Attard were close after just seven minutes through Kurt Zahra who shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Then Attard wasted a clear opportunity through Kayne Said with the Lightnings being close in the 17th minute as a cross by Glen Micallef was finished just wide by Kevin Vella.

At the other end Attard almost broke the deadlock as a shot by Kurt Zahra was cleared off the goal line by Mark Muscat with the Lightnings replying through Stefan Farrugia whose free-kick was saved by Dunstan Zarb.

In the 38th minute Zarb was again on hand to stop another Farrugia free-kick with Attard replying in the 43rd minute as a Clive Lanzon free-kick was saved with difficulty by Roderick Spiteri.

In added time St Venera missed a clear opportunity through Kevin Vella after Zarb had saved partially off a shot by Jeffrey Zammit.

After the break the match was very balanced with Attard twice going very close in the opening minutes through attempts by Kurt Zahra and Erjon Beu which finished just wide.

In the 61st minute St Venera were close to taking the lead as a shot by Dalton Wingield was cleared off the goal line by Attard’s defender Sandro Calleja.

Then play ensued in the midfield sector but in the 84th minute St Venera opened the score through a shot by Andrew Hili from the edge of the penalty area.

Three minutes into added time Attard were reduced to ten players as Clive Lanzon was sent off for a second caution.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

St Lucia-Qrendi 1-0

Early on in the match Qrendi wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity through Aaron Pendry but gradually St Lucia gained the initiative and were very close through Jason Woodhead following good work by Marlon Farrugia.

A minute later the Saints had a goal scored by Wayne Zerafa which was disallowed for an offside infringement and in the 25th minute they were denied by D’Amato off a low shot by Brian Chetcuti.

In the 33rd minute Saints’ defender Jason Galea was sent off for retaliation and just before the break St Lucia had another goal scored by Jason Woodhead which was annulled for an offside infringement.

After the change of ends the match continued to be balanced with Qrendi going close on two occasions through Christian Caruana and Aaron Pendry.

At the other end St Lucia were denied by D’Amato off a flying header by Brian Chetcuti with Qrendi coming back through Aaron Pendry whose shot was well saved by Cilia.

In the 82nd minute Qrendi were unlucky as a shot by Pendry hit the crossbar but seven minutes from time Santa Lucia got the winning goal through a low shot by Marlon Farrugia following a personal effort. In added time the Saints were denied by D’Amato off a point-blank shot by Baldassare Borg.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Section B

Sirens-Pembroke Ath. 2-3

The first period proved to be quite an exciting affair with Sirens losing a clear opportunity early on through Giovanni Galea.

In the 4th minute Pembroke were given a penalty for a foul on Carlo Leonardi, the latter having his shot from the spot well saved by the Sirens’ keeper Romeo Schembri.

Sirens were then denied by Jean Pierre Debattista off a free-kick by their Brazilian midfield player Leandro Blanco De Castro with the Athleta responding through a dangerous effort by Hicham Karkouch.

Sirens opened the score on 23 minutes through a low angled shot by George Falzon following a good move between Giovanni Galea and Stephen Pisani.

Then Pembroke awere very close through Carlo Leonardi but on 33 minutes they managed to score the equalising goal through Steve Micallef who took advantage from a mistake by the Sirens’ custodian.

Just before the break Pembroke were again close as a shot by Jean Claude Borg was saved by Schembri.

Six minutes after the restart Sirens suffered a severe setback when their striker Giovanni Galea was sent off for a second caution.

To make matters worse for Sirens, Pembroke took the lead in the 53rd minute through a close-range effort by Malcolm Sammut with Sirens, however, making it 2-2 on 62 minutes through a lob by George Falzon.

Two minutes later Pembroke were denied by Schembri off a header by Leonardi with Sirens responding through efforts by George Falzon and Jonathan Grech which just missed the target.

At the other end Pembroke went close on two occasions through Leonardi and late in the match Sirens were denied by Debattista off a point blank header by George Falzon.

Three minutes into injury-time Pembroke got the winning goal through an angled shot by substitute Daniel Calleja.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Marsa-Kalkara 0-1

The first period was a balanced affair with Marsa being close after only five minutes through a Joseph Rizzo free-kick which was saved with difficulty by Fulvio Azzopardi.

At the other end Kalkara were close through Michael Zammit whose shot just missed the target and then wasted a clear opportunity through Kevin Tonna.

In the 17th minute Marsa were denied by Azzopardi off a point-blank shot by Dansand Brincat but four minutes later Kalkara opened the score with Sinclair Camilleri heading in past Leighton Mifsud.

Marsa tried to react but it was Kalkara who were again close on two occasions through Daniel Mifsud and Michael Zammit.

After the change of ends Kalkara retained the initiative and after only three minutes a strong shot by Michael Zammit was deflected to a corner-kick.

At the other end Marsa’s striker Johan Camilleri was anticipated by the Kalkara keeper before he could conclude at goal with Kalkara coming back through attempts by Matthew Cassar and Kevin Tonna which ended high over the bar.

In the 68th minute Kalkara were close to increasing their lead as Kevin Tonna lobbed just over the crossbar with the Marsa keeper out of goal with Marsa being very close in the 76th minute as a shot by Kirsten Brincat just missed the target.

Late in the match Kalkara missed a clear goal scoring opportunity through Michael Zammit and were also unlucky to hit the crossbar off a Kevin Tonna volley.

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Kirkop U-Gharghur 1-2

Gharghur dictated the proceedings throughout the first period and in the opening seven minutes they were very close on two occasions as shots by Andrew Formosa and Benjamin Perry Acton just missed the target.

In the 11th minute Kirkop were denied by James Mercieca off a conclusion by Orianski Buhagiar and six minutes later Kirkop keeper Daniel Pryke brought off an incredible save to stop a header by Daniel Borg from an Alexander Ribic free-kick.

In the 24th minute another Ribic free-kick was deflected to a corner-kick and two minutes later Gharghur missed a clear opportunity through Benjamin Perry Acton.

At the other end Kirkop also missed a goal scoring opportunity through Bryan Falzon from a Sufin Atomi free-kick with Gharghur coming back through Malcolm Tirchett whose shot just missed the target.

Just before the break, Kirkop won a free-kick which was taken by Albert Busuttil and Darren Caruana headed just wide off the far post with Gharghur responding through Andrew Formosa whose header finished just wide.

After the change of ends Kirkop created the best opportunities early on as they were close through Ronald Spina and Josef Attard with Gharghur responding through a Malcolm Tirchett free-kick which finished high over the bar.

Gharghur were then very close on two occasions through Andrew Formosa and in the 66th minute a shot by Tirchett was well saved by Pryke.

Gharghur increased the pressure and were again denied by Pryke off attempts by Alexander Ribic and Malcolm Tirchett but they managed to open the score in the 84th minute through a close range shot by substitute Ivan Ebejer. Four minutes later Kirkop were back on level terms through a penalty given for a handling infringement by Benjamin Perry Acton and duly converted by Albert Busuttil.

However three minutes into added time Gharghur scored the winning goal with Benjamin Perry Acton heading in past Pryke from a cross by Ryan Debattista.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Fgura U-Luqa St Andrews 1-3

Fgura opened the score after only eight minutes through an angled shot by Lydon Vella with Luqa’s immediate reaction producing a deserved equalising goal on 20 minutes through a close-range header by their captain Lee Baldacchino.

In the 28th minute Luqa were denied by Fgura’s custodian Redeemer Borg off a close-range shot by Roderick Debattista with Fgura twice going close through Jovin Abela and Matthew Schembri.

A minute before the break Luqa were unlucky as a low shot by Randolph Penza hit the upright.

After the resumption, Fgura dictated the run of play in the initial stages and in the 50th minute a shot by Matthew Spiteri finished just wide.

A minute later Fgura were denied by Paul Psaila off an effort by substitute Nazzareno Abela with Luqa coming back through a shot by Randolph Penza and a free-kick taken by Roderick Debattista which just missed the target.

In the 70th minute Luqa took the lead through a shot by Roderick Debattista following a partial save by Redeemer Tabone off a conclusion by Lee Baldacchino.

Then a shot by Jason Good was well saved by Tabone but on 82 minutes Luqa made it 3-1 through Lee Baldacchino

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Mdina K-Siggiewi 0-1

Siggiewi dictated the proceedings for long stretches during the first period but it was Mdina who went close after 11 minutes through Nicholas Micallef whose shot just missed the target.

However two minutes later Siggiewi opened the score through an angled shot by Roderick Farrugia following a square pass by Josef Vassallo.

In the 19th minute Siggiewi’s keeper Roderick Vella saved off a crosshot by Touttungi Nader and in the 27th minute Mdina were again close through Carmel Vella.

On the half-hour Siggiewi had a shot on the run by Josef Vassallo which finished just wide with play gradually ensuing in the midfield sector.

However a minute before the break Siggiewi were denied by Cini off a long-range attempt by Melvin Agius.

After the change of ends Mdina sustained the reaction in the initial stages but it was Siggiewi who went close in the 53rd minute through a Jason Camilleri cross-shot which was saved by Chris Cini.

Four minutes later a strong shot by Joseph Debono was saved with difficulty by Siggiewi’s keeper Roderick Vella with Siggiewi responding in the 62nd minute as Roderick Farrugia headed just high over the bar from a free-kick taken by Jason Camilleri.

In the 72nd minute Siggiewi were very unlucky as a Jason Camilleri free-kick bounced off the crossbar and six minutes later they were denied their second goal by Cini who brought off an excellent save off a Mark Camilleri header.

Five minutes from time Mdina went close as a dangerous free-kick taken by Nicholas Micallef was well saved by Vella.

Referee: Stefan Pace.