Rabat Ajax were deservedly held by B’Bugia St.Peter’s in a very balanced encounter which could have gone either way.

B’Bugia were close early on through Vince Camilleri and John Paul Barbara but it was Rabat who took the lead on 14 minutes with Keith Micallef taking advantage of an indecision by a B’Bugia defender. In the 16th minute Rabat could have doubled their lead but Jonathan Bezzina’s effort was blocked on the goal line by Clive Formosa.

Rabat were then again close through Christian Muscat with B’Bugia responding in the 24th minute as John Paul Barbara’s free-kick was saved with difficulty by Azzopardi. The Saints’ reaction continued and the Rabat keeper had to stop a point-blank shot by Aldrin Muscat in the 33rd minute.

Just before the break B’Bugia went again close through a dangerous Vince Camilleri free-kick. The second period continued to be balanced with B’Bugia making it one-allin the 56th minute through Noel Tabone.

In the 71st minute Rabat made it 2-1 through Joe Caruana who headed in from a cross by Smeir from the left flank. On 83 minutes B’Bugia made it two-all as an indecision in the Rabat defence led to Ronnie Celeste beating Azzopardi from close-range and two minutes later Rabat’s midfield player Alan Zahra was cautioned for a second time and was sent off by referee Apap.

In the closing stages of the match Rabat twice went close through Cris Schembri and Adam Smeir.

Referee: Paul Apap

St.Venera-Melita 1-0

St.Venera recovered from five successive defeats with an important win over the Amateurs, a game decided by a Clayton Garzia hotly disputed penalty.

Melita should only blame themselves for this defeat as they squandered numerous easy chances. Early on the Lightnings were twice very close to opening te score through Stephen Said and David Azzopardi.

In the 11th minute Melita created a good opportunity as Mark Hyzler cross for Matthew Borg I who hit high with an open goal. In the 29th minute the Amateurs wasted another easy opportunity through Jonathan Mifsud and four minutes before the break they were again close through Matthew Borg I.

Three minutes after the restart St.Venera scored the winning goal through a penalty given for a handling infringement by Jonathan Mifsud, a decision which brought about hot protests by the Amateurs’ players. Clayton Garzia beat Matthew Sapiano from the spot to put the Lightnings 1-0 ahead.

Minutes later Melita could have equalised but Matthew Borg I blasted high over the bar when all alone infront of an open goal. Then a shot by Matthew Borg I was saved by Rapinett and in the 75th minute Melita wasted another glaring opportunity through Kane Micallef. In injury-time Melita had yet another opportunity but Gregory Degabriele shot just high over the bar with Rapinett beaten.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Mellieha-Dingli Ss 0-3

Jesmond Zammit’s team Dingli Swallows defeated Mellieha in a match they dictated throughout the 90 minutes.

Dingli have now opened a seven point lead over Mellieha and are now clear favorites to play first division football next season.

Dingli opened the score after ten minutes through Fabio Cauchi who beat Vella with a strong shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Seven minutes later Dingli were 2-0 infront through a long-range shot by Alex Portelli.

Mellieha failed to react with Dingli continuing to push forward and on two occasions they were denied by David Vella off efforts by Jeffrey Zammit. Five minutes before the break the Dingli keeper Farrugia denied Mellieha from reducing the arrears off a shot by David Fenech.

Dingli remained the better team after the resumption although Mellieha had a Rueben Vella goal disallowed in the 48th minute. Dingli went close through Chris Ciappara and hit the upright through a Jeffrey Zammit shot but the Swallows managed to get a third goal; in the 85th minute through Jeffrey Zammit, undoubtedly their best player.

Referee: Saviour Tanti

St.Andrews-Zebbug Rangers 0-1

This direct clash between two teams involved in the relegation battle was won by Twanny Grech’s team Zebbug with Mark Ciantar scoring the all-important goal early in the second period.

After just five minutes the Saints were very close to taking the lead through Adrian Galea whose effort was blocked by Keith Xuereb on the goal line. Zebbug replied through a Rodney Bugeja shot which was saved by Tabone and at the other end the Rangers’ keeper brought off a difficult save to stop a shot by Steve Falzon. In the 37th minute the Saints were again close through Junior Sank and a minute later Anthony Galea hit just wide from a good position.

On 40 minutes Zebbug created their best chance with Gordon Mallia’s through-pass finding Neil Francalanza whose shot was saved by Tabone.

Seven minutes into the second period the Saints’ goalkeeper Tabone was surprised by a long-range shot by Mark Ciantar which gave the Rangers’ a precious 1-0 lead. Zebbug maintained the initiative and were close to increasing their lead through Keith Farrugia and Gordon Mallia.

In the 75th minute the Saints could have equalised but John Zammit’s shot just missed the target and in the closing stages a Jeremy Gatt Coleiro shot was well saved by Galea.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann