Melita and Hibernians maintained the pace at the top of the standings as they beat Raiders and Rabat Ajax respectively last Sunday.

In the first match, Melita defeated Raiders 2-1 in an exciting match.

For Raiders this was their 100th match in the competition, 92 in the first division and eight in the second division.

Melita were a goal in arrears on the 10th minute when Natasha Calleja solved a melee in front of the Melita goal.

Melita pressed for an equaliser and Nadia Gauci, Kelly Agius Pace and Oriana Bedingfield missed good chances.

Melita obtained an equaliser on the 89th minute. Ingrid Vassallo heading the ball home after having lobbed it over goalie Sonia Farrugia.

In added time, they also scored the winner through Daniela Micallef who made the most of a lapse by goalie Farrugia to hit the ball into an untenanted net.

There were several protests by Raiders. At the end, referee Manuel Calleja showed the red card to Nadine Agius.

In the second match, Hibernians obtained their eighth victory of the season, as they easily beat Rabat Ajax 5-0.

It was a one-way traffic affair with Rabat goalie Christine Galea overworked.

So superior were Hibs that, apart from the five goals scored, they also hit the post twice and had three shots cleared from over the line. Galea also distinguished herself with some fine saves.

The Paola girls opened the scoring on nine minutes through Kathleen Saliba and two minutes later, it was Dionne Tonna who scored the second.

Ylenia Carabott scored the third on 17 minutes but the scoreline remained unchanged till the interval.

On the changeover, Hibs were thwarted on several occasions by goalie Galea, by the post or shots cleared from over the line, before they netted again through Claire Sciberras and Dorianne Theuma near the end.

Standings: Hibernians 24pts; Birkirkara 21, Melita 18, Mosta 12, Raiders 9, Rabat 3, St Venera L. 0.

Birkirkara have two matches in hand over Hibernians.

Top scorers: 12 goals – Kathleen Saliba (Hibs); 11 goals – Sarah Caruana (Hibs); 10 goals – Rebecca D’Agostino (Birkirkara); 8 goals – Dorianne Theuma (Hibs); 7 goals – Jane Coates (Mosta).

Next matches (20 February): 9am Mosta-Birkirkara; 11am Melita-St Venera L.