Mdina Knights were the better team during the firSt period but it was the Saints who created the first opportunity through a Marlon Farrugia free-kick which was saved by Cilia.

At the other end Mdina were close through Cachel Vella and Trevor Fenech and in the 14th minute a shot by Vella was blocked on the goal line by a Saints’ defender.

The Saints replied through Adrian Dominicus whose shot just missed the target and in the 19th minute the Saints’ keeper brought off a fine save off a shot by Nicholas Micallef.

Four minutes later the Saints had a good move by Marlon Farrugia who unmarked Adrian Dominicus with the latter’s shot being cleared off the goal line.

In the 36th minute the Saints were denied by Cini off a Ramon Mifsud header and just before the break Mdina wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity through Cachel Vella.

After the change of ends Mdina remained the better team and after eight minutes a Robert Southward free-kick was saved by Jurgen Cilia.

In the 62nd minute Santa Lucia were very unlucky as a close-range effort by Baldassare Borg hit the foot of the upright.

Gradually Mdina increased the pressure and on 77 minutes they got the all-important goal scored by Robert Southward with a low-angled shot which went in past Cilia.

Four minutes later Southward was again close through a shot which was saved by the Saints’ custodian and late in the match they were again denied by Cilia off attempts by Cachel Vella and Trevor Fenech.

In added time Mdina’s substitute Clint Scerri had a shot which just missed the target.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Siggiewi FC-Xghajra T 4-2

Siggiewi dominated the first period but it was Xghajra who coulkd have taken the lead early on as a point-blank shot by Horace Vella was saved by Roderick Vella.

In the 7th minute Siggiewi opened the score as a cross by Harun Ahmed Mohamed was finished off by Jason Camilleri.

Four minutes later a Camilleri free-kick was saved with difficulty by the Xghajra keeper and in the 17th minute Siggiewi missed a clear goal scoring opportunity through Roderick Farrugia.

Then a strong low shot by Jason Camilleri just missed the target but in the 34th minute Siggiewi made it 2-0 as a Melvin agiuus free-kick was headed on by Mark Camilleri for his brother Jason Camilleri to hit home past Scicluna.

Then Siggiewi were denied by Scicluna off a crosshot by Roderick Farrugia but six minutes before the break Xghajra reduced the arrears through a close-range effort by Michael Magro.

After the change of ends Siggiewi sustained their dominance and early on they were twice close through their foreign striker Harun Ahmed Mohamed.

In the 52nd minute Siggiewi had a shot by Roderick Farrugia which was partially saved by Kalkara’s keeper Scicluna, the ball being finally cleared off the goal line and with Siggiewi gaining a corner-kick.

The corner was taken by Melvin Agius and Jason Camilleri headed home past Scicluna to notch his hat-trick. Then Siggiewi hit the post off a shot by Harun Ahmed Mohamed but in the 74th minute Siggiewi made it 4-1 with Jason Camilleri scoring his fourth goal with an excellent shot. In the closing stages

Siggiewi were denied a fifth goal through a superb save by Scicluna off an angled shot by Roderick Farrugia.

In added time Xghajra were given a penalty for an ugly foul on Ali Manaf by Siggiewi’s substitute Edward Bugeja, the latter being sent off. It penalty was taken and converted by Horace Pace to reduce the arrears for Xghajra.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Gudja U-Swieqi U 2-0

The first-half was a balanced affair with Gudja United however having the best goal scoring opportunities.

Early on Swieqi were close through John Debono with Gudja replying through a Leslie Burke free-kick which just missed the rarget.

Then Gudja were very close through two attempts by Peter Paul Sammut and in the 39th minute they wasted an open goal scoring opportunity as Elton Bugeja shot high from infront of goal.

Four minutes before the break Gudja were given a penalty for a handling infringement by Swieqi’s midfielder Simon Borg but Gudja’s veteran striker Trevor Thomas shot high over the bar.

After the resumption Gudja dominated the proceedings and after just six minutes they opened the score through Trevor Thomas with Swieqi claiming that the Gudja striker was in an offside position.

The goal was allowed to stand. In the 57th minute Gudja were denied by Marmara off a strong shot by Ndayi Kalenga but three minutes later they increased their lead through Peter Paul Sammut following a good move by Kalenga.

Gudja continued to push forward and were again very close through two attempts by Trevor Thomas with the same striker hitting the upright four minutes from time.

In added time Gudja wasted a clear opportunity through Daniel Bonnici.

Referee: Mohamed Khalil.

Mtarfa FC-St Venera L 0-1

St Venera Lightnings were close after just three minutes through an attempt by Rudi Carbonaro which was saved with difficulty by the Mtarfa custodian James Borg.

At the other end Mtarfa went close through Sandro Ferrante but gradually the Lightnings increased the pressure and on 15 minutes a dangerous shot by their veteran midfield schemer Jeffrey Zammit just missed the target.

On another occasion Lightnings’ striker was very close with a beautiful shot which finished just wide off the near post and just before the break a Glen Micallef inswinging corner-kick caused havoc in the Mtarfa defence.

After the resumption St Venera dominated the proceedings and early on were twice close through Dylan Mercieca.

In the 57th minute another shot by Mercieca was somehow blocked by an Mtarfa defender and a minute later a header by Stefan Farrugia was cleared off the goal line with the Lightnings’ players sustaining that the ball had indeed crossed the line.

St Venera continued to push forward and were twice denied by James Borg off attempts by Dylan Mercieca but in the 80th minute, St Venera were given a penalty for a handling infringement by Giorgio Cumbo with Jeffrey Zammit duly converting from the spot to put the Lightnings 1-0 in front.

In the 86th minute Mtarfa were very close through Francesco Azzopardi and in added time they ended up with ten players as their captain Giorgio Cumbo was sent off for making unwarranted remarks.

Well into injury-time Mtarfa protested for a penalty after a header by Cedric Zahra was blocked on the goal line.

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Section B

Gharghur-Kalkara FC 4-1

Gharghur were undoubtedly the better team throughout the first period and after just three minutes they opened the score through a low shot by Andrew Formosa following a through-pass by Beppe Pace.

Then Gharghur were again close through Roderick Zammit with Kalkara being very unlucky in the 11th minute as a strong shot by Clayton Micallef hit the crossbar.

Gharghur replied through Malcolm Tirchett whose angled shot just missed the target and in the 27th minute Ivan Ebejer headed just wide off the far post. On the half-hour a shot by Tirchett was saved with difficulty by Kalkara’s custodian Fulvio Azzopardi but in the 38th minute Gharghur mde it 2-0 through a close-range shot by Ivan Ebejer after a lob by Daniel Borg had bounced off the crossbar.

Two minutes before the break Kalkara were very close through Michael Zammit whose shot finished just over the bar.

After the change of ends Kalkara played the better football although the first goal scoring opportunities belonged to Gharghur who were close through Neville Arpa and Ivan Ebejer.

In the 57th minute Kalkara were denied by James Mercieca off a header by Matthew Cassar and two minutes later the same striker was well tackled by Gharghur’s defender Daniel Borg before he could conclude at goal.

Kalkara kept pushing forward and a first-time shot by Michael Zammit finished just wide but it was Gharghur who increased their lead through a close-range shot by Neville Arpa.

Seconds later Kalkara reduced the arrears through Matthew Cassar with Gharghur then losing two clear opportunities through Tirchett.

Kalkara were denied by the Mercieca off a Jacob Camilleri free-kick but two minutes into injury-time Gharghur were given a penalty for a foul by Melvin Agius on Ivan Ebejer with Malcolm Tirchett duly converting from the spot for a convincing 4-1 final scoreline for the leaders.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar.

Marsa FC-Luqa SA 1-3

Luqa St Andrews dominated the proceedings during the first period and early on a shot by Roderick Debattista was well saved by Marsa’s custodian Leighton Mifsud.

However on 10 minutes Marsa were given a penalty for a handling infringement by Luqa’s player Mark Ciantar and Marsa’s foreign striker Abdullah Yusuf duly converted to put Marsa 1-0 ahead.

Four minutes later, Luqa were close as a lob by Lee Baldacchino was cleared off the goal line and in the 15th minute a Baldacchino corner-kick was headed just wide by Jeffrey Fenech.

Then Baldacchino shot just wide and on another occasion he wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity.

In the 25th minute a point-blank effort by Baldacchino was well saved by the Marsa keeper as Luqa continued to push forward and were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 42nd minute as they got their deserved equalising goal through a low angled shot by Randolph Penza who took advantage from an error by a Marsa defender.

After the break Marsa shared the exchanges and in the 55th minute they were denied by Paul Psaila off a shot by Brian Zammit.

Then a low shot by Abdullah Yusuf just missed the target but in the 57th minute it was Luqa who took the lead with Lee Baldacchino beating Mifsud from close-range from a cross by Roderick Debattista. Marsa tried to react but in the 70th minute it was Luqa who were close through Roderick Debattista.

Four minutes later Marsa missed a clear opportunity through Abdullah Yusuf but ten minutes from time Luqa sealed the issue through a third goal scored by Lee Baldacchino following good work by Debattista.

In added time Luqa were very close through attempts by Rodserick Debattista and Lee Baldacchino.

Through this win Luqa are now in the runners-up position as they enhanced their promotion prospects.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.