St Lucia dictated the run of play during the first period but it was St Venera who went close early on through Josef Taliana whose shot was saved by Jurgen Cilia.

The Saints replied through a Jason Galea free-kick which was saved by Warren Cuschieri and in the 18th minute St Venera were denied by Cilia off a close-range header by Stefan Farrugia from a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick.

At the other end Santa Lucia twice went close. A shot by Marlon Farrugia was saved with difficulty by Cuschieri and on another occasion a Ramon Mifsud header was deflected to a corner-kick. Just before the break the Saints had a shot by Brian Chetcuti which just missed the target.

After the resumption St Venera came out on attack and early on they were twice very close through Dalton Wingield.

On another occasion a shot by Glenn Micallef was saved by Jurgen Cilia but in the 58th minute they managed to take the lead with Dylan Mercieca heading in from a cross by Micallef.

The Saints replied through two dangerous efforts by Marlon Farrugia but on 72 minutes St Venera increased their lead through a Jeffrey Zammit long-range free-kick which surprised the Saints’ custodian.

In the 77th minute St Liucia were denied by Cuschieri off a strong shot by Andrew Sciortino and despite their pressure, they were held out by a very organised St Venera defence. Two minutes from time St Venera added a third goal through Dalton Wingfield following a personal effort.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Xghajra T-Marsascala 0-4

Marsascala played the better football early on and after just five minutes a shot by Terence Cachia just missed the target.

Then an effort by Maximilian Zammit was saved by Xghajra’s keeper Peter Camilleri with Xghajra coming back through Horace Pace whose effort was saved by Renald Attard. Marsascala continued to create the best opportunities and were very close on three occasions through their captain Matthew Gauci.

After the resumption Marsascala dominated the proceedings and after losing an easy opportunity early on, they managed to break the deadlock in the 54th minute through a nice shot by their captain Matthew Gauci following a personal effort.

Three minutes later Terrence Cachia made it 2-0 from a well-placed free-kick and in the 58th minute the same player added a third goal with a low close-range shot.

A minute later Xghajra’s midfield player Neil Attard was sent off for retaliation with Marsascala making it 4-0 on 63 minutes through Matthew Gauci’s second personal goal.

Marsascala reduced the pressure and late in the match Xghajra were denied by Renald Attard off a shot by Jonathan Cachia.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Siggiewi-Gudja United 1-4

The first half was a balanced affair with Gudja going close early on through Emerson Vella.

Siggiewi replied through a shot by Josef Vassallo which was saved by Xerxen and on another occasion a cross by Kim Buhagiar was headed onto the crossbar by Jason Camilleri.

At the other end Gudja had a shot by Ndayi Kalenga which just missed the target but they managed to take the lead on 24 minutes through an Aaron Guazzo direct free-kick which took the Siggiewi keeper completely by surprise.

Then Guazzo was again very close with Siggiewi responding in the 33rd minute as a crosshot by Kim Buhagiar was turned over the bar by Xerxen.

However a minute later Gudja made it 2-0 through an angled shot by Ndayi Kalenga following good work on the left flank by Peter Paul Sammut.

Just before the break Siggiewi claimed a penalty for a foul on Jason Camilleri and in added time the same player was close with an angled shot which was deflected to a corner-kick.

After the change of ends Siggiewi pushed forward but it was Gudja who created the first opportunity through a shot by Kalenga which was saved by Vella.

In the 52nd minute Gudja made it 3-0 through a close-range shot by Peter Paul Sammut and five minutes later Trevor Thomas concluded just wide with a low angled shot. In the 62nd minute Siggiewi reduced the arrears as Mark Camilleri headed in from a Kim Buhagiar corner-kick with Gudja going close four minutes later as Trevor Thomas headed just wide from a Guazzo corner-kick.

In the 68th minute Gudja scored a fourth goal through Peter Paul Sammut in a swift counter-attack and late in the match they were again very close on two occasions through substitute Edmond Thornton.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Mdina K- Mtarfa 1-1

Both teams created a number of goal scoring opportunities during the first period with Mdina being denied early on by Duncan Galea off a shot by Peter Grima.

Mtarfa were then close through Cleavon Mizzi and Darik Abdilla and on another occasion a shot by Mizzi was well saved by Chris Cini.

At the other end Mdina created dangerous opportunities through Luke Busuttil and Peter Grima but in the 38th minute Mtarfa were given a penalty for a foul by Mdina’s defender Ercan Mehmet on Darik Abdilla, the latter duly converting to give Mtarfa the lead.

Two minutes before the break Mdina were back on level terms through an own-goal by Mtarfa’s keeper Duncan Galea off a shot by substitute Andrew Catania.

After the change of ends Mdina dictated the run of play during the initial stages and were very close on two occasions through Peter Grima and Mark Stivala.

At the other end Mtarfa were denied by Cini off a crosshot by Jeffrey Azzopardi and a point-blank attempt by Darik Abdilla.

At the other end the Mtarfa keeper brought off a difficult save off a Clint Caruana insidious corner-kick with Mtarfa replying on 80 minutes through a point-blank shot by Darik Abdilla which was somehow blocked by an Mdina defender.

Five minutes from time Mdina were very close to obtaining the winning goal as an attempt by Nicholas Micallef just missed the target. In added time a shot by Peter Grima was saved by Galea.

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Section B

Marsa-Kirkop U 0-2

Kirkop United dictated the run of play for long stretches during the first period but Marsa had the first goal scoring opportunity with Steve Buhagiar shooting just wide from a good position.

Kirkop gradually started to push forward and were close through Orianski Buhagiar and Sufin Atomi.

Then a cross by Atomi was headed at goal by Brian Falzon but the ball was somehow deflected to a corner-kick and in the 45th minute a shot by Ronald Spina was saved with difficulty by Marsa’s custodian Leighton Mifsud. In added time an angled shot by Orianski Buhagiar just missed the target.

After the change of ends Kirkop continued to dominate the proceedings but it was Marsa who wasted a clear opportunity through Steve Buhagiar in the opening minutes.

In the 57th minute Kirkop were close through a Sufin Atomi free-kick but in the 63rd minute the same player gave Kirkop a deserved lead through a lob from close-range.

A minute later Kirkop increased the lead through a low shot by Christian Mifsud following a personal effort. Marsa failed to react and late in the match Kirkop just missed the target through a long-range shot by Orianski Buhagiar.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Gharghur-Fgura U 2-1

Gharghur opened the score after only three minutes through a low angled shot by Chris Vella following good work by Nenad Veselji.

Fgura’s reaction was immediate and after losing a clear opportunity through Jeremy Gatt, they were then twice denied by the Gharghur keeper James Mercieca off attempts by Lydon Vella and Matthew Spiteri.

Fgura then wasted another opportunity through Matthew Schembri and in the 20th minute a close-range shot by Jeremy Gatt was saved by Mercieca.

Four minutes later Fgura got a deserved equalizing goal through a lob by Lydon Vella. However in the 31st minute Gharghur were given a dubious penalty amidst the protests by the Fgura players with Malcolm Tirchett duly converting to give Gharghur a 2-1 lead.

In the 39th minute an incident between Edmond Lapira (Gharghur F.C.) and Jeremy Gatt (Fgura United) led to both players being sent off.

After the break Fgura United remained the better team and early on efforts by Chris Grech and Jovin Abela were saved by Gharghur’s custodian James Mercieca.

In a counter-attack Fgura were denied by Redeemer Borg off a shot by Chris Vella with Fgura replying through an angled shot by Matthew Spiteri which was saved with difficulty by the Gharghur custodian.

In the 72nd minuta Fgura were very close to an equalizing goal as a point-blank shot by Lydon Vella was blocked by Malcolm Tirchett with Gharghur in another counter-attack missing a sitter through Andrew Formosa.

Three minutes from time Fgura’s midfield player Vince Camilleri was booked for a second time and was sent off.

Referee: Eren Yertseyer