Melita 1

Rabat Ajax 0

A strong Melita side defeated Rabat Ajax by one goal to nil scored by Julian Galea 12 minutes from time to seal the First Division Championship in an encounter which they dominated.

There was a festive atmosphere at the Victor Tedesco Stadium where both Melita and Rabat Ajax were promoted to the Premier League and all that was to be decided was the winner of the First Division Championship.

Rabat Ajax were clinging on to a one-point lead: so Melita had to win the game to acquire the trophy while the Magpies only needed a draw.

The match was a quiet affair with chances few and far between. On 13 minutes a shot by Adam Smeir ended up just high while on 41 minutes, Sierra Camacho had a good effort which ended up just wide.

Melita again came close on 45 minutes when a header by Gribbon hit the post and Julian Galea’s resultant shot from the rebound ended up wide.

Melita came close on 49 minutes when a cross by Micallef found Galea whose low shot was well saved by Mintoff. The Saints were dominating the encounter and really should have taken the lead on 58 minutes when Martin released Galea but the latter’s shot ended well wide.

On 68 minutes a corner by Vukanic found Camacho who released Galea but the latter’s shot was brilliantly saved by Mintoff. Melita continued laying siege on the Rabat goal and on 78 minutes finally managed to take the lead when from a corner, Julian Galea fired a low shot which beat Mintoff.

There was only one team on the pitch now and Melita almost made it two on 81 minutes when a cross shot by Vukanic hit the crossbar with Mintoff beaten. Rabat finally reacted on 84 minutes when Rustemi released Smeir in the box but the latter’s shot went wide.

Melita FC: M Sapiano, M Camacho, G Gibbon, M Martin, M Borg (A Caruana Scicluna), K Micallef (T Terbougoff), J Galea, L Micallef, K Vella Petroni, S Galea (Valenzia), J Vukanic

Rabat Ajax: S Mintoff C Schembri, J Cornforth, J Caruana, A Smeir, D Falzon, C Muscat, Y Cauchi (V Cauchi), R Micallef (A Rustemi), D Azzopardi, C Gauci

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi

Pieta’ H. 0

Zejtun C. 1

Zejtun Corinthians managed to end their season on a positive note when they beat third placed Pieta Hotspurs by a solitary goal scored midway through the first half.

In a match with nothing to play for, Pieta’ Hotspurs and Zejtun Corinthians played out their final game of the season at the Victor Tedesco Stadium perhaps mindful of what might have been.

As expected, the game took some time to start off and it was only after 11 minutes that Pieta’ created the first chance of the game when a shot by Refalo was saved by Farrugia.

Zejtun reacted on 25 minutes with a shot by Lyden Micallef which ended just wide. A minute later, the Greens took the lead when Formosa released Ryan Cauchi who shot a low strike past a hapless Montfort.

Zejtun again came close when Micallef released Azzopardi whose shot ended just wide on 37 minutes.

The second half began with Pieta’ threatening to equalise when a shot by Mallia ended just wide. There was nothing much to report until the 79th minute when Zejtun came close to doubling with a free kick by Edward Azzopardi which slammed against the crossbar.

Pieta’ Hotspurs: M Montfort, C Spiteri (S Micallef), E B Giaccaglia, C Grech, Q Refalo, T Agius, K Cutajar, L Mallia, C Cassar, J B Zarate, J Pisani (K Cesare)

Zejtun Corinthians: R Farrugia, A Farrugia, R Cauchi, E Azzopardi, M Borg, N Filipov, K Ganchev (JC Galea), S Magro (K Grech), C Formosa (J Cachia), L Micallef, V Camilleri

Referee: Philip Farrugia