Rabat came out strongly and in the opening minutes they were twice very close to opening the score through Emanuel Muscat and Justin Felice. T

hen a shot by Adam Smeir was saved by the Zejtun goalkeeper with Zejtun coming back through Kenneth Abela whose dangerous conclusion was saved with difficulty by Ivan Cassar.

In the 14th minute Rabat won a free-kick which was taken by Yessous Camilleri with the ball finishing just wide and six minutes later an Emanuel Muscat corner-kick was headed at goal by Joseph Caruana with Farrugia bringing off a fine save.

In the 31st minute the Rabat keeper saved off an Edward Azzopardi free-kick and later on they were again very close through Kenneth Abela.

In the 42nd minute the Zejtun keeper came out of his goal to anticipate Justin Felice and in added time Adam Smeir heade just over the bar.

Aftter the break play was very balanced and early on a personal effort by Zejtun’s swift striker Harun Ahmal Mohammed was deflected to a corner-kick.

The corner was taken by Edward Azzopardi and cleared with difficulty by the Rabat defence.

At the other end Rabat were twice very close to opening the score through attempts by Yessous Camilleri and Justin Felice with Zejtun coming back through a dangerous Edward Azzopardi free-kick which was saved by Ivan Cassar.

Then another Azzopardi free-kick just missed the target but on 77 minutes Zejtun broke the deadlock amidst the jubilant reception by the Corinthians supporters.

Substitute Amadeo Mercieca, who had just substituted for Harun Ahmal Mohammed, rose high to head in past Cassar from a Heathcliffe Schembri free-kick.

Rabat came back strongly and were unlucky as an effort by Justin Felice was saved by Farrugia with the help of the post.

Late in the match Zejtun wasted a clear opportunity through Heathcliffe Schembri with Rabat doing the same through Justin Felice.

Zejtun Corinthians are now sole leaders with Rabat Ajax losing their unbeaten record.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Mgarr-San Gwann 1-4

The first period proved to be a balanced affair with San Gwann going close early on through Marco Mercieca and with Mgarr being denied by Justin Spiteri off a shot by Chris Tabone.

On 16 minutes Mgarr broke the deadlock as a cross by Wayne Buttigieg was headed in by Chris Abela with the Saints responding through a shot by Shaun Vella which was saved with difficulty by Muscat.

Then the Saints’ custodian brought off fine saves to deny Ismael Cutajar and Vosco Martinovic but in the 31st minute San Gwann drew level through a close-range effort by Shaun Vella.

Then they were denied by Muscat off a point-blank effort by Neil Goodlip but the same same player managed to put the Saints 2-1 in front on 42 minutes with a strong shot which went in past the Mgarr keeper.

After the break San Gwann held the initiative for long stretches and after just three minutes they increased their lead through a penalty given for a foul by Malcolm Bugeja on Neil Goodlip which Shaun Vella converted with a low shot.

The Saints continued to dictate the run of play and created a number of opportunities including an effort by Neil Goodlip which was well saved by Muscat.

Mgarr were close through Vosco Martinovic and in the 74th minute the Saints replied with a cross by Shaun Vella but Joseph Achokwu shot wide from in front of goal to waste a clear opportunity.

In the 81st minute San Gwann had a shot by Peter Xuereb which just missed the target and two minutes later the same player was denied by Muscat.

However in the 86th minute San Gwann sealed their merited win with a fourth and final goal by Joseph Achokwu.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Gzira-Naxxar L 3-2

After just three minutes Gzira United broke the deadlock as a cross by Malcolm Sultana was met by Andrew Scerri who headed in past Bjorn Attard.

Naxxar failed to react with Gzira going very close through Yanis Tonna and Keith Bonello and on another occasion a crosshot by Malcolm Sultana was turned round the post by Attard.

At the other end Naxxar were denied by Mark Aquilina off a shot by Glenn Magri but on 25 minutes Magri was fouled by Gzira’s defender Andre White with the referee pointing to the penalty spot.

The penalty was taken by Gilbert Camilleri with the Gzira goalkeeper turning the ball onto the upright and Camilleri was on hand to shoot in to make it one-all.

In the 29th minute Gzira regained the lead through a close-range shot by Thane Micallef who took advantage from a short back-pass by Naxxar’s defender Justin Zammit.

Two minutes later Gzira just missed the target through Andrew Scerri with Naxxar going very close as Gilbert Camilleri, all alone, shot straight into Aquilina.

In the 43rd minute Gzira increased their lead to 3-1 following a good move by Andrew Scerri.

After the resumption Naxxar did all the attacking and early on a strong shot by Gilbert Camiulleri was saved on the goal line by the Gzira keeper.

The Maroons went close through Cedric Sciberras with Naxxar responding through an effort by their captain Victor Bellia which was splendidly saved by Aquilina.

Naxxar continued to dominate the proceedings and deservedly pulled a goal back on 74 minutes as Andre Rocha Da Silva managed to beat Aquilina from a well-taken direct free-kick.

Then Da Silva was unlucky as another free-kiclk hit the post and then Chris Pace headed just wide from close-range.

On another occasion Darren Falzon shot wide from close-range and in the 86th minute a goal scored by Andre Rocha Da Silva was annulled since the scorer was in an offside position.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Senglea-Mellieha 0-1

Mellieha did most of the attacking throughout the first 45 minutes with Philip Camilleri going very close after just two minutes from a well-taken free-kick.

Then they missed an open chance through Daniel Cremona and on 25 minutes the Senglea keeper George Attard brought off a difficult save off a free-kick taken by Nikolay Filipov.

Three minutes later Mellieha’s veteran midfield player Philip Camilleri blasted the ball high over the bar from in front of goal and in the 29th minute a close-range shot by Nikolay Filipov was blocked by a Senglea defender.

In the 37th minute Mellieha were again close through Philip Taylor with Senglea responding through Kevin Galea whose crosshot was saved by Simon Gauci.

The Mellieha keeper was again on hand to save a shot by Ricardo Severino with Mellieha then scoring through Fabiano Bassi who was however in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

Mellieha scored in the 50th minute through Alex Portelli from a pass by Philip Camilleri and eight minutes later they were again very close through Fabiano Bassi.

Gradually Senglea came back going close through Timmy Thomas and Ricardo Severino. In the 69th minute Mellieha replied through Niklolay Filipov whose shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by George Attard.

Despite Senglea’s pressure it was Mellieha who went twice close late in the match through Daniel Cremona and Philip Camilleri.

Three minutes into injury-time the post denied Senglea the equaliser off a shot by their striker Timmy Thomas.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.