Early on, Swieqi were close through a shot by Pierre Gaillouste which was saved by Roderick Spiteri but gradually St Venera took the lead through a penalty given for a handling infringement by a Swieqi player and duly converted by Stefan Farrugia.

At the other end Swieqi had a Simon Sammut free-kick which just missed the target with St Venera replying through Dylan Mercieca which was saved by Marmara. I

n the 26th minute St Venera increased the lead as Jeffrey Zammit headed in from a Mercieca free-kick with the Lightnings then wasting a clear goal scoring opportunity through Andrew Hili.

Then St Venera were denied by Marmara off a Jeffrey Zammit free-kick with Swieqi wasting an easy opportunity through Daniel Bianco.

After the change of ends the Lightnings sustained their dominance and after going close through Glenn Micallef and Dylan Mercieca, they managed to score a third goal in the 64th minute through Dalton Wingfield following a good move by Dylan Mercieca.

Three minutes later St Venera increased further their lead through a Rudi Carbonaro volley after Dalton Wingfield had dribbled his way past various Swieqi defenders.

Late in the match St Venera missed two clear opportunities through Kevin Vella and Andrew Hili but in added time Swieqi scored a consolation goal through a penalty given for a foul on Pierre Gaillouste and converted by Stacey Vella.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Gudja U.-St Lucia FC 1-2

Gudja United had the better opportunities during the first period and early on an Aaron Guazzo free-kick was cleared with difficulty by the Saints’ defence.

The Saints’ reply produced a header by Liam Cutajar which was well saved by Matthew Xerxen with Gudja then being denied by Jurgen Cilia off a shot by Elton Bugeja.

In the 38th minute Gudja wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity as Peter Paul Sammut, unmarked, headed over the bar from an Aaron Guazzo corner-kick with the Saints coming back just before the break through a Marlon Farrugia effort which just missed the target.

After the resumption play remained balanced with the Saints having the first opportunity as a Marlon Farrugia free-kick was headed on by Brian Chetcuti just over the bar.

Gudja came back through an Emerson Vella free-kick which was punched away by the Saints’ custodian Jurgen Cilia with the Saints wasting a clear goal scoring opportunity through Ramon Mifsud after the Gudja keeper had lost control of the ball.

In the 77th minute the Saints were denied by Xerxen off a strong shot by Liam Cutajar but two minutes later they took the lead through Dino Falzon off a shot by Adrian Dominicus.

In the 86th minute Santa Lucia made it 2-0 with Brian Chetcuti heading in from a cross by Falzon but two minutes later Gudja were given a penalty for a foul on Trevor Thomas and converted by the same player.

In added time Gudja managed to score through Aaron Guazzo but the goal was disallowed for a foul on an opposing player.

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Marsascala-Mdina Knights 0-2

Mdina opened the score after just seven minutes through a tremendous shot by Luke Busuttil with Marsascala replying through a shot by Matthew Gauci which was well saved by Christian Cini.

At the other end Mdina wasted two clear goalscoring opportunities through Clint Caruana and Luke Busuttil.

Mdina sustained the pressure and were twice denied by Renald Attard off efforts by Clint Xerri and Clint Caruana with Marsascala coming back through Malcolm Bugeja whose long-range shot was saved by Cini.

Just before the break Mdina were very close as an attempt by Lars Johannson was blocked by Attard.

After the change of ends play became more balanced with Marsaskala going close early on through a Matthew Gauci free-kick which just missed the target.

In the 50th minute Mdina won a corner-kick which was taken by Luke Busuttil and Clint Xerri rose high to head just over the bar.

In the 61st minute Mdina increased their lead through a Clint Xerri effort with Marsascala responding through a shot by Terence Cachia shot which was saved by Cini.

Mdina were then denied by Attard off a Lars Johannson volley and in the 80th minute the referee sent off Trevor Fenech from Mdina’s substitutes’ bench.

Late in the match Marsascala were close through Prince Ali Osman with Mdina being denied by Attard off a shot by Carmel Vella. Four minutes from time Mdina had a shot by Peter Grima which was turned onto the post by Attard.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar

Attard FC-Xghajra T 4-2

The first period was a balanced affair with Attard going close early on through Kayne Said whose shot just missed the target.

Xghajra replied through a Chris Zammit dangerous free-kick with Attard responding on 20 minutes as Kurt Zahra’s free-kick was well saved by Roderick Camilleri.

Minutes later the Attard keeper mistimed the flight off the ball and his teammate Daniel Haber cleared the ball off the goal line and just before the break Attard went close through their foreign striker Erson Beu.

Xghajra were also very close as a headed attempt by Ali Manaf just missed the target.

In added time an indecision in the Xghajra defence allowed Attard to open the score through a close-range shot by Kurt Zahra.

After the resumption Xghajra dictated matters in the early stages and they were very close through free-kicks taken by Chris Zammit and Gordon Borg whereas on another occasion they wasted a clear opportunity through Jonathan Cachia.

However on 61 minutes Xghajra were back on level terms as a dipper by Jonathan Cachia hit the upright and finished at the back of the net.

In the 79th minute Xghajra took the lead with Jonathan Cachia’s second goal. Xghajra’s defender Marjos Muscat made unwarranted comments and was sent off.

Two minutes later Attard made it 2-2 through a long-range shot by Kurt Zahra.

In the 87th minute Attard gained a penalty for a foul on Kayne Said and Clive Lanzon duly converted to give them a 3-2 lead and in added time they sealed the issue with a fourth goal scored through Bylasser Sammut.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Section B

Kirkop U.-Kalkara FC 5-1

Kirkop opened the score after just fou minutes as Christian Mifsud headed in fromn a Sufin Atomi corner-kick.

They were then again very close through Mifsud and Sufin Atomi but gradually Kalkara reacted and on 24 minutes two successive shots by Marvic Grech and Michael Zammit were splendidly saved by Kirkop’s custodian Daniel Pryke.

A minute later Kalkara equalized through a close-range shot by Kevin Tonna but in the 34th minute Kirkop regained the lead through a rising shot by Ronald Spina following a personal effort.

After the change of ends Kirkop dominated the proceedings and after just six minutes they scored a third goal through an angled shot by Orianski Buhagiar.

In the 59th minute Kirkop made it 4-1 through Christian Mifsud following a personal effort and in the 65th minute a shot by Orianski Buhagiar hit the post.

The same player then hit just wide from a direct free-kick but in the 76th minute Kirkop scored a fidth goal with Bryan Falzon heading in from an Buhagiar corner-kick.

In the closing stages both teams hit the woodwork, Kirkop through a shot by Joe Fenech and Kalkara through a crosshot by Dylan Balzia.

Referee: Eren Yertseyer.

Ghaxaq FC- Sirens 1-3

After just five minutes Ghaxaq were denied by Romeo Schembri off a Louis Falzon free-kick with Sirens responding through two dangerous efforts by Stefan Pisani.

On the half-hour a free-kick taken by debutatant Sirens’ Brazilian schemer Leandro was saved by Fardell and in the 39th minute Giovanni Galea miskicked his shot from infront of goal to lose a clear opportunity.

However two minutes before the break Sirens opened the score as Giovanni Galea finished off a cross by George Falzon.

Just four minutes after the restart Ghaxaq equalised as Bronwen Bugeja headed in from a Louis Falzon corner-kick.

Then Bugeja was denied by a difficult save by Schembri and on another occasion they were again close through Bjorn Dalli.

In the 66th minute Sirens regained the lead through an excellent shot by their debutant Brazilian striker by Blanco De Castro Leandro following a good pass by George Falzon.

Then Sirens were denied by Fardell but in the 82nd minute Sirens were given a penalty as Giovanni Galea was fouled by Peter Paul Cassar, the latter being sent off for a second caution.

Giovanni Galea duly converted to make it 3-1. Four minutes from time Ghaxaq too were given a penalty when Christian Bugeja fouled Bjorn Dalli but Brian Barbara’s shot from the spot was well saved by Romeo Schembri.

Referee: Emanuel Grech.