St Andrews-St Venera 1-2

The Saints created the first real opportunity with Andrew Tabone heading at goal but Elvin Attard did well to save. At the other end St.Venera went close on two occasions trough Andrew Hili with the Saints replying through an Andrew Tabone header and a shot by Juinior Sank which were well saved by Attard. Then St Venera’s defender Clint Abela almost committed an own goal but Attard saved with an outstretched hand and in the 30th minute the Saints were again close as Michael Calleja’s low shot just missed the target. On another occasion six minutes later the Saints’s striker Andrew Tabone was denied a certain goal through an excellent save by Attard who turned the ball onto the post with St.Venera wasting an easy opportunity through Glen Micallef. Two minutes before the break the Lightnings opened the score as a Stefan Farrugia free-kick was headed in by Dean Demanuele.

Early on in the second period the post denied St.Andrews a certain goal off an attempt by Jeremy Gatt Coleiro but they made it one-all in the 61st minute through substitute Anthony Gera who converted a penalty which was given after the same player had been fouled by the St.Venera keeper. In the 77th minute Saints’ midfielder Anthony Galea was sent off for an ugly foul on Mark Grech with St.Venera regaining the lead on 84 minutes as Mark Grech’s cross from the left flank was finished off by substitute Ian Falzon. St.Venera were then denied by Tabone off a shot by Andrew Hili with the Saints wasting an easy opportunity through Patrick Briscoe White two minutes into injury-time.

Referee: Chris Francalanza.

Lija A-B’Buga SP 0-1

The Saints had an encouraging start to the match and after just five minutes an Edward Azzopardi corner-kick was headed on by Noel Tabone but the ball was kicked off the goal line. At the other end Lija were very close through Glen Barry whose point-blank shot was cleared by Eric Saliba before the ball crossed the goal line.

Then Lija protested for a penalty for a handling infringement by a B’Bugia player and then a Glen Barry header was saved by Xerxen. Lija continued to play the better football and they were twice close through Alan Ellul and Daniel Cremona with Ronnie Celeste replying for B’Buga with a low shot which went inches wide.Six minutes after the restart the B’Buga goalkeeper blocked off a point-blank shot by Lydon Cilia with B’Buga wasting a sitter through Ronnie Celeste in the 57th minute. In the 80th minute B’Buga took the lead through Edward Azzopardi who beat Luke Bonnici with an excellent shot from just outside the penalty area with Lija’s strong reaction producing efforts by Beppe Antignolo and Jean Paul Scerri which were saved with difficulty by Matthew Xerxen.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Balzan Y.-Melita 3-2

Early on Balzan wasted a glaring goalscoring opportunity through Kurt Coleiro following good work by Aaron Agius and they paid dearly for this error as the Amateurs broke the deadlock on 12 minutes through Matthew Borg I following a short clearance by the Balzan defence. Balzan replied through a dangerous Gilbert Scerri free-kick but they drew level in the 21st minute through a low shot by Aaron Agius. Then Melita were denied by Bonello off a shot by Mark Hyzler and again went close through a Michael Martin free-kick. On 26 minutes Melita regained the lead as a square pass by Matthew Borg I was picked up by Matthew Borg II who beat Sapiano with a low shot but Balzan made it two-all in the 44th minute as substitute David Mamo scored following a personal effort. Seconds later Kurt Coleiro headed Balzan into a 3-2 half-time lead with Melita being unlucky to hit the crossbar through Mark Hyzler in added time. In the 47th minute Balzan were unlucky as a shot by Ives Bilocca bounced off the crossbar and later on they wasted an easy opportunity through Kurt Coleiro.

Melita replied in the 73rd minute with Jonathan Mifsud heading just over the bar from a Mark Hyzler corner-kick and on another occasion an attempt by Mark Hyzler was saved by Bonello. Five minutes from time Balzan’s midfield player Anthony Lagana was booked for a second time and was sent off.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Zurrieq-San Gwann 1-2

Early on San Gwann were close through Malcolm Tirchett but they broke the deadlock in the 15th minute as a Lee Cumbo corner-kick was headed in by Alan Borg. Then shots by Stefan Cutajar were well saved by Zurrieq’s custodian Julian Azzopardi and at the other end Zurrieq almost grabbed the equaliser as a shot by Clive Shumba just missed the target. Two minutes later Zurrieq again went close through Joe Lia. On the stroke of half-time an indecision by the Zurrieq keeper Azzopardi almost led to a second goal but Alan Spiteri hit just wide. San Gwann scored a second goal in the 47th minute through Malcolm Tirchett with Zurrieq responding through Michael Abdilla and Joe Lia whose efforts just missed the target. In the 83rd minute Azzopardi dived at the feet of San Gwann’s striker Roberto Brincat to avoid a third goal with Zurrieq reducing the arrears five minutes later through Godfrey Chetcuti who beat Justin Spiteri with an excellent volley.

Two minutes into injury-time San Gwann were reduced to ten players when Alan Borg was sent off for foul language.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.