Joe Gerada’s team, Rabat Ajax, continued to move away from the lower end of the league table when they gained the three points at stake from a difficult match against St.Andrew’s, the latter suffering their sixth defeat from seven matches.

The Saints played better football in the earlier stages and they were very close to taking the lead through Ian Borg and John Zammit.

However in their first worthwhile attack on the half-hour, Rabat forged ahead through Joseph Caruana. The Saints failed to react with Rabat gaining the initiative and they managed to increase their lead just before the break as Keith Micallef’s pass was picked up by Adam Smeir who dribbled his way past Tabone and shot in from close-range.

The Saints came back strongly during the second half but they were ineffective up front.

Rabat were close to increasing their lead in the 59th minute when Smeir’s corner-kick hit the crossbar and then a Schembri free-kick was saved by Tabone.

The Saints tested Azzopardi through a close-range header by substitute Galea with Rabat responding through dangerous efforts by Bezzina and Micallef.

Referee: Sammy Attard

Melita-Mellieha 1-1

A Wayne Borg St John goal in the closing stages of the first period was not enough for Mellieha to take the three points from this delicate match against Melita who came back to deservedly equalise through Matthew Borg I.

Early on Mellieha wasted an easy opportunity through William Borg and in the 12th minute Rueben Vella hit high over the bar following an indecision by Amateurs’ keeper Briffa.

Gradually Melita gained the upper hand in the midfield sector and on 20 minutes a free-kick taken by Matthew Borg I was saved with difficulty by David Vella.

Four minutes later Vella was again on hand to stop a shot by Gregory Degabriele with Matthew Borg I heading just wide in the 27th minute.

The Amateurs were then unlucky as the crossbar stopped a shot by Michael Martin but on 43 minutes Mellieha won a free-kick just outside the penalty area and Wayne Borg St John scored with a strong shot to put Mellieha 1-0 ahead at the end of the first 45 minutes.

The second period was dictated by Melita who created two goal scoring opportunities through Julian Galea and Anthony Briffa.

They were back on level terms in the 70th minute as Gregory Degabriele’s corner-kick was headed in by Matthew Borg I from close-range.

Mellieha responded through dangerous attempts by Rueben Vella with Melita being twice denied by Vella off efforts by Mark Hyzler and Matthew Borg II.

Referee: Darren Calleja

Dingli S.-Lija Ath.1-0

Although Lija held the initiative for long stretches, they ended empty handed as it was Dingli who managed to score the winning goal in injury-time through substitute Jonathan Sapiano.

Lija dictated the run of play throughout the first 45 minutes and early on they were twice close through Anthony Gera and Elton Azzopardi.

Dingli failed to be dangerous in front of goal with Lija losing a sitter in the 29th minute through Glen Barry.

Lija increased the pressure with Dingli’s custodian Farrugia bringing off a fine save to stop a low shot by Barry and on another occasion Beppe Antignolo hit just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

In the 41st minute Lija could have taken the lead but Farrugia brought off a marvellous save off Gera’s point-blank shot.

After the change of ends both teams created goal scoring opportunities with Dingli wasting a sitter through Jeremy Agius in the 49th minute.

Lija went close through Gera whose shot was saved by Farrugia and on another occasion a volley by Beppe Antignolo just missed the target.

At the other end Gera was again foiled by Farrugia with Dingli responding through a low shot by Sapiano which went inches wide of the far post. Three minutes into injury-time Jonathan Sapiano scored the winning goal for Dingli following good work by Etienne Farrugia.

Referee: Chris Lautier

St Venera L.-Gozo 1-1

The Lightnings seemed heading towards defeat against the Gozitans but a goal in the 92nd minute through substitute Clayton Garzia earned them a merited point.

St Venera went close after 15 minutes through Andrew Hili who hit just wide from a good position and on the half-hour the Gozitan striker John Camilleri cleared off the goal line to deny St Venera from taking the lead through Clint Abela.

The Saints increased the pressure and in the 37th minute they had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock but Mark Grech’s penalty kick was well saved by the Gozitan custodian Samuel Micallef. The penalty was given when Grech was fouled by Brian Meilaq. Just before the break Grech was again on target with a good shot but Micallef was once again in the right place to save his shot.

Five minutes after the restart Gozo were close through Emanuel Cordina with St Venera creating various chances which were, however, squandered by their strikers.

In a counter-attack in the 60th minute Gozo tested Rapinett through a low shot by John Camilleri but the same player scored in the 75th minute to put his team 1-0 ahead. Gozo lost Peter Paul Buttigieg in the 81st minute as he was shown the red card for a second booking with St.Venera scoring a merited equaliser in injury-time through substitute Clayton Garzia.

Referee: Duncan Sultana