Santa Lucia joined Valletta, Sirens and Gudja to Challenge league football last season. Mosta, Gzira, and Balzan all emerged victorious yesterday and Santa Lucia seemed heading for a decisive victory against Birkirkara, but the Stripes scored a late equaliser to push Santa Lucia towards relegation with Mosta avoiding the drop by a whisker.

Santa Lucia needed the victory against Birkirkara to keep Pre‐ miership status and push Mosta to the Challenge League.

Moracci put Santa Lucia ahead on the half hour but Coppola lev‐ elled matters three minutes later. Three minutes from the break Santa Lucia were back in front with a Steve Pisani goal.

Santa Lucia preserved its pre‐ cious lead, a result that would have conemned Mosta. But Birkirkara had other ideas and Zamnit drew level on 87 minutes to sen Santa Lucia to Challenge League football next season.

In the other matches Mosta kept their hopes alive with an important 2‐0 victory over Naxxar in the derby.

Zach Brincat in the first half and Gianlica Sciberas in the sec‐ ond, scored the goals that mat‐ terd for Mosta.

Gzira United and Balzan had a very remote chance of facing the drop, and they put their minds at rest with precious victories in their final match.

Gzira United defeated Floriana 3‐1 and Balzan had the better of Marsaxlokk. Balzan’s winner came on 40 minutes when Rom‐ mens found the back of the net to give Balzan a valuable three points against Marsaxlokk.

Gzira United almost made sure of keeping their status with a 3‐1 victory over Floriana, who suf‐ fered their second consecutive defeat after their drubbing against Hamrun Spartans.

Aldama put the Maroons in front on 17 minutes and De Grazia put the equaliser a minute before the break.

In the second half Gabriel Bohrer Mentz cored a break to give the Maroons three vital points.