Naxxar played the better football during the first 45 minutes but San Gwann created the first goal scoring opportunity early on as a free-kick taken by Mauro Busuttil was headed at goal by Miguel Francica but the ball was cleared off the goal line by Adrian Fenech. In the 12th minute Naxxar broke the deadlock through Darren Falzon who unleashed an excellent shot past the Saints’ keeper Justin Spiteri.

An excellent goal by a very promising young striker. The Saints came back through a Mauro Busuttil free-kick which just missed the target and on another occasion they were denied by Kevin Agius off an attempt by Shaun Vella.

At the other end Naxxar twice went close through Andrea Farrugia and Victor Bellia but nine minutes before the break they made it 2-0 through Andre Rocha Da Silva.

After the change of ends Naxxar remained the better side although the first opportunities belonged to San Gwann who were close early on through Peter Xuereb and Alan Cacciattolo.

On another occasion a pass by Shaun Vella was taken up by Cacciattolo whose shot was saved by the Naxxar keeper who punched the ball onto the post.

Gradually Naxxar regained the upper hand in the midfield sector with Gilbert Camilleri heading just wide from close-range but in the 60th minute they made it 3-0 through Andre Rocha Da Silva who managed to beat Justin Spiteri with a low shot.

Four minutes later San Gwann’s defender Miguel Francica was booked for a second time and was sent off with Naxxar sealing their merited win with a fourth goal scored by Chris Pace who rounded the San Gwann keeper before shooting into an empty net.

The match was now completely decided with the Saints going close late in the match through Marco Mercieca and Shaun Vella.

Referee: Marco Borg.

St Patrick-Zurrieq 2-0

St Patrick were the better team during the first period and after just two minutes they were denied by Julian Azzopardi off a strong shot by Steve Dimech.

The Zurrieq goalkeeper was again on hand to save off a Simon Zerafa free-kick with Zurrieq responding through their Italian striker Rocco Vardaro who shot just wide.

In the 19th minutew Zurrieq’s midfielder shot high from the edge of the penalty area and in the 29th minute St Patrick were denied by Julian Azzopardi off a conclusion by Karl Micallef.

Two minutes later Zurrieq created a dangerous opportunity through Daniel Zammit and a minute before the break St Patrick were very close through Marco Petrovic.

After the resumption the Saints continued to be the better side and early on a shot by David Mamo was saved by Azzopardi. In the 50th minute St Patrick gained a free-kick which was taken by Simon Zerafa with the Zurrieq keeper failing to clear the ball and Illyad Scicluna from close-range shot in to give his team a deserved lead.

The Saints continued to push forward and in the 58th minute Marco Petrovic advanced all alone but hus shot was parried by Azzopardi, the latter again bringing off a fine save two minutes later off a header by Steven Dimech.

Zurrieq were close through Dino Bonnici with St Patrick increasing their lead in the 67th minute as an angled shot by substitute Alex Ellul hit the post and finished at the back of the net.

From then onwards the Saints controlled the match in the midfield sector with Zurrieq going close three minutes from time through a free-kick taken by Klinsmann Grech.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Gzira U-Senglea Ath 2-2

The first period was a balanced affair with Gzira going close on after five minutes as a free-kick by Josef Felice was headed just wide by Hubert Gatt Bonello.

Then Andrew Scerri shot just wide from close-range with Senglea coming back through a dangerous attempt by Simon Aquilina.

In the 13th minute Senglea broke the deadlock with Advan Cakiqi crossing from the left flank and Timmy Thomas shot in from close-range past Mark Aqulina to give his team the lead.

Then Thomas missed an open goal scoring opportunity with Gzira making it one-all in the 22nd minute through an excellent shot by Roberto Brincat following a personal effort on the left flank.

Senglea replied through Advan Cakiqi whose shot was saved with difficulty by Aquilina with Gzira almost taking the lead as a shot by Andrew Scerri hit the foot of the upright. Until half-time play resulted in the midfield sector.

Four minutes after the restart Gzira were close through a Hubert Gatt Bonello free-kick which was saved by George Attard, the latter again doing well in the 58th minute as he saved off a Yanis Tonna corner-kick.

Gradually play ensued in the midfield sector and in the 65th minute the Maroons took the lead as a pass by Roberto Brincat was finished off by Andrew Scerri.

At the other end Senglea went very close through Erin Azzopardi and Timmy Thomas whose shots finished just wide with the Maroons suffering a severe setback in the 70th minute when Hubert Gatt Bonello was cautioned for a second time and was sent off.

Barely a minute later Senglea won a corner-kick which was taken by Advan Cakiqi and Timmy Thomas with a first-time low shot made it 2-2.

In the 80th minute Gzira were denied by George Attard off a point-blank effort by Andrew Scerri and late in the match Senglea scored through Ricardo Severino who was however in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Zebbug R-Birzebbuga SP 0-3

The Saints dictated the run of play throughout the first-half going close early on, on two occasions through Ronnie Celeste.

In the 12th minute Birzebbuga were very close as an Emil Raducu conclusion from the edge of the penalty area finished just wide and a minute later an attempt by Ronnie Celeste was saved with difficulty by Pace.

Birzebbugia kept pushing forward and in the 27th minute Celeste, all alone in front of goal, hesitated and Pace came out of his goal to smother the Saints’ striker’s shot.

At the other end Zebbug won a corner-kick which was taken by Clint Caruana and George Saliba headed just over the bar.

Just before half-time Birzebbuga finally managed to break the deadlock through a persistent effort by their experienced striker Carlos Camenzuli.

After the change of ends Zebbug improved their performance and were close on three successive occasions through Gilbert Scerri and twice through Jeremy Agius.

Gradually Birzebbuga regained the initiative and after wasting an easy opportunity through Emil Raducu, the same player made amends in the 69th minute as he managed to score from close-range following goos work by Carlos Camenzuli.

The Saints could have added a further goal in the 71st minute but Raducu’s angled shot finished just wide and two minutes later a Camenzuli free-kick was deflected to a corner-kick which was taken by Camenzuli and headed in by Emil Raducu to make it 3-0.

Late in the match the Saints were denied by Pace off an attempt by Noel Tabone.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.