Gzira U- St Patrick FC 1-3

After just three minutes the Saints had a strong shot by Randall Vella which was blocked by a Gzira defender and then David Mamo shot just wide with a low angled shot. I

n the 12th minute the Maroons went very close through Lydon Cilia but in the 17th minute the Saints opened the score through a low shot by Glen Barry who took advantage from an erroneous back-pass by Gzira’s midfield player Yanis Tonna.

Gzira failed to react and on 25 minutes the Saints increased their lead through a beauty of a shot by their captain Gordon Failla from a direct free-kick.

Seven minutes later Gzira gained a free-kick which was taken by Josef Felice with Franklin Azzopardi bringing off a fine save with the ball hitting the post and Daniel Vella shot wide from the rebound.

Eight minutes before the break the Saints increased further their lead through a low shot by Glen Barry.

Two minutes after the restart Gzira went cloae as a close-range shot by Daniel Vella finished just wide with the Saints coming back through a dangerous action by Jurgen Farrugia.

In the 52nd minute Gzira wopn a free-kick which was taken by their captain Josef Felice whose strong shot went in past Franklyn Azzopardi to reduce the arrears.

At the other end St Patrick’s captain Gordon Failla, all alone infront of the opponents’ goal, shot wide with Gzira twice being denied by the Saints’ custodian off dangeroius free-kicks taken by Josef Felice.

Gzira continued to push forward and were again close through Matthew Cocks and Alessandro Pirrone and in added time their midfield player Keith Bonello got a second yellow card and was sent off.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Birzebbuga SP-Mgarr U 2-1

After just five minutes Birzebbuga had a shot by Carlos Camenzuli which finished just wide with Mgarr creating two dangerous opportunities through Russell Marmara and Ibrahim Tarek.

In the 13th minute Birzebbuga broke the deadlock through a close-range effort by Ronnie Celeste with Mgarr gradually gaining the initiative.

They were denied by Mansueto off a shot by Russell Marmara and in the 29th minute the same player shot just wide off the far post .

Mgarr kept pushing forward with a Tarek free-kick being saved by Mansueto as Birzebbuga had a goal scored by Matthew Borg which was however disallowed for an offside position.

Mgarr replied through Chris Abela whose shot ended just wide and then a Tarek free-kick was saved with difficulty by Mansueto.

After the exchange of ends Mgarr gained the initiative and after two minutes a shot by Russell Marmara finished just wide.

Then a free-kick by Ibrahim Tarek was saved with difficulty by Mansueto but in the 53rd minute Mgarr got the deserved equalising goal through a shot by Ismael Cutajar.

Mgarr sustained the pressure and were again close through Tarek and Chris Abela with Birzebbuga replying through Matthew Borg who wasted an open opportunity and an Anton Florin effort which was saved by Carbonaro.

Play got a bit rough and in the 71St minute Mgarr loSt William Camilleri for retaliation.

A minute later two players were also sent off following an incident involving a number of players: (Chris Tabone (Mgarr) and Matthew Borg (Birzebbuga).

In the 76th minute the Saints’ striker Ronnie Celeste lost his balance when confronted by Mgarr’s defender Malcolm Bugeja with the Saints being given a penalty which was disputed by Mgarr.

Paul Camilleri duly converted to give the Saints a 2-1 lead. Late in the match Mgarr had a goal scored by Johan Said which was annulled for an offside position, a decision which was again disputed by Mgarr.

In added time Mgarr were denied by Mansueto off a shot by Russell Marmara.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Rabat Ajax-San Gwann 0-1

Rabat Ajax did the attacking throughout the first-half but it was San Gwann who broke the deadlock after just three minutes through their midfield player Peter Xuereb.

Two minutes later Rabat replied through a headed attempt by Yessous Camilleri which was saved by the San Gwann goalkeeper Justin Spiteri, the latter again doing very well in the 12th minute as he stopped a strong shot by Adam Smeir. Rabat sustained the pressure and were again denied by Spiteri off efforts by David Azzopardi and Justin Felice whereas on other occasions Smeir and Chris Scxhembri shot just wide.

After the resumption San Gwann gained the initiative early on and after four minutes a Chris Cacciattolo free-kick just missed the target.

Then Joseph Chidi Achowko shot just wide with Rabat going close through Adam Smeir who was well tackled by Saints’ defender Fabio Cauchi.

In the 59th minute Rabat had a Yan Cauchi cross-shot which was deflected to a corner-kick and in the 65th minute Justin Felice shot high over the bar from close-range to miss an easy goal scoring opportunity.

In the 85th minute Rabat went close through William Borg with the Saints replying through a Dylan Galea free-kick which was well saved by Azzopardi.

In added time in a San Gwann counter-attack Chris Cacciattolo shot just wide with an angled shot.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Naxxar L-Senglea Ath 4-0

After barely two minutes Naxxar went close as a direct free-kick taken by Andre Rocha Da Silva just missed the target and then a David Cauchi cross-shot was saved by the Senglea keeper.

Naxxar continued to push forward with Darrren Falzon hitting wide when all alone infront of goal but in the 19th minute Falzon managed to shoot home from close-range to put Naxxar 1-0 infront.

Then the Senglea keeper brought off a very difficult save to stop a Gilbert Camilleri free-kick and in the 25th minute Victor Bellia missed a clear opportunity.

At the other end Senglea were denied by Julian Azzopardi off a shot by Robert Adami but in the 41St minute Naxxar increased their lead through a strong shot by Adrian Fenech.

Just before the break Naxxar were denied by Attard off a p;oint-blank effort by Gilbert Camilleri.

After the resumption Senglea shared the exchanges and after five minutes the Naxxar keeper had to come out of his goal to anticipate Ricard Severino.

Then Azzopardi denied Naxxar off a Gareth Magri free-kick with Naxxar responding in a counter-attack through Andre Rocha Da Silva whose angled shot finished just wide.

In the 68th minute Senglea’s defender Gareth Magri was sent off following comments made to referee Vella with Naxxar making it 3-0 in the 75th minute through Darren Falzon’s second goal of the match.

Late in the game Naxxar were again very close through substitute Gabriel Zanini Duarte and Andre Rocha Da Silva. In added time Naxxar sealed their win with a fourth goal scored once again by Darren Falzon who got a personal hat-trick.

Referee: Roberto Vella.