Four minutes into the match Rabat had a close-range shot by Adam Smeir which was partially saved by Azzopardi with the loose ball being picked up by Darren Galea whose attempt was cleared off the line by Jeffrey Camilleri.

Then a Darren Galea header was saved by the Zurrieq goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi with Zurrieq’s reaction producing efforts by Michael Abdilla and Matthew Genuis which just missed the target.

Rabat forged ahead on 18 minutes with Clint Micallef doing all the work in midfield and Adam Smeir beat Azzopardi with an angled shot.

In the 27th minute the Rabat keeper came out of his goal to dive at the feet of the advancing Matthew Genuis and he was again in action in the 33rd minute as he blocked a strong shot by Clive Shomba.

Just before the break Rabat were close through Clint Micallef. Rabat played the better football throughout the second-half and in the opening minutes they wasted two clear opportunities through Michael Micallef and Darren Galea with Zurrieq coming back through a Godfrey Chetcuti header which just missed the target.

Rabat sealed their win in the 70th minute through Adam Smeir’s second goal after an Alan Zahra effort had bounced off the upright. Zurrieq’s reaction produced dangerous efforts by Joe Lia and Clive Shomba with Rabat wasting another easy opportunity late in the match through Darren Galea.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Balzan-Naxxar L 7-0

Balzan attacked right from the start and early on went close through a low shot by Gilbert Scerri which was saved with difficulty by Bjorn Attard.

Balzan continued t push forward but were never really dangerous in front of goal as Naxxar went close through Chris Farrugia from a well-taken free-kick which went just wide. Balzan broke the deadlock in the 30th minute as a cross by Gilbert Scerri from the left flank was finished off by Kurt Coleiro.

Just before the end of the first period Balzan’s custodian Brian Bonello did well to save a dangerous cross by Naxxar’s defender Jean Paul Zahra.

The second period was a completely different affair with Balzan completely dominating the proceedings and with the Naxxar defence being in complete disarray.

In the 49th minute Simon Mizzi pounced on a mistake by Naxxar keeper Bjorn Attard to make it 2-0 and in the 52nd minute Gilbert Scerri crossed from the left flank for Simon Mizzi to score from close-range.

Simon Mizzi notched his hat-trick in the 62nd minute following an indecision between Naxxar defender Jonathan Grech and his goalkeeper Attard to make it 4-0.

In the 64th minute Naxxar were given a penalty for a foul by Ryan Mifsud on Kevin Naudi but the latter’s shot from the spot was well saved by Brian Bonello.

In the 68th minute Aaron Agius added a fifth goal for Balzan and in the final fifteen minutes Agius scored two further goals to notch his hat-trick to make it 7-0.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Melita-St Andrews 1-0

Three minutes into the match the Saints were close to taking the lead as an effort by Michael Ellul went inches wide of the far post.

The Saints continued to push forward and were again twice close through Michael Valenzia and just before the break the Saints’ custodian Frederick Tabone did well to save a Julian Galea corner-kick.

The Amateurs dictated the run of play throughout the second period and on 60 minutes they protested for a penalty.

In the 64th minute a strong shot by Kane Micallef was well saved by Tabone and later on George Gribbon headed just over the bar from close-range. Melita pushed forward and went very close through Steve Bonnici.

The match seemed heading towards a fair goalless draw but in the 94th minute Melita hit the post through a Jonathan Mifsud header with the ball being deflected to a corner.

From the resultant corner-kick the ball was taken up by Julian Galea whose crosshot was palmed way by Tabone but Melita’s defender George Gribbon was on hand to head home for his team’s winning goal.

Referee: Darren Calleja.

B’Bugia SP-St Venera L 0-1

B’Bugia came out strongly and after only three minutes a free-kick by Michael Ciappara was headed at goal by Jeffrey Zammit with Elvin Attard bringing off a difficult save.

In the sixth minute Attard was again on hand to save off a low shot by Edward Azzopardi and in the 21st minute St Venera’s striker Mark Grech dribbled his way past various B’Bugia defenders but his final shot was saved by Xerxen.

At the other end B’Bugia were close through Jeffrey Zammit and a minute before the end of the first period St Venera gained a free-kick which was saved partially by Xerxen and Pierre Spiteri shot just high from close-range.

A minute into the second period B’Bugia were close to taking the lead when a shot by Jeffrey Zammit was saved by Attard and from the resultant corner-kick taken by Zammit it was Duncan Burke who headed just over the bar.

In their best spell St Venera were twice denied by Matthew Xerxen off efforts by Glen Micallef and Stefan Farrugia and in the 70th minute the crossbar stopped a shot by Alfred Micallef. B’Bugia dominated the remaining 20 minutes and were very close through Jeffrey Zammit, Eric Saliba and Donald Gatt but two minutes into added time St Venera’s striker Mark Grech advanced laterally an crossed from the right flank for substitute Dean Demanuele to head in past Xerxen to give the Lightnings three very important points.

B’Bugia could have grabbed an equaliser but a shot by Ronnie Celeste bounced off the upright.

Referee: Andrea Scriha.