Mellieha had to play for most of the match with ten players as after only eight minutes they had their goalkeeper Simon Gauci sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Mellieha had to make a forced substitute as their reserve keeper James Abela came in for Kyle Simiana. From the resultant free-kick, Haruna Doda shot just wide. In the 15th minute Melleha had a pass by Philip Camilleri whicj was taken up by Daniel Cremona whose angled shot just missed the target. At the other end a free-kick taken by Roderick Spiteri was saved by the Mellieha keeper and then Timmy Thomas was anticipated by a Mellieha defender before he could conclude at goal. In the 36th minute the Rangers broke the deadlock through a strong shot by Timmy Thomas with the same striker again going very close two minutes before the end of the first-half.
After the change of ends Mellieha failed to make a reaction with Zebbug sustaining the pressure and were very close early on through Timmy Thomas, Jeremy agius and Gordon Mallia. Mellieha were simply disappointing as they failed to create any goal scoring opportunities. On 66 minutes Zebbug made it 2-0 through Bjorn Chetcuti who anticipated the Mellieha keeper and a minute later a shot by Timmy Thomas just missed the target. Then the Rangers were unlucky as lob by Jeremy Agius bounced off the crossbar but on 71 minutes Zebbug practically closed the match through yet another goal as a cross from the left flank by Timmy Thomas was headed in by Timmy Thomas. Mellieha went close through Daniel Cremona whose shot finished just wide and in added time Rangers’ striker Timmy Thomas shot a goal with Abela bringing off a difficult save.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Zurrieq F.C.-Zejtun C. 1-4
Zurrieq played the better football early on and were twice close on two occasions through Johan Briffa. Gradually play resulted in the midfield sector but in the 32nd minute Zejtun created their first opportunity as Oldi Majtara was anticipated by the Zurrieq keeper Rueben Debono. Then Amadeo Mercieca was a bit late from a cross by Kenneth Abela and in the 36th minute Zejtun were denied by Debono off a header by Mercieca. However two minutes later Zejtun broke the deadlock as a long-range shot by Oldi Majtara took Debono completely by surprise. In the 43rd minute Zejtun were again close through Kenneth Abela following a personal effort.
Just two minutes after the restart Zurrieq were back on level terms as a shot by Ray Attard was saved partially by the Zejtun custodian and in came Zurrieq’s defender Karl Sacco who managed to shoot in from close-range. In the 50th minute Zurrieq’s striker Steve Azzopardi shot just high over the bar and four minutes later Zejtun created a dangerous opportunity through Kenneth Abela. In the 71st minute Odi Majtara shot straight at Debono when all alone infront of goal and nine minutes later Zejtun were given a penalty for a foul by Zurrieq’s defender Joseph Lia on Adrian Carabott. The penalty was taken by Majtara but the Zurrieq keeper brought off a fine save. Zejtun increased the pressure and made it 2-1 on 84 minutes through a long-range shot by Charlo Magro. In the 89th minute substitute Carmel Formosa added a third goal and in added time Adrian Carabott sealed the win.
Referee: Jude Utulu.
Rabat Ajax-Naxxar L. 2-0
The first period was a balanced affair with Naxxar having the best opportunities early oin as they went close through a Kevin Fenech free-kick which was saved by Jonathan Azzopardi and two attempts by Darren Falzon and Andre Rocha Da Silva which ended just wide. In their first real attack on 19 minutes the Ajax broke the deadlock as a cross by Adam Smeir was finished off by his team mate Justin Felice with Rabat then again going close through Joseph Caruana and Christian Muscat as Julian azzopardi brought off two fines saves. Naxxar responded through dangerous free-kicks taken by Adrian Fenech with Rabat responding through a lob by Josef Tonna which was cleared off the line by Kevin Fenech. Then Rabat had a shot by William Borg which was blocked by a Naxxar defender and an effort by Adam Smeir which just missed the target.
After the change of ends Rabat did the attacking and after just four minutes an Adam Smeir free-kick was saved with difficulty by Azzopardi. Then Smeir shot just wide and on another occasion Rabat’s substitute Ryan Micallef was very close as first-time volley ended just high over the bar. In the 66th minute Naxxar replied through Adrian Fenecxh’s free-kick which caused havoc in the Rabat defence but two minutes later the Ajax increased their lead as Joseph Caruana managed to beat Julian Azzopardi with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. In the 83rd minute Naxxar had a free-kic taken by Kevin Fenech which was punched way by Jonathan Azzopardi with Rabat coming back through efforts by David Azzopardi and Christian Muscat which were stopped by the Naxxar custodian.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
St.Patrick F.C.-Senglea A. 1-0
After just seven minutes St.Patrick gained a free-kick which was taken by their captain Gordon Failla with the ball fionishing just wide. In the 14th minute Dillon Pace shot wide from a good position and later on the Senglea custodian did well to stop a close-range shot by Illyad Scicluna. The Saints increased the pressure and in the 32nd minute were unlucky as a pass by Failla was taken up by Scicliuna whose strongf shot bounced off the crossbar. Then two close-range efforts by substitute Randall Cassar were stopped by Attard, thye latter again doing well five minutes before the break as he saved off a point-blank shot by Gordon Failla.
After the change of ends the Saints remained the better side with the Senglea veteran keeper George Attard continuing to have a great vgame. However in the 52nd minute Senglea went very close as a cross by Ricardo Severino was headed just wide by Glen Brincat. Four minutes later the Saints wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity with Illyad Scicluna shooting over the bar from close-range following good work by Glen Barry and in the 59th minute George Attard made a flying save to tip the ball over the bar off a shot by Matthew Xerri. Then Attard again denied the Saints off a shot by Barry but in the 61st minute Barry’s shot was saved partially by Attard and in came Matthew Xerri to shoot home to give St.Patrick a much deserved lead. At the other end Senglea were very close through Ricardo Severino with the Saints going very close as shots by Glen Barry and Jurgen Farrugia were stopped by s superb George Attard.
Referee: Andrew James Sammut.