Eight minutes into the match Zurrieq broke the deadlock through Matthew Genuis whose lob from 30 metres beat Balzan keeper Brian Bonello.

Genuis was again close in the 11th minute but a minute later Balzan managed to equalise through Aaron Agius after his first shot had been partially saved by the Zurrieq goalkeeper.

At the other end the Balzan custodian brought off a difficult save from a Genuis free-kick with the Youths reply producing a Gilbert Scerri free-kick and a shot by Antoine Sacco which just missed the target.

In the 33rd minute Zurrieq made it 2-1 through Michael Abdilla with Balzan responding through dangerous efforts by Aaron Agius and Ives Bilocca. Balzan gained the upper-hand in the midfield sector during the second period and made it two-all on 58 minutes through an excellent shot by substitute Marlon Monreal.

Balzan scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 78th minute through Aaron Agius - free-kick and two minutes later Zurrieq’s defender Jeffrey Camilleri was involved in an incident with a Balzan player and was sent off.

In the 85th minute Balzan scored again through Simon Mizzi who was however in a clear offside position and the goal was rightly annulled.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

San Gwann-Rabat 1-1

Although the first period was quite balanced, it was Rabat Ajax who created the better opportunities.

Early on they went close through Michael Micallef and Dylan Falzon and on another occasion a low shot by Adam Smeir was saved by Justin Spiteri.

San Gwann had a shot by Malcolm Tirchett which just missed the target and on 28 minutes a free-kick well taken by Roberto Brincat was saved by Rabat’s custodian Jonathan Azzopardi.

In the 37th minute Rabat’s striker Adam Smeir hit just wide and two minutes later the Saints? keeper brought off a fine save to deny Emanuel Muscat. Just before the change of ends Rabat won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Clint Micallef hit just wide of the far post.

Rabat gained the initiative after the break and were close to taking the lead through Darren Galea and Clint Micallef. San Gwann suffered a setback in the 69th minute as they lost Alan Borg who was sent off as he was shown a second yellow card.

Rabat wasted a clear opportunity through Joseph Caruana in the 76th minute but four minutes later San Gwann forged ahead through Malcolm Tirchett’s penalty kick, a penalty given for a foul on Kurt Micallef and disputed by the Rabat players.

Four minutes later Jonathan Bezzina obtained Rabat’s deserved equaliser and this goal was followed by gestures made by Saints? player Kurt Micallef towards the Rabat supporters who was sent off.

Rabat wasted an easy opportunity through Darren Galea who miskicked infront of goal from a cross by Bezzina and at the other end San Gwann were close through Roberto Brincat.

Four minutes into injury-time Rabat could have scored the winning goal but Adam Smeir incredibly hit high over the bar when unmarked infront of an open goal. Referee Francalanza had a very positive match.

Referee: Chris Francalanza.

Sirens-St Andrews 1-2

In the opening five minutes Michael Ellul was twice close for the Saints and in the 11th minute an effort by Michael Valenzia was well saved by Schembri.

The Sirens?keeper was again on hand to stop a shot by Adrian Galea and later on a good move by Alex Busuttil allowed Andrew Camilleri Kamsky a clear goal scoring opportunity but he shot high over the bar. In the 39th minute minute Sirens were very close as a volley by Kennet Zammit went just high over the bar and a minute later the Saints?keeper Tabone saved off a close-range shot by Justin Mercieca.

Three minutes after the restart, the Saints wasted an easy opportunity through Adrian Galea but they took the lead in the 57th minute as Anthony Galea headed in past Schembri from a cross by Neil Chetcuti.

In the 69th minute Sirens equalised through substitute Glen Gatt following a good move by Ryan Theuma. Gradually the Saints regained the initiative and they were denied by Schembri off an attempt by Alex Busuttil.

In the 73rd minute the Sirens keeper turned a shot by Anthony Galea onto the post and from the rebound Alex Busuttil miskicked infront of goal. The Saints then wasted two opportunities through Andrew Valenzia and Adrian Galea but six minutes from time they managed to score the all important goal that gave them a very important win through Adrian Galea.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

B’Bugia SP-Melita 2-3

The Amateurs dictated the run of play early on and after hitting the post through Matthew Borg II, they broke the deadlock in the 10th minute as a low cross by Bjorn Bondin was finished off by Kane Micallef.

The same player hit just wide a minute later with B’Bugia responding through Noel Tabone who headed wide from a corner-kick taken by Jeffrey Zammit.

The Amateurs made it 2-0 on 21 minutes through Julian Galea and later on Leslie Burke cleared the ball off the goal line off a shot by Melita’s midfield player Mark Hyzler. Melita were again close through David Azzopardi but gradually B’Bugia settled down and were twice very close through Ronnie Celeste.

Seconds into the second-half B’Bugia reduced the arrears through Johan Zammit following a good move between Jeffrey Zammit and Ronnie Celeste.

They drew level in the 52nd minute through a low shot by Jeffrey Zammit with Melita going very close in the 66th minute through two successive shots by Julian Galea which were cleared off the goal line by Eric Saliba.

Melita however regained the lead in the 72nd minute through Mark Hyzler’s angled shot but two minutes later they suffered a blow as their substitute keeper Michael Carter was sent off for a professional foul on Ronnie Celeste.

Bjorn Bondin had to take over between Melita’s posts. B’Bugia’s late efforts produced a shot by Johan Zammit which just went high over the bar but it was Melita who created the better opportunities as Xerxen denied them off attempts by Julian Galea and Matthew Borg II.

Referee: Sammy Attard.