the 20th minute, Ronaldinho Daley beat his marker on the right side of the area before testing Marsaskala custodian Zian Ellul Bondin at the near post. At the other end, Marsaskala came close again on 29 minutes when Federico Galea and Jayden Degiorgio combined well to release Joyce, whose volley from inside the box sailed just over the crossbar.

The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Daley skipped past his man and delivered a low cross towards the far post, where Andie Sammut finished off with the ball deflecting off both defender and goalkeeper before just crossing the line.

After the restart, Dingli raised the tempo in search of a second goal. Sammut fired a half-volley wide in the 52nd minute while two minutes later, Dylan Attard capitalised on a defensive error by Dale Valletta, only to be denied by Ellul Bondin. Valletta was again caught in possession on 63 minutes, allowing Daley a clear sight of goal, but the Jamaican remarkably fired wide. Dingli’s second goal finally arrived in the 67th minute when Ryan Grech slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the area for Daley, who slotted home despite the goalkeeper getting fingertips to the ball. Moments later, Mark Cutajar went close to extending the lead, striking the left post.

Marsaskala enjoyed a brief spell of pressure and nearly pulled one back in the 75th minute when Nigel Borg’s cross was met by Jayden Degiorgio’s diving header, forcing an excellent save from Zammit. Daley then squandered a late chance to add to his tally as the division’s top scorer, dragging his effort wide from close range after a square pass from Jurgen Gerada. Dingli comfortably saw out the closing stages to secure a deserved victory and strengthen their promotion ambitions.

Mdina Knights 1-1 Msida St Joseph
Msida St Joseph lost two valuable points in their promotion bid, being held by Mdina Knights in a one-all draw at the Mosta Ground on Sunday afternoon. The Saints looked to be in firm control of the match before a red-card incident half-way the second half, with Mdina dominating the last part of the encounter, scoring the equaliser twelve minutes from full-time. With this result, Msida lost the second-place to Dingli.

Msida dictated play in the opening minutes but without setting any houses on fire. In fact, the Mdina rear-guard managed to survive the early pressing, with the Knights trying to find their way through on the counter-attack. Just after the half-hour mark, David Akinbule served Thomas Grima from the left flank, but the Msida forward’s effort sailed wide from an acute angle. Mdina came close on 38 minutes when Jordan Vella blasted a free-kick against the fists of Andre Spiteri, who returned between the sticks for Msida. Two minutes later however, the Saints were awarded a penalty when Mdina goalkeeper Jacob Borg-St John brought down Matthew Schembri in the box. Kurt Zammit stepped up and made no mistake from 11-meters to give Msida the lead.

In the 52nd minute, Msida came close to doubling when Akindele did all the hard work on the left flank, crossing to Grima who could not conclude from close-range. On 67 minutes, Msida defender Daniel Calleja received his second caution after a foul on Jamie Lee Micallef and therefore receiving his marching orders. From the resultant free-kick, Giovani Galea’s diving header was paraded by Spiteri in style. On 78 minutes, the Knights took full advantage of their numerical superiority when Jordan Vella scored the equaliser at the second post after a cross from the right by Micallef. In stoppage time, Chircop St John did well to parade an attempt by Zeyon Carter which could have meant the three points for the Saints, who are now ranked third, one point behind Dingli and three in front of neighbours Ta’ Xbiex.

Siggiewi 0-2 Ta’ Xbiex
In the late Mosta Ground kick-off last Sunday, Ta’ Xbiex had to work hard to overcome Siggiewi, which they beat with a 2-0 score-line. Both goals were scored in the first half in what eventually turned out to be a one-sided affair with Siggiewi creating very few opportunities themselves.

After a balanced few opening minutes, Ta’ Xbiex came close with a close-range Antoine Attard opportunity on 10 minutes, paraded well by Siggiewi goalkeeper Clyde Aquilina. Five minutes later, Ta’ Xbiex opened the scoring on 15 minutes with Andrei Spiteri placed the ball neatly against the net from just outside the area. Siggiewi replied well and created a few half-opportunities with the Blacks defence dealing well with the pressure. Just before the half-hour mark, Tyrone Grech did well on the right flank, providing Mark Giusti with an opportunity but his grounder was well saved by Brandon Debono. Not much later, Debono blocked two Grech opportunities in quick succession, the last one a free header which really should have meant the equaliser. Ta’ Xbiex were much more effective however with Vitor Hugo tapped in a Kurt Zahra cross on 32 minutes, doubling for the seasiders. Just before half-time, Attard curled his corner on the top of the crossbar with the Siggiewi defence eventually clearing the danger.

Six minutes after the change of ends, Nathan Belhadj had a huge opportunity inside the box to kick Ta’ Xbiex 3-0 up but failed to conclude from a promising angle. Belhadj had another chance on 63 minutes from an Andre-Joe Cutajar cross from the right flank but Aquilina managed to block his close-range attempt. Not much later, Bledi Alla should have done better from a Kane Micallef cross but the Albanian, somehow, failed to knock the ball against the net. On 65 minutes on the other side, Debono saved an on-target grounder of Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, a rare Siggiewi opportunity in the second half. On 79 minutes, Aquilina was called back into action by blocking a close-range Attard attempt for Ta’ Xbiex. Not much later on the other side, Debono reacted well on a left footed scorcher by Clyde Borg. Towards the end, Alla wasted a few opportunities to add a third for the Blacks with Aquilina interfering well. In the last minute of regular time, Debono tipped a splendid Artiaga Roa free-kick over the bar in what was the last match action of this entertaining game.

Rabat Ajax 0-3 St George’s
On Sunday at the Sirens Stadium, St George's returned to winning ways as they scored three in the first half to beat Rabat Ajax 3-0. An important victory for the Pioneers who played an excellent first half and, with a comfortable three-goal cushion, consolidated their advantage with relative ease during the second 45 minutes.

It was Rabat who showed better ideas in the opening minutes with a Jamie Camilleri overhead kick saved by goalkeeper Jake Schiavone and Victor Mbata missing two fine opportunities within the first three minutes, after having a low Jaden Camilleri opportunity saved by goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella. The Blues took the lead on 18 minutes when Sean Ellul was floored by Jurgen Mallia inside the area and veteran Aaron Agius converted from the penalty spot.

Agius went close once again with a first time effort from close range blocked by the Rabat goalkeeper on 22 minutes but five minutes later, Jaden Camilleri beat Vella to put the Saints to goals ahead. Seven minutes from the end of the first half, Jacques Vella Critien was unlucky to hit the ball past Jean Matthias Vella for an own goal off a cross by Anderjay Grech from the left to put the Cottonera side on velvet with a 3-0 score. Rabat went close to reducing the gap on 42 minutes when Mbata's low effort was deflected by Victor Olowoyo but Schiavone somehow managed to turn the ball into a corner.

Two minutes in the second half, Andy Paul Camilleri concluded a good run on the right flank with a diagonal shot which hit the foot of the upright an on 65 minutes, substitute Yuya Emura had a low shot from the left neutralised by Schiavone. In the remaining minutes, the Cospicua side controlled without difficulty and six minutes from time, Agius went close to increasing the lead with a shot from the right which was however deflected into a corner. Despite having nine matchdays left, with Rabat on 19 and St George’s on 15 points, both sides are considered to be out of the race for promotion.

Santa Venera Lightnings 2-1 Ghaxaq
In the lower parts of the table, Santa Venera booked his second victory of the season against a disappointing Ghaxaq side, who could have avoided their defeat last Sunday at the Mosta Ground. The Greens were hoping to lift themselves up in the table a few places, but instead, are now just two points ahead of the last place in this division. The few who braved the cold, wind and rain saw an entertaining match however, with two teams playing full on attack to get the three points.

Santa Venera Lightnings FC 2-1 Ghaxaq FC - 01.02.2026 - Photo by Malta FA

Two minutes after Gabriel Calleja squandered an opportunity for the Greens, Ghaxaq took the lead when Shamizen Buhagair was sent in the clear, beating the on-storming Gallen Mifsud with an accurate finish, all that after four minutes play. The match remained balanced, with plenty of midfield battles, as the Saints had their first opportunity on 32 minutes with Luke Attard blocking a close-range Desire Koiba attempt.
Towards the end of the half, Santa Venera took over the initiative and three minutes later, veteran Lightnings captain Ayrton Buhagiar equalised with a tap-in from close-range after the Ghaxaq defence failed to clear the danger. Buhagiar could have doubled on 40 minutes but Attard performed a great save on his point-blank goal attempt, while two minutes later, a Zak Francica scorcher from just outside the area sailed inches wide for the Saints.

On 54 minutes, Ghaxaq were unlucky when Mifsud initially blocked a Neil Brownrigg scorcher with Antoine Barbara’s close-range rebound being cleared from the goal-line. Just after the hour, Ghaxaq wasted another opportunity when Buhagiar was sent through but failed to beat Mifsud in a one-on-one situation. But it was Santa Venera who scored what proved to be the winner on 63 minutes when Koiba kicked home from just outside the box, much to the delight of the Lightnings’ clan. Ghaxaq threw all on attack to force out an equaliser but, on the stroke of full-time, the Saints came closest when Koiba hit the post from a swift counter-attack. In stoppage time, Barbara was given a straight for a reckless tackle, leaving Ghaxaq with 10 in a frustrating afternoon for the team of coach Johann Zammit.