Section ‘A’

Marsaskala-St Lucia 2-3

The first-half was a balanced and exciting affair with Marsaskala taking the lead after just seven minutes through an angled shot by their captain Matthew Gauci from a pass by Malcolm Bugeja. The Saints replied through Chris Camilleri whose shot was saved by Renald Attard but on 14 minutes Marsaskala increased their lead as a pass by Matthew Gauci was finished off by Malcolm Bugeja. Gradually the Saints started dictating the match and they managed to reduce the arrears in the 21st minute through an excellent shot by Marlon Farrugia. Two minutes later the Saints equalized with Brian Chetcuti heading in past Attard from close-range. The Saints continued to push forward and were again very close on two occasions through Ramon Mifsud and Dino Falzon.

After the change of ends Santa Lucia dominated the proceedings and after having a shot by Jason Galea which was cleared off the goal line, they managed to take the lead in the 57th minute through an excellent goal scored by Marlon Farrugia following a personal effort. Then the Saints wasted a clear opportunity through Liam Cutajar and were denied by the Marsaskala keeper off attempts by Antoine Sapiano and Marlon Farrugia. The Saints also hit the woodwork on two occasions through Brian Chetcuti and Adrian Dominicus.

Referee Eren Yertseyer.

Xghajra T-Swieqi U 3-0

Xghajra Tornadoes were the better team during the first period and after only four minutes they were denied y Ryan Marmara off a shot by Chris Zammit. At the other end Swieqi had a Stacey Vella header which just missed the target but in the 28th minute Xghajra opened the score with Chris Zammit heading in from a Martin Portelli free-kick. Then the same striker shot just wide with Swieqi wasting an open goal scoring opportunity through Nico Corito. Just before the break Xghajra added a second goal through Horace Pace.

After the change of ends Xghajra sustained the pressure and early on they were very close through Chris Zammit and Jonathan Cachia. In the 61st minute the Xghajra keeper brought off successive saves to deny Joe Gatt and Daniel Bianco with Xghajra then wasting a clear opportunity through Horace Pace. In the 68th minute Swieqi were again denied by Camilleri off a point-blank shot by Daniel Bianco and a minute later Swieqi’s defender Matthew Spiteri was sent off for a second caution. In the 86th minute Xghajra’s striker Chris Zammit was sent off for an ugly foul and in added time they scored a third goal through a low shot by Ryan Farrugia.

Referee Mario Apap.

Mdina K-St.Venera L 1-0

The first period was a balanced affair with St.Venera creating the best opportunities early on as they had a shot by Andrew Hili which just missed the target and were twice denied y Chris Cini off efforts by Jeffrey Zammit and Dylan Mercieca. In the 15th minute the St.Venera keeper brought off an excellent save to stop a shot by Clint Scerri with St.Venera then hitting the crossbar off a Jeffrey Zammit direct free-kick. Gradually Mdina gained the initiative and were twice denied y Spiteri off efforts by Nicholas Micallef and Peter Grima.

After the change of ends the match remained a balanced affair with St.Venera going very close in the 58th minute with Dalton Wingfield shooting just wide from a pass by Andrew Hili. Then a free-kick taken by Stefan Farrugia was well saved by Cini with Mdina then wasting a clear opportunity through Clint Caruana. In the 67th minute Mdina took the lead with Clint Scerri heading in from a Clint Caruana corner-kick with the Lightnings’ reaction producing two efforts by Andrew Hili and Jeffrey Zammit which were saved with difficulty by Cini. Five minutes from time in another counter-attack, Mdina were denied by Spiteri off an attempt by Clint Scerri. This defeat is a setback for leaders St.Venera Lightnings.

Referee Roberto Vella

Siggiewi-Qrendi 3-1

Siggiewi were very close early on through dangerous efforts by Justin Buhagiar and Josef Vassallo but in a counter-attack in the 14th minute Qrendi opened the score through an angled low shot by Chris Farrugia in a swift counter-attack. In the 19th minute Siggiewi had a cross by Jason Camilleri and Roderick Farrugia headed just wide and three minutes later a Jason Camilleri free-kick was saved by Neville Ciantar. In the 25th minute Siggiewi drew level through a penalty given for a foul on Jason Camilleri which was converted by the same player. Qrendi disputed the referee’s decision. Although Siggiewi continued to push forward it was Qrendi who created two opportunities through Aaron Pendry with Siggiewi responding through Melvin Agius whose shot was saved by Ciantar.

After the resumption Siggiewi dictated the run of play and on 57 minutes they were very close as a shot by Josef Vassallo was cleared off the goal line by Johan Scicluna. At the other end Qrendi were denied by the Siggiewi keeper off a long-range shot by Andre Formosa but in the 67th minute Siggiewi took the lead as Mark Camilleri headed in from a free-kick taken by his brother Jason Camilleri. At the other end, Qrendi claimed a penalty and in the 79th minute they were denied by Vella off a shot by Chris Farrugia. In the 85th minute Siggiewi were close through Roderick Farrugia and just before the final whistle Qrendi were denied by Vella off a shot by substitute Robert Darmanin. In injury-time Siggiewi scored a third goal through Roderick Farrugia.

Referee Philip Farrugia.

Section ‘B’

Fgura-Pembroke 1-0

The first period was a balanced affair although it was Pembroke who first went close after just 10 minutes thanks to an effort from Robert Zammit which was neutralised by Jesmond Lia. Fgura replied in the 21st minute through a Lydon Vella shot which just missed the upright while Pembroke went close again in the 30th minute through a free kick from Jean Claude Borg which went wide. In the 44th minute, Fgura opened the score thanks to an angled shot from Matthew Spiteri while a minute later they had Rodney Galea sent off for a double yellow card.

Early on in the second part, Fgura went close thanks to efforts from Vince Camilleri and Daniel Said. In the 66th minute, Fgura missed another good opportunity through Vince Camilleri who shot wide from a good goal scoring position. Pembroke replied in the 78th minute thanks to Warren Muscat whose shot just missed the upright while Fgura went close again two minutes later through an effort from Daniel Said which was neutralised by Jean Pierre Debattista.

Referee Jude Amin Utulu

Kalkara-Luqa 1-4

Luqa were the better side in the first part as they went close early on through a freekick from Jason Good which was neutralised by Jerome Peplow. In the 21st minute, Luqa hit the cross bar from a close range shot by Roderick Debattista and went close again in the 30th minute from a Maveric Psaila freekick. Notwithstanding Luqa’s dominance it was Kalkara who opened the score in the 37th minute thanks to a close range header from Matthew Cassar. Luqa’ replied two minutes later when they equalised thanks to a shot from Mark Said. A minute later, Luqa had Shaun Cutajar sent off through a direct red card after a retaliation foul he committed on Glen Azzopardi.

In the second part, Luqa continued to be better side as they were denied early on when Jerome Peplow saved an insidious shot from Jason Good. Kalkara replied a few minutes later through a close range header from Matthew Cassar which went wide. In the 74th minute, Luqa took the lead thanks to penalty scored by Lee Baldacchino which was awarded for a handsball committed by Glen Azzopardi who was sent off. In the 80th minute, Luqa scored again thanks to a low shot from close range by Roderick Debattista while three minutes later it was Lee Baldacchino who scored from an outstanding personal effort.

Referee Anthony Buhagiar