After just two minutes San Gwann were close as a shot by Mauro Busuttil just missed the target and then a Shaun Vella free-kick was well saved by Gabriel Mansueto.

Birzebbuga replied through their striker Carlos Camenzuli who shot just wide and in the 13th minute Clive Formosa did all the work as he set free Mark Ellul but the latter shot wide from an ideal position.

Two minutes later San Gwann were denied by Mansueto off an attempt by Joseph Achokwu Chidi and on another occasion a Paul Camilleri corner-kick finished just wide.

In the 39th minute San Gwann took the lead as a square pass by Mauro Busuttil was concluded by Shaun Vella and in added time they were again close with Mauro Busuttil shooting just wide from close-range.

After the resumption the match remained a balanced affair with both teams having a player sent-off.

After just two minutes San Gwann had a shot by Shaun Vella which was well saved by Mansueto with Birzebbuga having Mark Ellul sent-off in the 52nd minute after having been booked for a second time by referee Vella.

On the hour Birzebbuga were unlucky as a Ronnie Celeste header bounced off the crossbar but two minutes later San Gwann had the opportunity of increasing their lead when they were given a penalty for a foul by Mark Pullicino on Shaun Vella but the kick taken by Saints’ keeper Justin Spiteri was saved by Mansueto.

This was followed by an incident involving Justin Spiteri who was sent off. In the 70th minute San Gwann were unlucky as a shot by Peter Xuereb was turned onto the post by Mansueto and later on Mansueto came out of his goal to anticipate Shaun Vella.

In the 85th minute Clive Formosa was close for Birezebbuga and in the 90th minute a shot by Carlos Camenzuli by Luke Camilleri.

In added time Birzebbuga’s defender Mark Pullicino was also sent off for a double caution.

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Zebbug R.-Gzira U. 3-1

Early on in the match the Maroons were close through Richard Attard but gradually Zebbug Rangers gained the upper hand in the mifield sector and started to ndominate the proceedings.

They were close through efforts by Clint Caruana and Jeremy Agius which just missed the target but they took a deserved lead in the 27th minute through Jeremy Agius who managed to beat Gerada from close-range.

Then Thomas shot just wide and on another occasion a Clint Caruana free-kick was saved by the Gzira keeper.

Three minutes before the break the Rangers’ striker Timmy Thomas got his second goal as he headed in from a cross by George Saliba.

In added time Gzira won a free-kick which was taken by Yanis Tonna and his team mate Matthew Cocks shot just high over the bar.

After the resumption the Maroons improved their performance as they attacked for long stretches. After just three minutes a Richard Attard square pass was taken up by Yanis Tonna who shot wide from close-range.

In the 54th minute Gzira won a corner-kick which was taken by Lydon Cilia and Gordon Mizzi rose high to head home past Jonathan Vella. But just a few seconds later Zebbug made it 3-1 as Timmy Thomas got his third goal with Gzira responding through a close attempt by Roberto Brincat.

On 66 minutes Rangers’ defender Gordon Mallia was booked for a second time and was sent off with Gzira going again close in the 83rd minute through Yanis Tonna whose free-kick ended just high over the bar.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Mgarr-Zurrieq 1-3

Mgarr had the better start and after going close early on through Matthew Muscat, in thew 17th minute the same player managed to give them the lead as his low angled shot went in past Rueben Debono.

At the other end Zurrieq’s promising striker Steve Azzopardi was denied by Carbonaro with Mgarr responding through Matthew Muscat who shot just wide.

On the half-hour Zurrieq wasted a clear goal scoring opportunity through Azzopardi as Mgarr did the same in the 31st minute through Matthew Muscat.

Then Zurrieq had shots by Steve Azzopardi and Joseph Lia which were saved with difficulty by Carbonaro with Mgarr replying through a strong shot by James Borg which finished just high over the bar.

In the 41st minute the post stopped a shot by Zurrieq’s midfield player Johan Briffa.

After the resumption Zurrieq were totally in command and early on a free-kick taken by Johasn Briffa was saved with difficulty by Claude Carbonaro.

In the 55th minute Zurrieq made it one-all through their midfielder Matthew Genuis after having advanced from almost mid-pitch and at the other end Mgarr had a Tarek header which just missed the target from James Borg corner-kick.

In the 61st minute Zurrieq took a deserved lead as a cross from the right flank by Ray Attard was finished off by their best player, Johan Briffa.

The same player was then denied by Carbonaro but in the 69th minute the Mgarr keeper fouled Zurrieq’s agile striker Steve Azzopardi in the penalty area with Zurrieq being given a penalty which was duly converted by Steve Azzopardi to make it 3-1.

In the 83rd minute Zurrieq were unlucky as a shot by Johan Briffa hit the post and three minutes later Mgarr scored through Ibrahim Tarek who was however in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.

In added time Mgarr’s substitute Gordon Said was cautioned for a second time and was sent off.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Zejtun C-Mellieha 1-0

This victory assured Zejtun Corinthians of promotion to next season’s First Division. Their numerous supporters had every reason to celebrate their second promotion in just two years – from the third to the first division.

Zejtun Corinthians gained the initiative early on but it was Mellieha who went close early on as a free-kick taken by Nikolai Filipov was deflected to a corner-kick by a Zejtun defender.

In the 20th minute the Melleha keeper James Abela saved with difficulty to stop a free-kick taken by Zejtun’s schemer Silvio Sciberras and four minutes later Mellieha were close through Hubert Vella who headed just wide off the far post. Zejtun’s reply produced a dangerous effort which was however well saved by Abela.

After the change of ends Zejtun appeared to be the more determined side and after eleven minutes they got the goal that matter when a shot by Kenneth Abela was saved partially by the Mellieha custodian but the Zejtun striker scored from his second attempt.

Mellieha failed to react and Zejtun were close on two occasions to getting a second goal. There was first a header by Jesmar Abela which was blocked on the goal line by Mellieha’s defender Alex Portelli and later on the Mellieha keeper brought off a very difficult save to deny Jason Cachia.

At the other end Mellieha were close as a Bikolay Filipov free-kick was blocked by a Zejtun defender and in the 72nd minute another free-kick, this time taken by Philip Taylor was well saved by the Zejtun keeper.

In a counter-attack, Zejtun’s captain Charlo Magro was denied by Abela and in the 90th minute Magro was once again denied by Abela who saved from a well-taken free-kick.

This result means that the Corinthians have now assured themselves of promotion to the First Division with their numerous supporters celebrating in great style their team’s merited success.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.