Sirens-St.Venera L 2-1
The main protagonist during the first period was the Sirens’ keeper Romeo Schembri who brought off a number of difficult saves to deny St.Venera.
Schembri did very well after just four minutes as he stopped a strong shot by Stefan Farrugia and then Yau Mun Law headed just wide from a Stefan Farrugia free-kick.
In the 11th minute Sirens broke the deadlock through a close-range shot by Glenn Gatt with the Lightnings’ reaction producing shots by Mark Grech and Glenn Micallef which were well saved by Schembri.
In the 26th minute Dylan Mercieca crossed from the left flank but James Galea hit wide with an open goal and two later a Stefan Farrugia free-kick was saved with difficulty by the Sirens’ keeper.
St Venera continued to push forward and finally managed to beat Schembri through a Mark Grech ground to obtain a much deserved equaliser.
A minute before the end of the first-half St.Venera went close through Stefan Farrugia from a direct free-kick.
The Lightnings continued to dictate the run of play throughout the second-half with the Sirens’ keeper continuing to be the protagonist with a string of fine saves.
On their part Sirens had a Rueben Bonnett free-kick which was saved by Elvin Attard and they also wasted an easy goal scoring opportunity through substitute Joseph Camilleri.
In the 89th minute Sirens got the goal that mattered through Glenn Gatt after an indecision by the St. Venera defence.
Sirens’ defender Neil Mercieca passed some comments and was sent off for a second yellow card
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
St.Andrew’s-B’Bugia SP 1-0
The first-half was dominated by the respective defences and we had to wait till the 23rd minute for the first real goal scoring opportunity with St. Andrew’s having an attempt by Alex Busuttil which was cleared off the goal line by Eric Saliba.
The Saints continued to create the best opportunities with a Michael Valenzia dipper being saved by Mercieca and then the crossbar stopped a shot by Neil Gatt Coleiro.
At the other end B’Bugia wasted a goal scoring opportunity through Noel Tabone and seven minutes after the restart they were again very close through Ronnie Celeste.
Gradually St. Andrew’s dictated the run of play and they created two dangerous attempts by Jeremy Gatt Coleiro. On another occasion a shot by Brian Chetcuti was well saved by Mercieca.
Seven minutes into the second-half Saints’ keeper Tabone dived at the feet of the advancing Ronnie Celeste with St. Andrew’s having a shot by Jeremy Gatt Ccoleiro which just missed the target.
In the 79th minute Gatt Coleiro tried his luck once again but his header was well saved by Mercieca but in the 89th minute they broke the deadlock through Michael Calleja following a personal effort for what proved to be the decisive goal.
Referee: Andrea Scriha.
San Gwann-Melita 2-0
The first-half was a balanced affair with Melita going close in the 15th minute as a shot by Kane Micallef went just wide.
Then a shot by Matthew Borg II just missed the target and in the 31st minute a Matthew Borg II move ended with Bjorn Bondin shooting just high over the bar.
At the other end San Gwann went very close through Clint Gatt and two attempts by Ryan Zammit and early on in the second-half a shot by Antoine Zahra hit his team mate who happened to be on the goal line.
Melita wasted a sitter through Kane Micallef following good work by Matthew Borg II with San Gwann replying through Clint Gatt and Sergio Hili whose efforts were well saved by Sapiano.
On 72 minutes Saints’ player Lee Cumbo was booked for a second time and was sent off but eight minutes later they forged into the lead as a good move by Roberto Brincat was finished off by Antoine Zahra.
Both teams created various opportunities but in the 89th minute the Saints made sure of the three points through Roberto Brincat (the best player on the field of play) who lobbed over Matthew Sapiano.
Three minutes into injury-time Melita had a goal scored by Matthew Borg II annulled for an offside infringement.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Mgarr-Balzan Y 1-2
After ten minutes Balzan were close as Kurt Coleiro headed just wide from a cross by Ives Bilocca.
Then an attempt by Aaron Agius was well saved by Bruce Debattista and in the 31st minute Balzan’s striker Antoine Sacco missed a sitter shooting wide infront of an open goal.
In their first real attack, Mgarr broke the deadlock through an Eric Sciberras penalty, a penalty given for a foul on Alex Portelli.
Balzan replied through a header by Victor Micallef which went just over the bar and then they were unlucky to hit the post through Ives Bilocca.
Just before the change of ends Balzan were again very close through Gilbert Scerri.
In a counter-attack in the 59th minute James Borg went close for Mgarr with Balzan replying through a cross by Aaron Agius and Kurt Coleiro’s header was saved by Marmara.
In the 70th minute Balzan made it one-all as a Gilbert Scerri free-kick was headed in by substitute Alistair Camilleri and later on a dangerous shot by Gilbert Scerri was deflected to a corner-kick.
On another occasion Simon Mizzi hit just wide from a favourable position. In the 88th minute Alistair Camilleri got the winning goal for Balzan and two minutes into added time Mgarr’s defender Gordon Said was shown the red card following an incident with a Balzan player.
Referee: Mario Apap.