The first-half was a balanced affair with Xghajra going close early on through Chris Zammit.

In the 11th minute Mdina were given a penalty for a foul on Peter Grima and Clint Caruana duly converted from the spot to put Mdina ahead.

Xghajra then wasted a clear opportunity through Ali Hanaf with Mdina responding through a personal effort by Lars Johannson whose shot on the run just missed the target. Just before the break Xghajra were close through Chris Zammit.

After the change of ends Mdina were the better side with Xghajra going close early on through a Chris Zammit free-kick which was saved by Chris Cini.

In the 53rd minute Mdina increased their lead through Peter Grima from a square pass by Lars Johannson with Xghajra responding through another dangerous Chris Zammit free-kick.

In the 67th minute Mdina were denied by Roderick Camilleri off an inswinging corner-kick taken by Clint Caruana and five minutes later the Xghajra keeper brought off another fine save to deny Lars Johannson.

Then Mdina had a shot by Johannson which Camilleri turned onto the post but in the 84th minute Peter Grima finished off a good move by Clint Caruana to make it 3-0.

Mdina’s fourth and final goal was scored two minutes from time through substitute Clint Scerri for a 4-0 final scoreline. Mdina recovered from three successive defeats to steer away from the bottom positions of the league standings.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Siggiewi-Swieqi U 1-1

Siggiewi opened the score after just two minutes as Roderick Farrugia headed in from close-range off a free-kick taken by Jason Camilleri.

Swieqi’s immediate reaction produced a point-blank header by Stacey Vella which was well saved by Chris Schembri and at the other end Siggiewi hit the post off an effort by Jason Camilleri.

On the half-hour Swieqi were very close through a Joe Gatt direct free-kick which finished just high over the bar and five minutes before the break Siggiewi’s defender Mark Aquilina was sent off for an ugly foul on Justin Camilleri.

In added time Swieqi hit the upright off a Joe Gatt direct free-kick.

After the resumption Swieqi gained the initiative and after six minutes they were very close through Joseph Gatt.

However they managed to draw level in the 54th minute through a beauty of a shot by Stacey Vella with Siggiewi’s immediate reaction producing a shot by Jason Camilleri which ended just high over the bar.

Then a shot by Mark Camilleri was saved by Edwards with Swieqi being denied by Schembri off a strong shot by Pierre Gaillouste.

In the closing stages Swieqi increased the pressure and were twice denied certain goals by the Siggiewi keeper off strong shots by Joe Gatt and Pierre Gaillouste.

A fair result in one of the best matches this season.

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Section B

Kalkara-Gharghur 1-3

Kalkara gained the initiative early on and in the first five minutes they were twice close through Kevin Tonna and Glenn Azzopardi.

At the other end Gharghur just missed the target through a Malcolm Tirchett header with Kalkara wasting a glaring goal scoring opportunity through Clayton Micallef.

In the 25th minute Gharghur were denied by Azzopardi off an Alexander Ribic shot but two minutes later they broke the deadlock through an unfortunate own-goal through Kalkara’s midfield player Nicholas Gatt.

In the 41st minute Gharghur increased their lead as Ivan Ebejer finished off a cross by Ryan Debattista and in added time Gharghur had a Malcolm Tirchett free-kick was well saved by Azzopardi.

Just six minutes after the break Kalkara reduced the arrears through an own-goal by Gharghur’s defender Daniel Borg off a shot by Michael Zammit.

In the 62nd minute Gharghur had a goal scored by Ivan Ebejer which was annulled for a handling infringement and then they were twice denied by Kalkara’s keeper Fulvio Azzopardi off attempts by Malcolm Tirchett and Alexander Rubic.

In the 80th minute Gharghur increased their lead through Nenad Veselji following a personal effort and four minute they wasted a clear opportunity through Tirchett.

This is the fifth successive win for leaders Gharghur.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Pembroke Ath-Gozo 2-4

The Gozitans dictated the run of play during the first-half although the first opportunity belonged to Pembroke through a shot by Jean Claude Borg with Matthew Portelli bringing off a fine save.

In the 6th minute Gozo were given a penalty for a foul by Andre Cachia on Joseph Grima with Anthony Portelli duly converting from the spot.

Then the Gozitans were again close through Joseph Grima and Edgar Portelli but in the 19th minute Gozo made it 2-0 through Joseph Portelli following good work by Ian Xuereb.

Gradually Pembroke came back strongly and on the half-hour Luke Desira headed just wide from a Geoffrey Spiteri free-kick. Late in the first-half Pembroke had a header by Carlo Leonardi which was cleared off the goal line by Jeffrey Meilaq.

After the break Pembroke created the first opportunity through a point-blank shot by Carlo Leonardi which was blocked by Matthew Portelli but in a counter-attack in the 51st minute the Gozitans made it 3-0 through an angled shot by Ian Xuereb.

Three minutes later Pembroke reduced the arrears with Robert Zammit heading in from close-range with the Gozitans going close through Joseph Portelli and also wasted an easy opportunity through Michael Zerafa.

Six minutes from time Pembroke missed a sitter through Laurent Farrugia. In added time Gozo scored a fourth goal through Joseph Grima with Pembroke reducing the arrears through an excellent free-kick taken by Junior Sank.

This win has permitted the Gozitans to steer clear off the bottom position

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Luqa SA-Marsa 0-0

After just two minutes Luqa were denied by Keith Brincat off a header by Lee Baldacchino with Marsa gradually gaining the initiative and on two occasions efforts by Christian Debono and Kevin Xerri just missed the target.

Then a free-kick taken by Brazen Demicoli was saved by Paul Psaila, the latter again doing well in the 28th minute as he saved a shot by Kirsten Brincat following a personal effort.

Four minutes later Luqa responded through Jason Good whose effort was saved by Keith Brincat and in the 36th minute Marsa’s striker Christian Debono shot just wide.

Five minutes before the break Luqa missed a clear opportunity through Roderick Debattista

After the change of ends Marsa gained the initiative early on and on 61 minutes a Kevin Xerri free-kick was saved by Paul Psaila.

Then Marsa had shots by Yusif Abdullah and and Keith Brincat which finished just wide with Luqa gradually gaining hold of the midfield sector and in the 67th minute Lee Baldacchino headed just wide from a Maverick Psaila free-kick.

Luqa then had a Mark Said header which was cleared off the goal line by Brian Zammit and late in the match Luqa were denied by Keith Brincat off a conclusion by Lee Baldacchino.

Marsa were very close through Elland Vella whose header ended just wide.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Sirens-Kirkop U 2-4

After just four minutes Sirens opened the score through a tremendous shot by Jonathan Grech and then a dangerous shot by George Falzon was saved with difficulty by Kevin Formosa.

Kirkop drew level in the 8th minute through an Albert Busuttil direct free-kick with the same player then having another free-kick which was saved on the goal line by Richard Vella.

In the 22nd minute an error by the Sirens keeper allowed Kirkop to take a 2-1 lead with Christian Mifsud heading in with an open goal with Sirens coming strongly back with a Giovanni Galea shot being saved by Formosa and on another occasion a Gary Grant corner-kick caused havoc in the Kirkop defence with the ball being cleared off the goal line.

In the 33rd minute Sirens were again very close through George Falzon whose shot just missed the target but on 41 minutes they managed to equalize through a close-range low shot by Jonathan Grech.

Two minutes after the restart Kirkop regained the lead at 3-2 with Darren Caruana scoring from a well-taken direct free-kick with Sirens responding through Giovanni Galea who headed just wide from close-range and a Ryan Theuma free-kick which was saved with difficulty by Formosa.

Sirens continued to push forward but in two counter-attacks Kirkop were close through Chris Farrugia and Ronald Spina.

In the 80th minute Kirkop’s player-coach made unwarranted comments and was sent off by referee Degabriele.

Four minutes from time Kirkop sealed the issue with a fourth goal scored by Josef Attard who managed to beat Vella with an angled shot for a 4-2 final scoreline.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.