Melita-B’ Bugia SP 1-2

The Amateus dictated the run of play for long stretches throughout the first-half with Matthew Borg II and David Azzopardi trying in vain to break the B’ Bugia defensive barrier.

Then a Matthew Borg I direct free-kick went inches wide of the far post and on 25 minutes another ree-kick taken by Mark Hyzler was parried by Matthew Xerxen.

A minute later Matthew Borg I was again on target but Xerxen was on hand to block the ball as B’Bugia finally created a goal scoring opportunity seven minutes before the interval through Jeffrey Zammit whose effort was saved by Sapiano.

Melita came out strong again after the change of ends and they broke the deadlock after seven minutes through a tremendous shot by Matthew Borg II.

In the 63rd minute the Amateurs’ striker Matthew Borg I wasted the easiest of opportunities when he shot high infront of an open goal and they paid heavily for this mistake as B’ Bugia gradually gained the initiative.

The Saints made it one-all on 78 minutes with Edward Azzopardi crossing the left flank and Johan Zammit headed in past Sapiano. The post then stopped a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick but B’ Bugia had better luck in the 84th minute when Ronnie Celeste scored the decisive goal from close-range.

In added time Melita went close through Matthew Borg II.

Referee: Darren Calleja

St.Andrews-Sirens 1-1

Early on St.Andrews’ striker Anthony Gera missed a sitter as he headed wide with an open goal and they paid heavily for this mistake with the St. Paul’s Bay team breaking the deadlock in the eighth minute through Adrian Galea who beat Tabone with a low angled shot. Galea was then denied by Tabone with the Saints going close at the other end through an effort by Jonathan Briscoe White.

Just before the interval Sirens could have increased their lead but Ryan Theuma’s shot was headed off the line by Jason Galea.

Early in the second period Anthony Gera shot straight into the outstretched hands of Schembri when unmarked in front of goal and then a Michael Calleja effort was blocked on the goal line.

The Saints kept pushing forward with Schembri bringing off fine saves to deny Michael Calleja, Anthony Gera and Jeremy Gatt Coleiro but he could not avoid the Saints’ equaliser scored by Anthony Gera in the 89th minute.

Referee: Thomas Debono

Naxxar L.-St Venera L.0-1

Early on Naxxar were close through Johan Grech whose shot was saved by Elvin Attard with St.Venera coming back in the 12th minute through Melvin Agius whose free-kick was saved with difficulty by Bjorn Attard.

In the 18th minute St.Venera’s midfield player Andrew Hili cleared the ball off the goal line to stop a Kevin Fenech free-kick and at the other end St.Venera were again close through efforts by Dean Demanuele and Melvin Agius.

On 41 minutes Naxxar were unlucky with a Kevin Fenech cross being saved by Elvin Attard as the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Four minutes into the second period St.Venera were denied by Bjorn Attard off an Ian Falzon header and in the 52nd minute the Naxxar keeper again did well to save off a low shot by James Galea.

Later on Andrew Hili headed just wide and on another occasion a long-range shot by Alfred Micallef went inches wide of the far post. In the 84th minute St.Venera broke the deadlock through James Galea and despite Naxxar’s late reaction, it was St Venera who again went close on two occasions through James Galea and Justin Felice.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann

Lija A.-Rabat A 0-1

The first period was a balanced affair with Rabat being very close in the 8th minute as Kayne Said’s shot was blocked on the goal line by a Lija defender.

Lija created two good opportunities through Mark Cremona and Beppe Antignolo but their best chance belonged to Glen Barry whose effort was well saved by Tyron Spiteri.

On 26 minutes Rabat broke the deadlock through Darren Galea who beat Luke Bonnici with a strong shot from the edge of the penalty area but they suffered a setback in the 37th minute as Christopher Schembri was booked for a second time and was sent off.

Lija’s immediate reaction produced a shot by Glen Barry which just missed the target. Lija’s increased the pressure after the change of ends but they were well controlled by Rabat’s defensive barrier.

Early on Lija had a shot by Daniel Cremona which was well saved by Tyron Spiteri and then Glen Barry hit just high over the bar. On 76 minutes Lija created their best opportunity with substitute Alan Medati dribbling his way past several Rabat defenders but his final shot went inches wide of the far post with Spiteri beaten.

Despite Lija’s insistence it was Rabat who could have sealed the issue on two occasions through Adam Smeir and Clint Micallef.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit