A partial slip by league leaders Valletta against Marsaxlokk on Sunday has kept the battle for the remaining place in the Top Six (Championship Pool) wide open.

In fact, with the same Valletta, Sliema and Hibernians already assured of their place and with Birkirkara and Floriana only a step away from reaching their aim, it is one team from Pieta, Marsaxlokk or Msida who will probably finish among the top six, pushing the other two to the Relegation Pool.

These three teams are separated by just one point when three matches remain to be played. Pieta are on 18 points. Msida and Marsaxlokk have 17 points each. The weekend clashes may, however, give a clearer picture, as Floriana could still be involved in the proceedings, especially if they lose to Pieta on Sunday.

Apart from the performances of each team at the weekend, I feel I have to start my comments by condemning the assault on assistant referee Nicky Debattista by a committee member of Msida St Joseph after last Saturday’s match at Ta’ Qali against Pieta Hotspurs.

It was an incident which, we thought, the likes of which were a thing of the distant past. The Msida committee did well to force Mr Chircop to resign from the committee. But even so, the Saints will be expected to face disciplinary measures from the association.

Such behaviour, especially from a committee member, is totally unacceptable. It is a pity because the committee had been working so hard to give the club an image appropriate with the Premier League.

Looking back at the matches, Valletta could take only one point from their match against Marsaxlokk as the latter scored a last-gasp equaliser.

The partial slip by the citizens also means that Sliema could return to the sole leadership next Saturday if they beat Birkirkara. Valletta are now leading Sliema by just one point with Sliema having a match in hand.

Playing again without Gilbert Agius and the suspended Sean Sullivan, and still without midfielder Jaroslav Marx, the citizens were a shadow of their usual selves.

In fact, despite a good performance from Mark Galea, and a very encouraging performance from goalie Montfort, they were nowhere near their form of late and although Marsaxlokk equalised late in the match, they deserved the point.

The southern seasiders, who had former Valletta player Ivan Zammit suspended, had shared play with their opponents for most of the time after a shaky start.

They had hoped for more against a side shorn of the services of two of their best and most experienced players. But, at the end, Atanas Marinov’s side must have been happy with the outcome.

On Saturday, in a direct clash, Msida and Pieta also shared the spoils in a highly controversial 1-1 draw which matured in the final minutes.

First it was Msida who took the lead a few minutes from the end. But in added injury time, Pieta were awarded that controversial penalty from which Pieta managed to maintain their one-point lead over the other two rivals.

It was a keenly contested match with neither side giving away an inch, but Pieta already seem to be decapitated with the services of international striker Ivan Woods who has joined Sliema Wanderers.

Msida missed the full three points in the final moments. That disputed penalty will remain one of the biggest controversies of the season.

But both teams will have to lift their performances in their remaining three encounters if they wish to avoid playing in the Relegation Pool in the second phase.

Hibernians not only made sure of their place in the Championship Pool with their solid 2-0 win over Floriana, but confirmed once again, if there was any need, that they will be leaving no stone unturned to challenge strongly for the title.

The Paolites were in command against the Greens who had no real answer to a more experienced side. Robert Gatt’s boys are improving with every match and having closed the gap between them and leaders Valletta to just four points, they will now be looking forward to obtain as much points as possible to start the second phase in a challenging position – not far away from the top.

Floriana were not the same team which we had witnessed in the last few matches. They just could not cope with what Hibs threw at them.

At the end, the defeat meant that they remained four points ahead of Pieta and five over Marsaxlokk and Msida with three matches to play. Willie Vassallo’s boys, however, have a very intriguing programme – they still have to meet direct rivals Pieta and Msida as well as champions Sliema Wanderers.

There was also a glorious moment for St Patrick on Sunday as they registered their first win of the season against the team just above them in the standings, Lija Athletic.

The Saints deserved the outcome as they played the best football and showed the best ideas.

Although their position – and that of Lija – remains critical because they will definitely start the second phase as firm candidates for relegation, having collected just a few points in the first phase, they can look forward towards finishing the season on a more positive note.

On their part, Lija have seen the gap between them and those above them increase by one more point and that also makes their relegation problem bigger.