Zejtun Corinthians dictated the proceedings during the first period and early on a Silvio Sciberras corner-kick caused havoc in the Birzebbuga defence which cleared with difficulty.

The Saints were close through an Anton Florin direct free-kick with Zejtun missing a clear opportunity as Amadeo Mercieca shot wide from close-range.

In the 18th minute the Saints won another free-kick but Florin shot high over the bar with play gradually ensuing in the midfield sector.

However in the 31st minute Birzebbuga were given a penalty when their striker Ronnie Celeste was fouled by the Corinthians’ defender Darren Vella, the latter being shown a direct red card.

The penalty was taken by Matthew Borg who, however, shot wide.

The Saints paid dearly for this error as five minutes later the Corinthians took the lead with Kenneth Abela heading in past Mercieca from a Charlo Magro free-kick.

Three minutes before the break Zejtun increased their lead as Amadeo Mercieca shot in past the Saints’ keeper with a low angled shot.

After the change of ends Birzebbuga took advantage from their numerical advantage and attacked for long stretches. In the 55th minute they were very close through Matthew Borg but on 64 minutes a cross by Neville Galea was headed on by Matthew Borg in the path of his team mate Ronnie Celeste who headed in past Ranier Farrugia to get Birzebbuga back into the match.

In a swift counter-attack Zejtun’s substitute Oldi Majtar broke away but his final shot just missed the target with Birzebbuga then going very close through an Anton Florin corner-kick.

Then the Zejtun keeper brought off a decisive save to deny Neville Galea but a minute into injury-time Zejtun sealed the issue through a third goal scored by Adrian Carabott.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Zebbug R-Zurrieq FC 1-1

After just two minutes an indecision by the Zebbug defence almost let in Zurrieq’s striker Warren Kiomall but the Rangers’ keeper Vella managed to recuperate and save with difficulty.

In the 14th minute Rangers’ striker Timmy Thomas was denied by the Zurrieq custodian and in the 21st minute it was again Ruben Debono who managed to save off a crosshot by George Saliba.

Two minutes later the Zebbug keeper brought off a difficult save to deny Johan Briffa with Zebbug replying through two dangerous attempts by Timmy Thomas.

On the half-hour the post denied Zurrieq off a shot by Steve Azzopardi and late in the first period Rangers’ midfield player shot high from the edge of the penalty area.

After the change of ends, Zebbug did the attacking and early on they were very close through Marlon Leixas Ferreira who however shot wide from close-range. In the 60th minute Zebbug broke the deadlock as a long-range shot from almost mid-pitch surprised Zurrieq’s custodian Ruben Debono with the ball finishing in the back of the net. Zurrieq failed to react and Zebbug could have made it 2-0 but Timmy Thomas wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity.

In the 77th minute Zurrieq’s striker Steve Azzopardi broke away in a swift counter-attack to beat Jonathan Vella with a low angled shot making it one-all.

In the 84th minute the Zebbug keeper brought off a difficult save to deny Clive Shumba and two minutes from time Rangers’ striker Jeremy Agius missed a clear opportunity.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

San Gwann-Naxxar L. 0-0

The first period was a very balanced affair with the Saints going close after just six minutes through a personal effort by Lee Galea.

n the 11th minute Galea wasted a clear opportunity as he shot wide from infront of goal with Naxxar replying two minutes later as they were denied by Justin Spiteri off a close-range effort by Gabriel Zanini Duarte.

The latter took the corner-kick which was headed just wide off the far post by his team mate Darren Falzon. Naxxar increased the pressure and had a shot by Duarte which was blocked by a Saints’ defender whereas on another occasion a headed attempt by Darren Falzon was punched away by Spiteri.

At the other end San Gwann’s striker Shawn Vella shot high when all alone infront of goal and in the 36th minute the San Gwann keeper brought off a difficult save off a shot by Darren Falzon.

On another occasion a free-kick taken by Duarte just missed the target.

After the resumption San Gwann continued to share the exchanges and in the 56th minute they were close as a shot by Chris Cacciattolo finished just wide.

Then Mauro Busuttil hit just high over the bar and in the 69th minute an effort by Shawn Vella was deflected to a corner.

From the resulting corner-kick, Chris Cacciattolo hit the upper side of the crossbar. Gradually Naxxar regained the upper hand in the midfield sector and they were denied on two occasions by the San Gwann custodian Julian Spiteri off shots by Chris Pace and Darren Falzon.

Late in the match Naxxar’s prolific scorer Falzon shot just wide and two minutesinto injury-time San Gwann missed an easy opportunity with Glenn Agius hitting high from infront of goal.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Senglea Ath-Gzira U 2-2

Gzira United did the attacking throughout the first-half but initially they were finding hard to break down Senglea’s defensive barrier.

In the 16th minute Gzira won a free-kick which was taken by Hubert Gatt Bonello which finished just wide but in the 25th minute they managed to break the deadlock through a penalty given for a foul by Gareth Magri on Alessandro Pirrone with Roberto Brincat scoring from the spot.

On the half-hour the Senglea keeper saved off a shot by Brincat and five minutes later a close-range effort by Thane Micallef was blocked by a Senglea defender.

Just before the break, in a counter-attack, Senglea missed a clear opportunity through Glenn Brincat and on another occasion an attempt by Robert Adami was saved by Kyle Gerada.

After the resumption the match was a balanced affair with Gzira going close after just four minutes through Lydon Cilia.

They then wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity through Alessadro Pirrone with Senglea being denied by Kyle Gerada off a long-range effort by Simon Aquilina.

In the 62nd minute Senglea won a free-kick which was taken by Glenn Tanti with Gerada saving partially and in went Ricardo Severino to shoot in from close-range to make it one-all.

Then Senglea were close on a couple of occasions but in the 72nd minute Gzira got their second penalty when Alesaandro Pirrone was fouled by Gareth Magri as Roberto Brincat converted from the spot to give Gzira the lead.

Senglea’s reaction was immediate and 10 minutes from time they made it 2-2 through Robert Adami from a well placed free-kick.

In the closing minutes Gzira had a shot by Roberto Brincat which was blocked on the goal line with Senglea going very close as a shot by Alan Spiteri was saved with difficulty by Gerada.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Mgarr U.-Rabat A. 0-1

Rabat Ajax did the attacking early on and after four minutes thet went very close through a free-kick taken by Chris Schembri.

At the other end Mgarr’s striker James Borg shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area and in the 16th minute Rabat tested the Mgarr keeper Claude Carbonaro off an inswinging David Azzopardi corner-kick.

A minute later Carbonaro was again on hand to stop a crosshot by Adam Smeir with Mgarr replying through an insidious shot by Chris Abela which was deflected to a corner-kick.

In the 27th minute the post twice denied Mgarr off an Ibrahim Tarek free-kick and a shot by Chris Sant from the rebound.

In the closing stages of the first period Rabat regained the initiative and in the 35th minute a Chruscat free-kick was saved by Carbonaro.

Just before the break a strong shot by Yessous Camilleri was deflected by an Mgarr defender.

After the break play continued to be balanced with Mgarr going close after six minutes through Chris Abela.

On the hour Mgarr were denied by Jonathan Azzopardi off a conclusion by James Borg with Rabat replying through Adam Smeir who was however anticipated by the Mgarr keeper who cleared the ball to safety.

In the 62nd minute Mgarr almost took the lead as a dangerous shot by James Borg finished just wide off the far post with Rabat coming back in the 68th minute through Adam Smeir who shot just high over the bar.

In the 78th minute the Rabat keeper brought off a fine save to deny Ibrahim Tarek with Rabat coming back five minutes later through a dangerous William Borg free-kick.

Mgarr almost broke the deadlock in the 86th minute as a point-blank shot by Stephen Camilleri was blocked on the Rabat goal line by Yan Cauchi, but a minute later Cauchi provided the cross from the right flank which freed Adam Smeir who managed to score from close-range.

Four minutes into injury-time Smeir appeared to have been fouled in the penalyu area but the referee waved play on.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

St Patrick FC-Mellieha SC 0-1

Mellieha held the initiative for long stretches during the first-half and early on Mellieha were denied by the St.Patrick keeper Joshua Galea off a dangerous free-kick taken by Philip Camilleri.

At the other end St Patrick had a Clint Farrugia effort which was saved by Simon Gauci with Mellieha almost breaking the deadlock on 33 minutes through Alex Portelli whose low cross-shot finished just wide off the far post.

A minute later Mellieha wasted a clear opportunity through Daniel Cremona from a cross by Fabiano Bassi, and just before the break the latter shot wide from close-range.

After the break Mellieha were the better team but they lacked punch upfront.

After just six minutes Mellieha’s Brazilian striker Fabiano Bassi was close as his shot was saved by Joshua Galea and in the 59th minute the same player shot high from close-range from a pass by Daniel Cremona.

In the 68th minute St Patrick won a free-kick which was taken by Gordon Failla with Simon Gauci saving with difficulty and then a shot by Ilyad Scicluna was again saved by the Mellieha custodian.

In the 71st minute Mellieha wasted an open goal scoring opportunity with Daniel Cremona shooting straight into Joshua Galea and 10 minutes from time the Saints’ keeper Galea came out of his goal to anticipate Connor Muchmore.

As the match seemed heading to a deserved goalless draw, in added time, Mellieha managed to score the all-important goal as substitute Kyle Simiana passed the ball to another substitute Connor Muchmore who backheeled the ball into the net past Galea.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.