Sirens - Rabat Ajax 0-1
After only five minutes Sirens were close through a strong shot by Clyde Grech which just missed the target and a minute later the post denied Adrian Galea with the Rabat keeper Spiteri completely beaten.
Rabat replied through dangerous efforts by Adam Smeir and Kayne Said and on 21 minutes the Sirens’ goalkeeper brought off a difficult save to deny Adam Smeir following a good move by Jonathan Bezzina.
Six minutes later Schembri again saved off an Alan Zahra crosshot and in the 38th minute Kayne Said crossed for Adam Smeir whose effort was blocked by Schembri.
Rabat maintained the pressure throughout the second period and after going close through Adam Smeir and Darren Galea, they finally broke the deadlock as Clint Micallef picked up a loose ball just outside the penalty area and unleashed a low shot which took Schembri completely by surprise. Rabat were again close through Dylan Falzon and Adam Smeir with Sirens going close in the 90th minute through a direct free-kick which was well saved by Spiteri.
Referee: Andrea Scriha.
Melita-Naxxar Lions 1-0
After just a few seconds the Naxxar goalkeeper Bjorn Attard brought off a fine save off a Mark Hyzler free-kick.
Then Kane Micallef hit just wide and in the 13th minute a shot by Bjorn Bondin was deflected by Gerald Ancilleri. Melita sustained the pressure and went close again through Julian Galea and Michael Martin with the Lions responding through Gerald Ancilleri whose effort went inches wide of the far post.
On 36 minutes a shot by Julian Galea was saved by Attard and just before the break an effort by David Azzopardi was blocked by Aaron Galea on the goal line. Two minutes into the second-half Melita went close through Matthew Borg II and then a David Azzopardi free-kick was saved by Attard.
On 52 minutes they scored through Jonathan Mifsud who was however in an offside position and the goal was annulled.
The Amateurs created other opportunities through Mark Hyzler, Julian Galea and Mark Ellul but on 80 minutes Naxxar’s defender Jonathan Grech handled the ball on the goal line with Grech being sent off and Melita given a penalty which was duly converted by Matthew Borg II. Four minutes from time Naxxar were close to an equaliser as Trevor Fenech’s shot hit the side netting.
Referee: Adrian Casha.
St.Andrews-Balzans 1-2
Balzan Youths were the better team as they dictated the match for long stretches.
The Saints’ keeper Frederick Tabone brought off a difficult save to stop a shot by David Agius and he was then again in action in the 15th minute as he came out of his goal to foil Kurt Coleiro.
In the 22nd minute Balzan were again denied by Tabone off an attempt by David Agius whereas in the 33rd minute they protested for a penalty when a shot by Ives Bilocca seemed to be handled by a Saints’defender.
At the other end the Saints went close through a Michael Valenzia free-kick and on another occasion Neil Chetcuti hit just wide following good work by Patrick Briscoe White.
Balzan finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute through a Kurt Coleiro header from a cross by David Agius and 12 minutes into the second half good work between Gilbert Scerri and Alistair Camilleri led to Kurt Coleiro’s second goal.
Balzan maintained the initiative but gradually St. Andrews pushed forward and after wasting an easy opportunity through Kevin Camilleri, they managed to get a consolation goal a minute from time through Michael Calleja after Mintoff had saved partially off a close-range shot by Andrew Tabone.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Zurrieq-B’Bugia St.Peter’s 1-1
Early on Clive Formosa went close for B’Bugia as his crosshot was saved by Julian Azzopardi with Zurrieq wasting a goalscoring opportunity through Godfrey Chetcuti.
On 20 minutes B’Bugia took the lead with Jeffrey Zammit inch-perfect pass finding Ronnie Celeste who beat Azzopardi from close-range. B’Bugia continued to maintain the initiative and they were twice denied by Julian Azzopardi off attempts by Edward Azzopardi and Donald Gatt with Zurrieq going very close through Matthew Genuis whose angled shot was saved with difficulty by Xerxen.
Xerxen again denied Zurrieq in the 50th minute off another attempt by Genuis and then Chris Farrugia wasted a cleart goalscoring opportunity. Zurrieq managed to score in the 63rd minute through Jason Saliba but he handled the ball and the goal was disallowed.
Zurrieq did however manage to get back on level terms ten minutes from time with the B’Bugia keeper losing the ball from a cross by Daniel Zammir and Michael Abdilla was on hand to score with an overhead kick.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.