Xghajra dictated the run of play early on but were never really dangerous infront of goal.

On 20 minutes they were however close with the Qrendi goalkeeper bringing off a difficult save to stop a Jonathan Cachia attempt.

Qrendi replied through Michael Camilleri who hit just high over the crossbar and before the end of the first period Xghajra were close through Neil Attard.

Seven minutes into the second period Xghajra were close through a Jonathan Cachia free-kick with Qrendi responding through Saviour Sacco whose close-range shot was saved by Camilleri.

The match continued to be very balanced and ten minutes from time Xghajra could have grabbed the winning goal but the Qrendi goalkeeper Roderick Mascena did well to bring off an excellent save off a close-range header by Jesmond Azzopardi.

Referee: Franco Cachia.

Ghaxaq-Attard 0-3

Three minutes into the match Attard were very close through Andrew Agius.

Then they were unlucky as a shot by Mark Tabone bounced off the crossbar and later on the Ghaxaq goalkeeper brought off a fine save to deny Kurt Zahra.

Attard continued to push forward and on the half-hour they gained a penalty for a foul on Fabian Cutajar and Mark Tabone beat Celeste from the penalty spot.

On another occasion Attard were again foiled by Celeste off a shot by Floyd Farrugia and a minute before the break Mark Saliba hit just high over the bar following a personal effort.

Six minutes after the restart Attard scored a second goal through Kurt Zahra and then they were again very close through Josef Axisa and Kurt Zahra. Attard sustained the pressure and on 72 minutes they increased further their lead as a cross by Andrew Agius was finished off by Firas Aboulezz.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Section B

Gharghur-Kirkop 4-2

Early on Gharghur were very close through Antonello Brincat but it was Kirkop who broke the deadlock as a pass by Oswald Zammit was finished off by Michael Theuma.

Seconds later Marvic Grech obtained a deserved equaliser for Gharghur with the same player being denied by Cardona off a well-taken free-kick.

In the 28th minute the Kirkop goalkeeper saved partially off a low shot by Brincat and Marvic Grech found no difficulty in making it 3-1.

On the stroke of half-time Kirkop opened new hopes with Alan Cacciattolo taking advantage of a short clearance by the Gharghur defence to beat Piscopo from close-range.

Seven minutes after the restart Kirkop were denied by Piscopo off a shot by Benoit Buhagiar and on another occasion an attempt by Alan Cacciattolo was blocked on the goal line.

Gharghur went close through Antonello Brincat but the same player made it 4-2 in the 73rd minute as he took advantage from an indecision by the Kirkop defence. Five minutes from time Gharghur could have added a further goal but Jesmond Micallef’s point blank header was saved by Cardona.

Referee: Pierre Bonnici.

Kalkara-Gozo 2-2

Despite being held to a draw, Gozo still firmly lead Section B, nine points ahead of Gzira who, however, have a match in hand.

After six minutes Gozo were close as Anthony Portelli headed high over the bar from a Joe Portelli corner-kick.

Then a Josef Buttigieg crosshot was saved by Barbara but on 20 minutes Kalkara forged ahead through a low shot by Joe Mizzi with the ball finishing in the back of the net despite Sammy Bajada’s attempts to clear the ball off the goal line.

Two minutes later the Kalkara keeper brought off a fine save to deny Joe Portelli and in the 44th minute Barbara came out of his goal to stop the Gozitan striker John Camilleri.

On the stroke of half-time Gozo wasted a goal scoring opportunity with Anthony Portelli shooting straight into Barbara when all alone in front of goal.

In the opening minutes of the second period Gozo were denied by Barbara off efforts by Josef Buttigieg and John Camilleri but they made it one-all in the 55th minute with substitute Charles Hili beating Barbara from close-range following a corner-kick taken by Brian Meilaq.

A minute later John Camilleri had a goal annulled as he was in a offside position.

Kalkara replied through Kevin Tonna whose shot was saved by Xuereb and later on an attempt by Neville Zerafa just missed the target.

Kalkara were then denied by Xuereb off a point-blank shot by Joe Mizzi but they managed to take the lead on 81 minutes through Nicholas Gatt from a cross by James Camilleri.

Gozo’s reaction produced a last-minute equaliser scored by Charles Hili who beat Barbara with a strong shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.