St.Venera L.-Balzan Y 0-3

After just three minutes Balzan Youths broke the deadlock when a Clayton Caruana corner-kick was deflected by a St. Venera defender and Balzan’s striker KURT COLEIRO was on hand to head in past John Agius.

Coleiro was then denied by Agius in the 16th minute and four minutes later St. Venera could have equalizsed as a cross by Antoine Galea was partially saved by Galea and Mark Grech just arrived that bit late with the ball ending in a corner.

Jeffrey Zammit’s corner-kick was saved with difficulty by the Balzan custodian. In the 24th minute Balzan added a second goal with TREVOR THOMAS heading in from a cross by Clayton Caruana and four minutes later a shot by Ismael Zammit from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Agius.

Balzan continued to push forward and were again very close through Clayton Caruana and an attempt by Trevor Thomas which was cleared off the goal line by Lightnings’ defender Yau Mun Law with the ball also bouncing off the upright.

After the change of ends St. Venera shared the exchanges and early on a shot by Jeffrey Zammit was deflected to a corner-kick.

Then a point-blank effort by Glen Micallef was blocked by Joshua Galea but it was 3-0 for Balzan Youths in the 55th minute with Trevor Thomas crossing low from the left flank and KURT COLEIRO finished off from close-range.

The match was now practically settled with St. Venera going close in the 66th through a free-kick well-taken by Nathan Caruana which was saved by Galea and with Balzan coming back through Clayton Caruana who was denied by John Agius.

In the 78th minute St. Venera’s defender Mark Muscat was shown a straight red for an off the ball incident. In the closing stages, play resulted in the midfield sector with no goalmouth attempts by either side.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri

B’buga SP-St.Andrews 0-1

Early on the Saints created a goal-scoring opportunity with Nicky Vella Petroni crossing the ball in the path of Luca Desira Buttigieg who was however anticipated by a B’Bugia defender before concluding at goal.

Then a Matthew Calascione free-kick was headed just over the bar by William Camilleri and on another occasion a Michael Grima effort was cleared with difficulty by the Birzebbuga defence.

In the 23rd minute St. Andrews hit the crossbar through an attempt by Luca Desira Buttigieg but three minutes later Birzebbuga had a Darren Vella effort which was cleared off the line by Patrick Briscoe White.

Birzebbuga were now dictating the run of play with Ronnie Celeste being denied by Tabone and on another occasion a header by Jason Cassar was blocked on the goal line by a Saints’ defender.

After the change of ends the match proved to be a balanced affair with St. Andrews, however, being sharper in front of goal.

They went close early on through Michael Grima but seven minutes into the second period they managed to open the score through MATTHEW CALASCIONE.

The same Saints’ striker was again close in the 55th minute with Birzebbuga gaining a penalty in the 62nd minute for a Neil Chetcuti handsball but Jason Cassar’s shot from the spot finished wide.

At the other end St. Andrews twice went close through Michael Grima and Matthew Calascione and in the 78th minute Birzebbuga wasted a clear opportunity through Noel Tabone.

In the closing stages both teams could have scored with Birzebbuga going close through Clive Formosa and with the Saints having a shot by Michael Grima which was somehow blocked by Celeste.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Melita-Lija Ath 0-1

Melita were close after just four minutes through a personal effort by Julian Galea whose shot was saved with difficulty by Luke Bonnici.

They were again close through Matthew Borg I and on another occasion Julian Galea squandered a goal scoring opportnity as he shot high from close-range with only Bonnici to beat.

At the other end Lija were close through a shot on the turn by Daniel Cremona which ended just high over the bar and in the 19th minute Chris Grech crossed from the vleft flank and Michael Mangion’s headed attempt was saved by Sapiano.

Lija took the lead on 27 minutes with CARLO LEONARDI shooting in past Sapiano with the Amateurs failing to make a reaction with Lija again creating an opportunity just before the break through Chris Pace.

After the change of ends Melita increased the pressure and after just two minutes a Gregory Degabriele free-kick was well saved by Bonnici.

In the 55th minute the Lija custodian was again brought into action when he stopped a strong low shot by Julian Galea.

Melita created other dangerous opportunities through Timothy Hampton and Mark Hyzler with Lija responding in swift counter-attacks through Lydon Cilia who had a shot which ended in the side netting and another conclusion which was blocked by George Gribbon.

Melita sustained the initiative but two minutes from time Lija were again very close through Chris Pace who shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. The Amateurs lost their unbeaten record with Lija reducing the gap to just one point.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Marsa-Mellieha 0-3

The match was a balanced affair throughout the first half with Mellieha creating the early opportunities through Wayne Borg St. John and Jeffrey Gauci.

Marsa were close through Adam Spiteri who shot just wide from close-range and at the other end Mellieha’s midfield player David Fenech was denied by the Marsa custodian Demis Grima.

In the 32nd minute Mellieha’s striker Wayne Borg St.John was fouled by Brian Zammit with referree Farrugia Cann awarding Mellieha a penalty which was duly converted by WAYNE BORG ST. JOHN.

Marsa could have drawn level in the 41st minute when they were also awarded a penalty for a foul by Marvin Abela on Osvaldo Zammit. However Adam Spiteri’s shot from the spot finished just wide.

Mellieha were the better team after the change of ends and early on they were very close to increasing their lead as a square pass by Wayne Borg St. John was finished off by Jeffrey Gauci whose shot was well saved by Demis Grima.

In the 54th minute Mellieha were again close through Gauci whose angled shot just missed the target and then a David Fenech free-kick finished just wide.

Mellieha made it 2-0 on 75 minutes through substitute KAYNE SAID following a quick counter-attack and obtained a third goal in the 86th minute with David Fenech providing a inch-perfect pass for WAYNE BORG ST. JOHN to beat Grima from close-range.

Marsa, who had to play with ten players for the final ten minutes after Shaun Farrugia had been injured and had already made the three substitutions, were close on two occasions through Kevin Scerri and Joe Rizzo.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann