BOV Amateur League II MD5 Review: Kalkara continue perfect start, St George's secure dramatic win

Dingli Swallows FC 1-2 Kalkara United - 30.11.2025 - Photos by D&D Photography

BOV AMATEUR LEAGUE II
MATCHDAY 5

Dingli Swallows 1-2 Kalkara United
Another win for Kalkara United last Sunday afternoon at the Sirens Stadium, this time an odd goal in three victory over Dingli Swallows, to keep their 100 percent record after five matchdays. The harbour team keeps going but had to dig deep against a Dingli team who perhaps deserved better on the day.

Dingli had an excellent opportunity to take the lead when a cross from the right found Sven Fabri who slammed his shot against the post. After a period of indifferent football, Kalkara took the lead on 32 minutes courtesy of an excellent strike by Rhys Gove’. However, Dingli managed to equalise on 40 minutes when a low shot by Jamaican striker Ronaldinho Daley ended up bobbling into the net just past the post.

The Swallows almost took the lead on 62 minutes when a fine shot by Gabriel Sant ended up just wide. But it was Kalkara who scored the winner on 83 minutes with a fine counter that saw Lucas Barcik beat Andrew Zammit.

Dingli Swallows FC 1-2 Kalkara United - 30.11.2025 - Photo by D&D Photography

Mdina Knights 1-0 GharghurAlso on Sunday but at the Luxol Stadium, Mdina Knights consolidated their second spot by earning a vital three points with a narrow 1-0 victory over Gharghur, making the most of their chances in a match where their opponents struggled with composure in the final third.

The encounter began with Gharghur threatening after 22 minutes, when Nicolai Sant tested Mdina goalkeeper Jacob Chircop St John, who saved comfortably. Two minutes later, Mdina responded through Giovanni Galea, whose effort drifted just wide. Galea went close again on 26 minutes, but his strike from a rebound was well saved by debutant goalkeeper Leon Seisun, who was signed recently from Siggiewi. Mdina’s persistence paid off on the half-hour mark. A close-range finish from Jordan Vella put the Knights in front, a lead they carried into half-time.

Gharghur had a golden opportunity to equalise just three minutes into the second half, but Max Kirkbride fired over from a promising position. Despite pressing forward, the team of coach Alan Friggieri continued to waste opportunities, while Mdina managed the final stages with composure, limiting their opponents’ threat. The Knights held firm until the final whistle to secure a crucial win, leaving Gharghur to rue their missed chances.

Marsaskala 3-4 St George’s
In Sunday’s late kick-off at the Mosta Ground, St George’s needed a splendid second half come-back to beat Marsaskala by the odd goal in seven after the team of coach Roger Mifsud took a deserved 3-1 lead at half-time. The Blues played a below-par opening 45 minutes, allowing the Marsaskala youngsters too much space adding by some sloppy defending.

Marsaskala, who are building slowly on a new squad with plenty of Nursery youngsters, started with 17-year-old Zian Ellul-Bondin between the sticks, who was on his debut, while the towering Byron Madu was given, once more, a centre-back position, a player who we mostly know as a striker.

St George’s, with coach Edmond Lufi suspended, came close on 13 minutes when Jean-Luke Polidano hit the side-netting from a Matthew Gauci corner-kick. But Marsaskala scored from their first threat on 15 minutes with Vivi-Gaetan Mahop being sent through the middle, making no mistake to beat Bormla guardian Clive Caruana with an accurate grounder.

The Cottonera side equalised just after the half hour mark when Sean Ellul headed against the net from close-in. Their joy was short-lived however as Marsaskala won a corner from a long distance shot by Madu, with Andrea Hammett erroneously beating his own goalkeeper in an attempt to clear the danger.  Two minutes before the half-time whistle, Marsaskala even scored a third when Mahop did all the hard work on the right flank, crossing to Zack Agius who tapped home with Caruana once more beaten.

With two goals down, St George’s only had one mission after the break which was finding the net as soon as possible. Ryan Dalli, coming on as a half-time substitute, certainly brought some flair in the attacks of the Pioneers but initially Marsaskala survived without much trouble. However, the persistence of the Blues finally paid off on 63 minutes when Jamiu Hassan ‘s powerful header from an Anderjay Grech cross had the better of Ellul-Bondin. Not much later, Kenneth Aquilina should have done better from point-blank but failed to control the ball properly, kicking over the crossbar.

With 15 minutes regular time left, Dalli curled a splendid free-kick from just outside the area against the crossbar. Five minutes later, St George’s were awarded a penalty as Dale Valletta committed a hands-ball in the box with captain Matthew Gauci cooly converting. Two minutes into stoppage time, Gauci scored the winner for the Cospicuans with an excellent long distance shot which totally surprised the young Marsaskala goalkeeper, much to the delight of the Saints’ faithful.

Rabat Ajax 0-4 Siggiewi
On Sunday night at the Sirens Stadium, Siggiewi registered an impressive 4-0 win over Rabat Ajax, an unexpected but fully deserved victory. The team led by Simon Agius made the most of defensive vulnerabilities to score two goals in each half, indeed a severe setback for Ajax’ promotion ambitions.

Siggiewi went close after just three minutes when a Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa effort was partially saved by goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella but the ball was cleared into safety. But the Yellow-Reds managed to take the lead after 11 minutes through Artiaga Roa whose rising shot from the left beat Vella. Rabat replied with a Shylon Vella effort which was partially saved by Clyde Aquilina on 21 minutes with the goalkeeper anticipating Larens Vella before he could conclude. Ten minutes later, Victor Mbata served Larens Vella whose attempt from outside the area ended just wide.

Siggiewi threatened with attempts by Gabriel Calleja and Matthew Borg ending just wide. Five minutes from the end of the first half, Calleja served Artiaga Roa whose close-range effort was saved on the goal line. Two minutes later, Siggiewi doubled the score when Nelson Mangion sped past Sean Abela on the right flank and provided an assist to Roderick Taliana who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Vella. Just before half-time, Rabat reacted with a cross by Shylon Vella with Larens Vella heading the ball in the direction of Nigel Borg whose header was neutralised by Aquilina.

In the second half, Rabat tried to get back in the game, going close with a Mbata header, off a cross by Andre Debattista, which was saved by Aquilina on 58 minutes and barely a minute later, a Shylon Vella effort, served by Debattista, ended just over the bar. Eight minutes from time, Siggiewi made it 3-0 when Jacques Vella Critien lost possession to Artiaga Roa, with the Chilean advancing into the area before slotting past Vella. One minute in added time, Nelson Mangion added another with a low shot from the right which ended in the bottom left corner to make the rout complete.

Msida St Joseph 1-0 Ghaxaq
The early Mosta Ground kick-off on Sunday was target for Msida St Joseph who fully deserved beat a poor Ghaxaq team who lacked punch up front with just one decent shot on target. Not for the first time this season, it was goalkeeper Luke Attard who kept the score low with several stylish interferences, including a penalty save after the break. Best player for Msida was undoubtedly Thomas Grima with tremendous work-rate up front, also coming near a goal himself on several occasions.

Msida dictated play from kick-off and after several off-target attempts, mainly through Lincoln Micallef, it was Paris Micallef who came close with a close-range header from a corner action on 21 minutes, paraded well by Luke Attard. Towards the half hour, Attard had to interfere once more on a Grima scorcher, which the former Xghajra custodian turned into a corner, and a David Akindele shot which was eventually cleared by the Ghaxaq defence. The Msida dominance continued up to the half time whistle with Yessous Camilleri heading inches wide over the bar from another corner action with the industrious Jayden Borg creating havoc in the Ghaxaq box on several occasions.

At least ten shots on target for the Saints after the change of ends, who continued with their dominant display. The team of coach Conrad Debattista should have gone up three minutes into the second half with Paris Micallef and Jayden Borg both indecisive to conclude in the Ghaxaq box. On 53 minutes, Jonathan Mallia was called into action for the very first time after Aaron Agius was sent in the clear but the Msida custodian blocked in style. Two minutes later however, Msida broke the deadlock after Grima found Akindele, who blasted home from the edge of the box. Not much later, Grima was unlucky when his header was saved by Attard, another wonderful block by the Ghaxaq goalkeeper.

On 68 minutes, Msida were awarded a penalty when Clive Fenech felled Akindele in the box. However, Attard brilliantly saved Lincoln Micallef’s spot kick attempt to keep his side in the match. Micallef nearly made up for his error five minutes later with a scorcher which was tipped against the crossbar by Attard. On 77 minutes, Akindele was send through but it was Attard once more who blocked. Ghaxaq did try to stage a late rally to save a point but failed to trouble the Msida rear-guard in the remaining time left. Deep into stoppage time, Akindele could have returned the favour to the unmarked Grima but decided to go for goal himself, an attempt once more blocked by Attard.

Santa Venera Lightnings 1-2 Ta’ Xbiex
In the lower part of the table, Ta’ Xbiex won a valuable three points against Jamie Pace’s Santa Venera Lightnings who, like Ta’ Xbiex, won just one game in the first four league matches before the start of this match, Therefore, both sides were looking for crucial points to continue climbing up the table.

It was Ta’ Xbiex who started the stronger of the two with an effort by Johann Grech after seven minutes that ended up cleared off the line by veteran Jeffrey Chetcuti. The seasiders continued threatening with Bledi Alla shooting just wide on 18 minutes. Another opportunity went begging on 26 minutes when a through pass by debutant Andre’ Joe Cutajar found Aaron Meilak whose shot was well saved by Ryan Micallef.

The Blacks finally took the lead on 29 minutes when Cutajar sprang the offside trap and made no mistake with a strong shot into the net. Santa Venera had a good opportunity to equalise on 41 minutes when Andre Mallia was in the clear, but his shot was blocked by Carmelo Caruana. Ta’ Xbiex doubled on 44 minutes when a finely worked move by Bledi Alla ended with a pass to Mark Bonello Ghio who rifled home.

The second half appeared rather muted but came to life on 65 minutes when the Lightnings were awarded a penalty. This was converted by Andres Martinez who eventually ended in a bust up with Ta’ Xbiex goalkeeper Carmelo Caruana who was sent off for his troubles. The Saints, with just one goal down against ten men, should have profited from their numerical superiority but instead, Ta’ Xbiex came closest to re-established their two-goal advantage when Alves Fernandez was in the clear but Micallef was on hand to save.

In the end , Ta’ Xbiex held on to their slender lead to record their second win of the season and rise to mid-table.