Balzan Y-Melita 0-0

After just seven minutes the Amateurs’ goalkeeper Matthew Sapiano did well to stop an attempt by Bjorn Bondin and on 10 minutes Melita won a free-kick which was taken by Kane Micallef and saved by Joshua Galea.

Play remained balanced in the initial stages with Melita going very close through a George Gribbon header which finished just high over the bar and with Balzan replying through an Ivan Zammit close-range shot which just missed the target.

Gradually Melita gained the upper hand in the midfield sector and started to create the better opportunities.

On two occasions they were denied by Joshua Galea off a header by Mark Hyzler and a shot by Michael Martin and on another occasion Kane Micallef hit just wide from close range.

In the 40th minute Balzan were close to taking the lead with Ivan Zammit’s through-pass finding Clint Micallef who shot wide infront of goal.

The second period remained balanced although Balzan dictated the proceedings. They went close in the 56th minute through a corner-kick taken by Ivan Zammit with Sapiano fisting the ball away with Melita responding through George Gribbon who headed wide from a Kane Micallef corner-kick.

In the 71st minute Melita’s central defender Daniel Gravino came to his side’s rescue when he blocked a shot by Aaron Agius and nine minutes later Balzan suffered a severe handicap when Agius was sent off by referee Zammit for a bad foul on Melita’s defender George Gribbon.

This incident led Balzan in settling for a draw with the Amateurs failing to take advantage of the situation.

This result means that leaders Balzan Youths have maintained their four-point advantage over the Amateurs with third-placed Lija hoping to narrow the gap as they have a game in hand.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Mellieha SC-B’buga SP 0-1

Mellieha dictated the proceedings throughout the first 45 minutes and early on they were close to opening the score through Patrick Camilleri and David Fenech.

In the 16th minute Wayne Borg St. John shot just wide following a square pass by Kayne Said and two minutes later the B’Bugia custodian Paul Celeste brought off a spectacular save to deny William Borg.

Mellieha continued to push forward with efforts by Luke Attard and Wayne Borg St. John ending just wide off the far post and at the other end the Saints were denied by Simon Gauci off a close-range effort by Noel Tabone.

Five minutes before the break Mellieha were close to taking the lead through Borg St. John whose shot scraped the upright. The second part of the match belonged to Birzebbuga who dictated the proceedings.

A minute into the second half the Saints went close through Ronnie Celeste and on the hour a Mark Ellul grounder was well saved by Paul Celeste.

A minute later Birzebbuga were denied a certain goal by Gauci off a point-blank header by Darren Vella but the best opportunity belonged to Mellieha with Wayne Borg St. John however shooting wide infront of an open goal.

In the 75th minute Birzebbuga took the lead with Mark Ellul crossing from the right flank and NOEL TABONE shot in past Simon Gauci.

Mellieha’s late reaction produced an attempt by Borg St. John which was saved by Celeste and a missed opportunity by William Borg.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Lija A.-Marsa 2-1

As expected Lija did the attacking during the first forty-five minutes with Marsa’s goalkeeper Paul Medina being the protagonist with various fine saves.

He brought fine saves to deny Daniel Cremona and Carlo Leonardi and in the 18th minute the Marsa custodian parried successive shots by Carlo Leonardi and Daniel Scerri.

Seven minutes later Medina was again on hand to save off a Scerri header with Marsa responding in the 26th minute through Adam Spiteri who shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Nine minutes before the end of the first half Lija gained a free-kick which was taken by Lydon Cilia and the ball hit the crossbar.

After the change of ends, Lija maintained the initiative and after eight minutes Medina brought off a difficult save to stop a low shot by Lydon Cilia.

Lija were then again very close through Daniel Cremona and Andre Scicluna with Marsa, in one of their swift counter-attacks, having an Alan Delceppo headed attempt which just missed the target.

On 70 minutes Marsa ended up with ten players when Steve Callus was shown a straight red card for retaliating on Lija’s striker Carlo Leonardi.

Despite this setback, Marsa opened the score five minutes later with CHRIS CIOFFI beatoing Luke Bonnici from close-range but Lija made it one-all in the 79th minute when a cross by Lydon Cilia was headed in by ANDRE SCICLUNA past Medina, the latter being at fault.

Lija continued to attack, going close through Carlo Leonardi and Beppe Antignolo.

The match seemed heading to a one-all draw but two minutes into added time, Lija grabbed the decisive goal through a tremendous shot by BEPPE ANTIGNOLO which left Medina completely helpless.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Mgarr U.-Naxxar L 0-3

After just three minutes Naxxar went close through Adrian Fenech whose rising shot just missed the target.

In the 14th minute Mark Deguara’s header hit the post and on another occasion an effort by Victor Bellia finished just high overf the bar.

Mgarr responded through a Josef Micallef free-kick with David Vella saving with difficulty with Naxxar breaking the deadlock on 26 minutes through MARK DEGUARA.

Five minutes later Naxxar’s striker Andy Bartolo missed a sitter following good work by Chris Farrugia and just before the end of the first period Naxxar were again very close through Mark Deguara.

Barely two minutes after the restart, Naxxar doubled their lead through ANDY BARTOLO whose shot hit the foot of the upright before ending up in the net.

Mgarr replied through a shot by Anthony Muscat which was saved by Vella and at the other end the Mgarr goalkeeper brought off fine saves to stop attempts by Adrian Fenech and Mark Deguara.

However Grech was beaten for the third time in the 67th minute when a crosshot by Chris Farrugia was palmed away by the Mgarr keeper but Naxxar’s striker VICTOR BELLIA was on hand to shoot home from close-range.

Naxxar then wasted a clear opportunity through Andy Bartolo and the same player was involved in an incident with an Mgarr player in the 78th minute and was shown a straight red card. Eight minutes from time Naxxar hit the post off a strong shot by Mark Deguara.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.