Mtarfa were twice close early on as shots by Darik Mohammed Abdila were saved with difficulty by the Swieqi goalkeeper Ryan Marmara.

In the 19th minute Swieqi were unlucky when a headed attempt by their debutant striker Nico Corito hit the upright and the ball was finally cleared off the goal line by Julian Fenech.

A minute later Mtarfa were given a penalty when Swieqi’s defender Matthew Spiteri foled Darik Mohammed Abdila but the sane player shot wide from the penalty spot.

At the other end Swieqi were close through Edward Vella with Mtarfa losing a clear opportunity through Abdila. Then Mtarfa wasted another chance through Mario Stivala and just before the break Swieqi were denied by James Borg off a shot by Nico Corito.

Mtarfa were close through a Jean Oaul Ciantar free-kick which just missed the target.

Just four minutes after the restart, Swieqi took the lead through their captain John Debono from a Baldassare Borg free-kick and in the 53rd minute Nico Corito shot straight at the Mtarfa keeper when well placed.

Swieqi were then again very close on two occasions through Pierre Gaillouste with Mtarfa being denied by Marmara off an effort by Mario Stivala.

In the 65th minute Swieqi increased their lead through a beautiful goal scored by Joseph Gatt with Mtarfa wasting a clear opportunity late in the match through Mario Stivala.

Referee: Stefan Pace

Marsascala-St Venera L 0-2

St Venera Lightnings dictated the proceedings during the first period and after just three minutes they wasted a goal scoring opportunity through Dalton Wingfield.

Marsascala were close through Ivan Pace but in the 13th minute St Venera broke the deadlock through a close-range strong shot by Jeffrey Zammit.

The Lightnings continued to press forward but lacked punch upfront although just before the break they were close through Kevin Vella from a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick.

In the opening five minutes of the second-half, St Venera were twice denied by the Marsascala custodian Clint Cassar off efforts by Kevin Vella and Josef Taliana.

St Venera increased their lead on 58 minutes as Josef Taliana lobbed the ball over the Marsascala keeper from a very difficult position and in the 75th minute a shot by Alfred Micallef was blocked on the Marsascala goal line.

In the closing stages the Lightnings were denied by Cassar off a close-range attempt by Mark Grech.

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Attard-Qrendi 1-0

During the first period Attard were the better team and after nine minutes they were close through a Kurt Zahra direct free-kick.

In the 15th minute the Qrendi keeper brought off a difficult save to deny Kurt Zahra and on the half-hour the same player hit just wide following a personal effort.

On the half-hour Zahra hit just wide following a personal effort with Qrendi responding in a swift counter-attack through Joseph Bugeja whose point-blank shot was parried by Dunstan Zarb.

Just before the break Attard were close through Marco Sultana.

After the change of ends Qrendi created the first opportunities as they were twice close early on through Joseph Bugeja and Chris Farrugia.

Gradually Attard regained the initiative and in the 73rd minute a headed attempt by Andrew Agius was cleared off the line by Kent Nwoku.

Then a close-range header by Darren Galea was well saved by Neville Ciantar but seven minutes from time Attard managed to get the winning goal through Jonathan Saliba.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

St Lucia-Mdina K 3-0

Santa Lucia dictated the run of play during the first period and after just four minutes they were close through a shot by Andrew Sciortino which just missed the target.

Mdina replied through a dangerous attempt by Robert Southward but on 17 minutes the Saints took a deserved lead through an excellent shot by Brian Chetcuti.

Two minutes later Emanuel Cutajar finished off a good move by Marlon Farrugia to make it 2-0 with Mdina coming back through a shot by Peter Grima which was saved by Carabott and an angled effort by Adrian Galea which finished just wide.

Just before the break Mdina were again close through a Nicholas Micallef free-kick which was punched away by Carabott and wasted a clear opportunity through Trevor Fenech.

After the resumption Santa Lucia remained the better side and after going close through Brian Chetcuti, they managed to make it 3-0 on 68 minutes as Adrian Domenicus headed in from a Chetcuti corner-kick.

On another occasion a shot by Wayne Zerafa was well saved by Cini.

Late in the match the Saints’ custodian denied Mdina off efforts by Lars Johannson and Robert Southward.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar.

Section B

Pembroke Ath-Kalkara 1-2

Pembroke dominated the proceedings during the first period and after just two minutes they missed a clear goal scoring opportunity through Ryan Cann.

Then a shot by Jean Claude Borg finished just wide and in the 17th minute a Carlo Leonardi header was saved by Fulvio Azzopardi.

In the 24th minute the Kalkara keeper blocked off a shot by Liam Camilleri with Kalkara going close in a counter-attack through Michael Zammit.

In the 37th minute Kalkara took the lead through an angled shot by Michael Zammit and just before the break Pembroke replied through a Jean Claude Borg free-kick which finished just wide.

After the resumption Pembroke sustained the pressure but lacked punch upfront although they were close through a Nicholas Aquilina free-kick which was well saved by Azzopardi.

In the 72nd minute Kalkara increased their lead through Daniel Mifsud with Pembroke reducing the arrears eight minutes later through a close-range shot by their captain Carlo Leonardi.

In the final stages of the match Pembroke increased the pressure and were close on a number of occasions.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Ghaxaq-Gozo 2-4

The Gozitans opened the score after eight minutes through a close-range shot by Ryan Meilaq with Ghaxaq’s response produced two missed opportunities by Bjorn Dalli.

In the 31st minute Dalli was again very close as an angled shot finished just wide and three minutes later the same player shot wide when well placed.

Then Dalli twice hit the post with the Gozitans being denied by Fardell off a conclusion by Ryan Meilaq. Two minutes after the restart the Gozitans made it 2-0 with Joseph Grima heading in past Fardell from an Anthony Portelli corner-kick.

In the 54th minute the Gozitans were given a penalty for a foul on Josef Buttigieg and Anthony Portelli converted from the spot to make it 3-0.

In the 64th minute Ghaxaq reduced the arrears through Bronwen Bugeja with the Gozitans being denied by Fardell off a strong volley by Joseph Grima.

In the 80th minute the Gozitans scored their best goal through Josef Buttigieg following a personal effort and late in the match Ghaxaq once again hit the woodwork through Bjorn Dalli.

In added time Ghaxaq reduced the arrears through a Bronwen Bugeja header.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar.

Marsa-Gharghur 1-2

The first-half proved to be a balanced affair with Marsa going close early on through Yusif Abdulam with Gharghur responding in the 13th minute as a rising shot by Malcolm Tirchett just missed the target.

Two minutes later Marsa were close through a George Cutajar free-kick and at the other end Marsa’s foreign striker Yusif Abdulam was denied by a fine save by Gharghur’s custodian James Mercieca.

Gradually Gharghur gained the initiative but it was Marsa who were again close in a counter-attack in the 33rd minute through Yusif Abdulam.

Just before the break Gharghur were twice denied by Keith Brincat off a shot by Lee Cumbo and an Alex Ribic free-kick.

After the change of ends Gharghur dominated the initial stages and after just six minutes they broke the deadlock through a close-range shot by Alexander Ribic following a good move between Malcolm Tirchett and Neville Arpa.

Then Sergio Capitta headed just wide but on 59 minutes Gharghur made it 2-0 through an unlucky own-goal by Maesa’s defender Brian Zammit off a shot by Lee Cumbo. Gradually Marsa made a strong reaction and after going close through a Kevin Xerri free-kick, they managed to reduce the arrears in the 75th minute through Kirsten Brincat following a personal effort.

Marsa continued to push forward but the best opportunity belonged to Gharghur with Ivan Ebejer hitting just high over the bar from a pass by Alexander Ribic.

In added time Gharghur’s striker Malcolm Tirchett shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Kirkop U-Luqa SA 2-1

Kirkop United gained the initiative during the first period but it was Luqa who went close just after four minutes through a Nikolai Slavtchev free-kick which finished just high over the bar.

Kirkop responded through Albert Busuttil’s free-kick which was deflected to a corner-kick but in the 20th minute Kirkop won a corner-kick which was taken by Darren Caruana.

Albert Busuttil’s header was partially saved by Psaila but in went Michael Theuma who headed in to give Kirkop the lead.

Luqa’s reaction produced dangerous attempts by Jeffrey Fenech and Mark Ciantar but in the 37th minute Kirkop increased their lead through an excellent volley by Orianski Buhagiar.

After the resumption Luqa reactewd and after just six minutes they were very close through a Jason Good free-kick which finished just wide off the far post Kirkop were close through Andrew Scerri but in the 63rd minute an error by Kirkop’s goalkeeper Carmelo Caruana allowed Luqa to get back into the match through a goal scored by Lee Baldacchino.

Luqa now pushed forward with Lee Baldacchino losing a clear opportunity and then a shot by Kirion Bruno was saved by Caruana.

Luqa then had a shot by Maverick Psaila which just missed the target and a minute from time Kirkop’s striker Orianski Buhagiar was sent off for a second caution.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.