The first period belonged to Mellieha but Gzira had the first opportunity as the Mellieha keeper Simon Gauci brought off a difficult save to deny Josef Felice.

At the other end Mellieha’s midfield player Nikolay Filipov shot high from close-range and two minutes later the Gzira custodian came out of his goal to anticipate Fabiano Bassi.

In the 11th minute Mellieha broke the deadlock with Philip Taylor heading in past Gerada from a Bassi corner-kick.

Gzira failed to retaliate with Mellieha again being close in the 28th minute through a shot by Nikolay Filipov which was saved by Gerada.

Five minutes later Mellieha were again close as a shot by Philip Camilleri was cleared off the goal line by Gzira’s defender Thane Micallef.

Mellieha continued to show the better football but two minutes into injury-time Mellieha were back on level terms as Keith Bonello managed to beat Gauci with a low shot from just outside the penalty area.

Two minutes after the restart Mellieha were close as a direct free-kick taken by Nikolay Filipov was deflected to a corner-kick.

Then Filipov shot just wide following a good move by Bassi but on 63 minutes Fabiano Bassi managed to put Mellieha 2-1 in front following good work by Kevin Gauci.

Gzira came back strongly and in the 66th minute a close-range effort by Keith Bonello was saved by Simon Gauci, the latter again doing well in the 73rd minute as he managed to stop an insidious conclusion by substitute Richard Attard.

Mellieha replied with a dangerous attack and the Maroons’ defender Thane Micallef almost committed an own-goal and late in the match Gzira were again denied by Gauci off a shot by Richard Attard following a personal effort.

A minute from time Mellieha could have increased their lead but substitute Connnor Muchmore concluded high over the bar when all alone infront of goal.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Mgarr-Naxxar L 2-1

Mgarr United surprised Naxxar Lions with a goal scored after just three minutes as Chris Abela dribbled his way past a number of Naxxar defenders, including goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi and shot in from close-range.

In the 10th minute Naxxar gained a free-kick which was taken by their foreign player Gabriel Buys Duarte who concluded just wide off the far post.

On another occasion the Lions wasted a clear opportunity through Darren Falzon and in the 20th minute a Kevin Fenech free-kick was headed at goal by Gilbert Camilleri with Carbonaro bringing off a difficult save.

At the other end Mgarr were denied by Azzopardi off an effort by James Borg with Naxxar replying in the 39th minute as a shot by Gilbert Camilleri just missed the target.

Three minutes before the break Naxxar’s striker Darren Falzon headed just wide from close-range. .

After the change of ends Naxxar did most of the attacking but after just three minutes Mgarr won a free-kick which was taken by Vosko Martinovic and sabed by Azzopardi.

Then in a swift counter-attack Azzopardi came out of his goal to anticipate the advancing Luca Theuma with Naxxar responding in the 61st minute as a Kevin Fenech free-kick was headed on by Darren Falzon as Carbonaro brought off a difficult save.

Four minutes later Matthew Muscat appeared to have scored a second goal for Mgarr but he was in an offside position and the goal was annulled.

In the 82nd minute Mgarr’s custodian Claude Carbonaro managed to save a Darren Falzon penalty given for a foul on Kurt Drago with the loose ball being taken up by Chris Abela who broke away on the left flank and his square pass was finished off by his teammate Matthew Muscat who managed to make it 2-0 nfor the Greens.

Naxxar’s reaction produced a consolation goal two minutes from time through Andre Rocha Da Silva but despite Naxxar’s late efforts, Mgarr managed to hold on to their slender but deserved lead.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Senglea A-Zurrieq 0-4

Early on Senglea were very close with the Zurrieq keeper Rueben Debono bringing off a difficult save to foil Kevin Galea.

In the 12th minute Zurrieq created a dangerous opportunity as a strong shot by Matthew Genuis just missed the target and three minutes later a square pass by Johan Briffa was taken up by Karl Sacco whose low shot was saved by the Senglea custodian.

In the 36th minute Senglea went close through Robert Adami whose shot finished just high over the bar with Zurrieq replying through an insidious Matthew Genuis free-kick.

A minute before the break Senglea were denied by Rueben Debono off a clkose-range shot by Ricardo Severino.

After the change of ends Zurrieq dictated the run of play for long stretches and on two occasions they were very close through Johan Briffa and Steve Azzopardi.

Senglea were then denied by Rueben Debono off a shot by Brady Zerafa and in the 59th minute Zurrieq’s striker Alistair Camilleri advanced all alone but his shot fit the foot of the upright.

In the 63rd minute Zurrieq won a corner-kick which was taken by Johan Briffa and Zurrieq’s captain Darren Bellizzi unleashed a tremendous volley which went in past George Attard to give Zurrieq a deserved lead.

In the 72nd minute Zurrieq increased their lead when a Matthew Genuis corner-kick was headed in by Alistair Camilleri and late in the match the post denied Zurrieq off a Matthew Genuis direct free-kick.

Three minutes from time Zurrieq made it 3-0 through substitute Warren Kiomal;l following good work by Camilleri and in added time they managed to seal the issue as Alistair Camilleri scored his second personal goal following a solo effort for a 4-0 final scoreline.

This goal was followed by a second yellow card for Senglea’s player Erin Azzopardi who was sent off.

Referee: Fyodor Zammir.

Zejtun C-San Gwann 3-0

The first-half proved to be a balanced affair with San Gwann going close after seven minutes through a Chris Cacciattolo free-kick which was blocked by a Zejtun defender.

In the 13th minute Zejtun broke the deadlock through Amadeo Mercieca whose shot flashed in past Justin Spiteri and seven minutes later San Gwann appeared to have got the equalising goal through Lee Galea but the Saints’ striker was in an irregular position and the goal was annulled.

At the other end Zejtun were very close as a low shot by Silvio Sciberras was saved with difficulty by Justin Spiteri with San Gwann replying through a shot by Mario Caruana which just missed the target.

In the 31st minute the Saints were denied by Ranier Farrugia off an effort by Lee Galea with Zejtun responding through Kenneth Abela who shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

In the opening minutes of the second period Zejtun’s custodian Ranier Farrugia twice denied San Gwann off dangerous free-kicks taken by Lee Galea and Chris Cacciattolo.

The Saints continued to push forward and in the 65th minute successive attempts by Mauro Busuttil and Shaun Vella were cleared off the goal line.

Two minutes later Zejtun went close through an Edward Azzopardi free-kick and at the other end San Gwann were denied by Farrugia off a close-range conclusion by Shaun Vella.

In the 77th minute Zejtun made it 2-0 as a cross by Oldi Majtara was finished off by Amadeo Mercieca for his second personal goal.

In the 90th minute Zejtun got a third goal through an angled shot by substitute Ryan Cauchi following a personal effort.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.