Attard-Luqa SA 0-0

This was a deserved result in a balanced match with Attard creating the better opportunities as they were denied on various occasions by Luqa’s custodian John Agius.

Luqa’s promotion chances have taken a severe setback following this draw.

On 15 minutes Luqa created a clear goal scoring opportunity with Emanuel Cumbo finding Mark Said with an inch-perfect pass and the latter hit low with Formosa bringing off a fine save.

In the 23rd minute a Cumbo shot was cleared by Attard’s veteran defender Mark Buttigieg and two minutes later Attard replied through Daniel Agius whose shot just missed the target.

Luqa created two other opportunities through Mark Said and on another occasion Alessandro Pirrone shot just wide from close range.

Eight minutes after the restart Luqa were close through a Louis Buhagiar free-kick and then attempts by Josef Axisa and Fabian Cutajar were well saved by Agius.

In the final stages Attard could have taken the three points but Agius managed to make an excellent save to deny Fabian Cutajar.

Referee: Thomas Debono

Gharghur-St Lucia 2-0

The Saints suffered their tenth defeat of the season as they continued to languish near the bottom end of the league table.

Gharghur fully deserved the three points. Gharghur were dominant throughout the first 45 minutes.

On 18 minutes a volley by Clifford Mifsud bounced off the crossbar and from the rebound Lawrence Vella’s shot was saved by Cachia. Then Ludvic Bartolo hit just wide and on another occasion a Lawrence Vella low shot was saved with difficulty by Cachia.

Gharghur’s pressure paid off in the 28th minute with Clifford Mifsud giving them a deserved lead and in the 40th minute Jeffrey Bonello’s attempt hit the post.

Two minutes later Gharghur increased their lead with Christian Glass doing all the work for Marvic Grech to beat Cachia from close-range.

A minute after the restart the Saints were unlucky as a low shot by Joe Portelli bounced off the upright. In the 57th minute they were again close through Michael Grioli and then the Gharghur custodian Brian Zammit came off his posts to anticipate Ian Cutajar.

Late in the match Ian Cutajar shot at goal but the ball was cleared off the goal line.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Ghaxaq-Zejtun C. 6-4

This was an exciting match which produced ten goals as Bjorn Dalli and Godwin Mifsud scored hat-tricks for Ghaxaq and Zejtun respectively.

Ghaxaq have now overtaken the Corinthians in the league standings.

Ghaxaq dominated the first period and after going close early on through Bjorn Dalli, it was the same player who managed to put his team in front in the 5th minute.

Ghaxaq continued to press forward and scored a second goal in the 35th minute through their best player Bjorn Dalli who dribbled his way past various Zejtun defenders before shooting in past Mifsud.

Six minutes before the break the crossbar denied Ghaxaq off an Alex Farrugia direct free-kick.

In the 50th minute Zejtun’s striker Godwin Mifsud was fouled in the penalty area and his team gained a penalty which was duly converted by the same player but Ghaxaq came back to make it 4-1 through goals scored by Francois Galea (52nd minute) and Bjorn Dalli (57th minute) with Kevin Gambin scoring a fifth goal from a penalty awarded for a foul on Justin Camilleri in the 74th minute.

Two minutes later Justin Camilleri made it 6-1 for Ghaxaq but in the final 15 minutes Zejtun pulled back three goals, two scored by Godwin Mifsud (one from the penalty spot) and another one by substitute Shasa Fenech for a final 6-4 scoreline for Ghaxaq.

Referee: Duncan Sultana

Siggiewi-Mdina K 0-1

This was a balanced match which could have gone either way as Mdina Knights managed to obtain their fifth win of the season.

Both teams wasted a number of goal scoring opportunities. Siggiewi wasted an easy opportunity after eight minutes through Mario Borg and they paid dearly for this mistake as three minutes later Mdina broke the deadlock through a low shot by Ayrton Buhagiar.

Siggiewi then created a clear goal scoring opportunity through Mario Borg who headed just high over the bar from a cross by Eman Ciappara and in the 18th minute a goal by Pierre Spiteri was annulled for an offside position.

Mdina replied through attempts by Matthew Francalanza and Andre Vassallo which were well saved by Vella.

On 51 minutes Mdina’s keeper Sciberras brought off a difficult save to deny Pieere Spiteri with Mdina losing a clear goal scoring opportunity through Matthew Francalanza.

Although Siggiewi continued to dictate the run of play they were kept out by a well organised Mdina defence.

Referee: William Debattista

Pembroke A.-Kalkara F.C. 1-0

Pembroke Athleta gained their sixth win of the season after they managed to overcome Kalkara’s stiff resistance. Pembroke’s striker Carlo Leonardi got the all important goal from the penalty spot.After just two minutes Kalkara were close through Christian Mizzi whose low shot was saved by Debattista and then they lost an easy opportunity through Neville Zerafa. In the 19th minute Kalkara’s striker Anton Casar was very close with a low shot which just missed the near post and then two free-kicks, well taken by Chris Borg, were saved by the Pembroke custodian. Pembroke shared the exchanges after the break and on 52 minutes they were given a penalty for a foul by Dino Pace on Carlo Leonardi and the latter converted from the spot for the decisive goal. Kalkara came back with two dangerous attempts by Chris Borg and Dino Pace and at the other end Pembroke were denied by Attard off shots by Simon Buhagiar and Carlo Leonardi. Kalkara’s late rally produced a Chris Borg free-kick which bounced off the post and a header by Anton Cassar which was well saved by Debattista.

Referee: Chris Francalanza

Gzira-Mgarr 0-1

The numerous Mgarr United supporters were in a jubilant mood at the end of this match against Gzira United after they managed to gain three important points through a last-minute goal scored by Chris Abela. Mgarr are now firm favourites to win promotion to the Second Division. After only four minutes Mgarr were denied by Ablett off a Neil Busuttil free-kick and then they missed a clear opportunity through Luke Muscat. Mgarr pressed forward with Johan Said twice being denied by Ablett and on another occasion a volley by Alan Chetcuti went inches wide of the near post. Three minutes before the break Gzira won a free-kick which was taken by Dylan Agius and Keith Bonello headed just wide. Two minutes after the restart Mgarr were close through Matthew Gauci with Gzira responding through two attempts by Mark Brincat and Rueben Azzopardi. Gradually Mgarr increased the pressure and on two successive occasions Luke Muscat and Chris Abela hit just wide from close-range. On another occasion Mgarr’s striker Chris Abela advanced al alone but his point-blank shot was blocked by Ablett but the same player managed to hit home the winning goal a minute from time.

Referee: Aaron Fenech