This is a deserved win for Attard who dominated this match for long stretches. They opened the score after just seven minutes through an excellent shot by Darren Galea following good work by Kurt Zahra.

They were then twice denied by Mtarfa’s keeper James Borg off attempts by Marco Sultana and Jean Claude Cachia and on other occasions shots by Jonathan Saliba and Kayne Said finished just wide. After the break Attard remained the better team but in the 54th minute Mtarfa missed a clear opportunity through Darik Abdilla.

In the 74th minute Mtarfa’s foreign player Hamudy Hussa was sent off for a second caution with Attard scoring a second goal two minutes from time through a beautiful shot by Kurt Zahra, undoubtedly the best player on the field of play. Five minutes into added time Attard’s midfielfd player Marco Sultana was sent off for unwarranted comments.

Referee:- Duncan Sultana.

Section ‘A’

Qrendi-Gudja Utd 1-1

Gudja were the better team during the first period and after 25 minutes Dalzier Zammit headed just wide from an Aaron Guazzo corner-kick. Then two successive Trevor Thomas free-kicks were well saved by Neville Ciantar and later on Gudja were again very close through efforts by Daniel Bonnici.

In the 42nd minute Gudja took a deserved lead through a first-time shot by Trevor Thomas from a cross by Guazzo and just before the break a Guazzo free-kick was cleared off the goal line.

After the change of ends Qrendi shared the exchanges but it was Gudja who created the first opportunity as Thomas wasted a clear opportunity. Qrendi were twice close through Jonathan Galea and Chris Farrugia but they managed to draw level on 65 minutes as Joseph Bugeja headed in from a cross by Pendry.

At the other end Gudja went close through Dalzier Zammit and Elton Bugeja but in the 90th minute in a swift counter-attack, Qrendi were denied the winning goal by Xerxen who brought off an excellent save to deny Aaron Pendry.

In added time Gudhja had a shot by Guazzo which was saved by Ciantar and an attempt by Peter Paul Sammut which just missed the target.

Referee:- Mohammed Khalil.

Section ‘A’

Swieqi Utd-Mdina K 0-3

Mdina Knights were the better team during the first period but it was Swieqi who had the better opportunities early on. In the 9th minute a shot by Joseph Gatt just missed the target and in the 14th minute an attempt by Pierre Gaillouste was cleared off the line by Alistair Bajada.

Gradually Mdina gained the initiative and after going very close through Robert Southward and Lars Johannson, they opened the score on 20 minutes through a dipper by Robert Southward. Then an effort by Lars Johannson was blocked by Ryan Marmara with Swieqi responding through Daniel Bianco whose point-blank shot was saved Cini.

In the 31st minute Mdina hit the post off a shot by Nicholas Micallef with the Swieqi defence failing to clear the ball and Clint Caruana scored with a low shot to make it 2-0. Four minutes before the break Swieqi wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity through Daniel Bianco.

After the resumption Mdina continued to dominate the proceedings and early on a shot by Lars Johannson finished just high over the bar. Swieqi replied through Baldassare Borg whose free-kick was saved by Christian Cini and at the other end Mdina wasted a sitter through Peter Grima.

In the 63rd minute Mdina were unlucky as a shot by Nicholas Micallef hit the upright but four minutes later Mdina increased their lead through an angled shot by Lars Johannson following a personal effort. Four minutes from time Mdina appeared to have scored yet another goal through Peter Grima but he was in an offside positrion and the goal was annulled.

Referee:- Luke Portelli.

Section ‘A’

St.Venera L-Siggiewi 3-0

After just three minutes St.Venera were very close as a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick was cleared off the goal line by Siggiewi’s defender Jonathan Debono. Gradually play resulted in the midfield sector but in the 17th minute the Lightnings broke the deadlock through Andrew Hili who lobbed the ball over the Siggiewi custodian.

A minute later St.Venera wasted a clear opportunity through Dalton Wingfield and in the 26th minute St.Venera were again very close when a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick was headed at goal by Kevin Vella but the ball was cleared off the goal line. In the 35th minute the Siggiewi keeper saved off a long-range shot by Josef Taliana and just before the break a dangerous shot by Dylan Mercieca was deflected to a corner-kick. In the 43rd minute St.Venera made it 2-0 through Andrew Hili who managed to beat Schembri from a very difficult position.

After the resumption Siggiewi gained the initiative and after just four minutes they wasted a clear opportunity through Jason Camilleri. They were then again close through Mark Camilleri on two occasions with St.Venera responding through Kevin Vella whose shot was saved by Schembri.

In the 65th minute the Lightnings made it 3-0 through Dalton Wingfield following a swift counter-attack with Siggiewi losing a clear opportunity through Roderick Farrugia. In the 78th minute St.Venera’s striker Kevin Vella shot just high over the bar and just before the final whistle Siggiewi had a shot by Jonathan Debono whichj just missed the target. St.Venera are now the new leaders with Siggiewi suffering their first defeat of the season.

Referee:- Gordon Barbara.

Section ‘B’

Marsa-Sirens 2-2

Sirens dominated the first period and after just 45 seconds they opened the score through a close-range by Gary Grant. Then a shot by Adrian Lanzon just missed the target and in the 19th minute a Jonathan Grech free-kick just missed the target. Marsa replied through Charlo Debattista whose shot was well saved by Romeo Schembri with Sirens making it 2-0 on 33 minutes through Jonathan Grech from a well-taken direct free-kick.

Just before the break Sirens were denied by Keith Brincat off an angled shot by Gary Grant. After the change of ends Marsa dictated the run of play and in the 50th minute a shot by Yusif Abdullah was saved with difficulty by Schembri. Then Johan Camilleri shot just high over the bar and in the 59th minute Abdullah was denied once again by Schembri.

At the other end Sirens were twice very close as efforts by Adrian Lanzon and Gary Grant were saved by Keith Brincat but in the 69th minute Marsa reduced the arrears through a low shot by Diansand Brincat. In the 80th minute Marsa deservedly drew level through a close-range lob by Kirsten Brincat with Sirens then wasting a clear opportunity through Glenn Gatt. In added time Marsa had a goal scored by Elland Vella which was disallowed for an offside infringement

Referee:- Philip Farrugia.

Section ‘B’

Kirkop Utd-Ghaxaq 0-2

Kirkop United had the better goal scoring opportunities during the first period. They were close after 16 minutes as a low shot by Orianski Buhagiar was saved by Ludvic Fardell on the goal line. Then efforts by Conrad Zammit and Christian Mifsud just missed the target and in the 29th minute the Ghaxaq keeper brought off a difficult save to deny Josef Attard.

Two minutes later a mistake by Kirkop’s defender Bryan Falzon allowed Ghaxaq to take the lead through a cute lob by Bjorn Dalli and despite Kirkop’s reaction it was Ghaxaq again who created the best opportunity as a strong shot by Matthew Axiaq was saved by Kevin Formosa.

After the change of ends Kirkop United dominated the proceedings and early on a strong shot by Ronald Spina was well saved by the Ghaxaq keeper Ludvic Fardell.

On the hour Kirkop were given a penalty for a foul on Christian Mifsud but the latter’s shot from the spot was well saved by Fardell. Kirkop kept pushing forward and were once again denied by the Ghaxaq keeper off a Bryan Falzon free-kick. In a counter-attack, Ghaxaq were denied by Formosa off a shot by Bjorn Dalli but three minutes from time Ghaxaq sealed the issue with a second goal scored by suvstitute Louis Falzon following good work by Dalli on the right flank.

Referee:- Stefan Pace