Gharghur-St Andrews 0-3

After just seven minutes the Saints took the lead from a contested penalty award. They had a corner-kick taken by Nicky Vella Petroni. Jonathan Briscoe White headed at goal with the ball first hitting the post and then being handled by a Gharghur defender. From the spot-kick, Anatol Debono beat Aquilina.

The Saints never looked back and they were denied by the Gharghur keeper off shots by Vella Petroni and Michael Grima.

On 16 minutes a through-pass by Vella Petroni was picked up by Michael Calleja who advanced and then shot past Aquilina with a low angled shot. In the 22nd minute St Andrews made it 3-0 as Michael Grima’s square pass found Nicky Vella Petroni who unleashed an excellent shot which left Aquilina helpless.

Gharghur failed to put in a reaction and it was again the Saints who went close on two occasions. A shot by Neil Chetcuti was well saved by Aquilina and on another occasion a Michael Valenzia free-kick just missed the target.

After the break, the match was rather monotonous with the Saints controlling the match in the midfield sector.

After three minutes the Gharghur keeper saved off a shot by Michael Calleja and at the other end Gharghur created dangerous opportunities through Shaun Vella. Gradually the match became very tough and on 79 minutes Gharghur’s defender Daniel Borg was sent off for an ugly foul on Kurt Coleiro, the latter being unable to resume the match.

The Saints had already made the three substitutions which meant that both teams were down to 0 players.

Six minutes from time an incident led to two further players being sent off: Gharghur’s Marco Mercieca and Saints’ substitute Timmy Martin.

In the closing stages Gharghur were twice very close to getting a consolation goal through shots by Daniel Cremona and Alan Spiteri which were saved with difficulty by Rueben Gauci.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut

St Venera L- Rabat A 2-2

The initial stages of the matches ensued in the midfield sector with both sets of defenders dominating the proceedings.

Gradually Rabat starting to dictate the run of play and on 18 minutes they wasted a clear opportunity through Joseph Caruana and two minutes later the Lightnings were close through Andrew Hili.

In the 22nd minute Rabat broke the deadlock as a pass by Adam Smeir was finished off by his team mate Joseph Caruana. In the 25th minute the St Venera keeper denied Rabat a second goal off a close-range shot by Adam Smeir following good work by Justin Felice.

But on 35 minutes St Venera gained a free-kick which was taken by Glen Micallef with the Rabat keeper losing the grip on the ball and Andre Cachia was on hand to shoot in and make in 1-1.

In the 39th minute Rabat wasted a clear opportunity through Emanuel Muscat with St Venera responding through a dangerous effort by Mark Grech.

After the restart, play continued to be balanced with St Venera going close after just two minutes through a low shot by Mark Grech which was saved by Cilia.

In the 63rd minute the Lightnings took the lead through a Gareth Magri corner-kick which deceived the Rabat keeper.

In the 68th minute the Rabat keeper came out of his goal to block on Mark Grech with the Ajax gradually making a reaction and were rewarded for their efforts with the equalising goal on 78 minutes as an Emanuel Muscat free-kick was finished off by Chris Schembri.

At the other end St Venera had shots by Gareth Magri and Glen Micallef which finished just wide with Rabat exerting pressure late in the match as they were close on a couple of occasions.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Lija A-Zurrieq 2-0

The first period proved to be a balanced affair and after just 10 minutes Lija broke the deadlock through Keith Darmanin as his free-kick went in past Julian Azzopardi. Zurrieq came back nine minutes later with a shot by Daniel Zammit just finishing wide.

In the 21st minute Zammit headed wide from a cross by Clayton Gatt and on the half-hour the Lija keeper brought off an excellent save off a free-kick taken by Johan Briffa.

Lija responded in the 34th minute through a Keith Darmanin free-kick and four minutes before the end of the first-half Lija made it 2-0 as a cross by Heathcliffe Schembri was finished off by Antoine Sacco.

At the other end Zurrieq were close through Johan Briffa.

After the resumption, Zurrieq sustained their reaction and after just two minutes they were close through Clive Shumba.

At the other end the Zurrieq keeper saved off a free-kick taken by Heathcliffe Schembri with Zurrieq creating their best opportunity in the 63rd minute through a volley by Dino Bonnici which just missed the target.

Zurrieq were then again close through Clive Shumba from a Johan Briffa corner-kick with Lija coming back through shots by Beppe Antignolo and Keith Darmanin with Julian Azzopardi saving on both occasions.

Just before the final whistle Lija were close through a Keith Darmanin free-kick and wasted a clear opportunity through Matthew Borg. Lija are now once again leading the league standings, just one point ahead of St Andrews, the latter with a game in hand.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Zebbug R-Birzebbuga SP 0-3

The first period was a very balanced affair with the Rangers going close after just five minutes through Sandro Calleja who shot just high over the bar. In the ninth minute the Rangers’ custodian brought off a difficult save to deny Elton Bugeja and a minute later Rangers’ striker James Galea headed just wide from a free-kick taken by Stephen Calleja.

On 16 minutes Birzebbuga took the lead with Andy Mangion’s pass being deflected by a Rangers’ defender and in went Carlos Camenzuli who lobbed in over Pace.

Then the Saints wasted a clear opportunity through Elton Bugeja and the same player then hit just high from a direct free-kick.

Zebbug responded through attempts by Stephen Calleja and Omar Rababah but it was Birzebbuga who managed to score a second goal through a low shot by their prolific scorer Carlos Camenzuli.

Just before the break Zebbug wasted a clear opportunity through James Galea.

After the change of ends Zebbug failed to put in a reaction with the Saints pressing forward and on two occasions they were denied by Martin Pace who brought off excellent saves off shots by Clive Formosa and Robert Adami.

In the 67th minute Birzebbuga made it 3-0 with Ronnie Celeste doing all the work on the right flank and from his cross Carlos Camenzuli shot in from close range to notch his personal

hat-trick.

In the 74th minute a Robert Adami free-kick just missed the target with Zebbug responding through James Galea whose shot was saved by Mansueto. Three minutes from time the Saints missed an easy opportunity through substitute Keith Muscat.

Referee: Mario Apap