This direct promotion clash ended in the sharing of the spoils as St.Venera Lightnings managed to obtain the result they needed to retain the sole leadership in their section. Both teams are amongst the favourites to obtainj promotion to the Second Division.

Gudja United dictated the run of play during the first period and early on they were twice denied by St Venera’s keeper Warren Cuschieri off efforts by Peter Paul Sammut and Trevor Thomas.

In the 29th minute Gudja were given a penalty for a handling infringement by St.Venera’s defender David Calleja. Trevor Thomas’ shot from the spot was partially saved by Cuschieri but Aaron Guazzo was on hand to finish off from close-range.

Gudja continued to push forward and before the break were again very close through Trevor Thomas and Leslie Burke.

After the change of ends St Venera came strongly back and wewre back on level terms in the 61st minute through a close-range shot by Stefan Farrugia after a Dylan Mercieca free-kick had been saved partially by Xerxen.

Gradually played resulted in the midfield sector with Gudja being denied by Cuschieri off a shot by Edmond Thornton and with St.Venera responding through Dylan Mercieca whose shot hit the crossbar.

At the end of the match there were some incidents with St.Venera’s striker Rudi Carbonaro being sent off.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Qrendi-Mtarfa 2-2

Mtarfa opened the score after just seven minutes through Warren Grima following good work by Francesco Azzopardi with Qrendi responding through Jonathan Galea whose shot was cleared off the line by Mtarfa’s defender Julian Fenech.

Qrendi sustained their reaction, going close on two occasions through Chris Farrugia but in the 33rd minute Mtarfa increased their lead as a cross by Claude Bonanno was finishedoff by Francesco Azzopardi.

After the resumption Qrendi dominated the proceedings and after going close through Christian Caruana, Paul Bezzina and Davide Mula, they managed to reduce the arrears in the 68th minute through Chris Farrugia after a lob by Johan Scicluna had hit the post.

Qrendi continued to push forward and were again close on various occasions.

In a counter-attack Mtarfa missed a clear opportunity through Francesco Azzopardi with Qrendi getting the deserved equalizing goal six minutes from time through a long-range shot by Christian Caruana.

In the 90th minute Mtarfa’s foreign player Joseph Muema was sent off for a second caution and in added time Mtarfa were reduced to nine players when their defender Julian Fenech fouled an opponent in a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Attard-Marsascala 7-2

Marsascala opened the score after only five minutes through an excellent lob by Matthew Gauci and then the same player was denied by Renald Attard.

In the 17th minute Attard made it one-all through a low shot by Bydasser Sammut following a personal effort with Attard being denied in the 23rd minute by Renald Attard off an Erjon Beu free-kick.

In the 34th minute Attard took the lead as Bydasser Sammut headed in from a cross by Kayne Said and five minutes before the break they made it 3-1 through a low shot by Kayne Said following a good move by Erjon Beu.

After the resumption Attard completely dominated their opponents and after going close through Erjon Beu and Kayne Said, they managed to make it 4-1 in the 56th minute as Bydasser Sammut notched his personal hat-trick.

Three minutes later Erjon Beu added a fifth goal from a pass by Sammut and in the 71st minute Bydasser Sammut got his fourth goal following a personal effort to make it 6-1.

Then Attard were again close through Matthew Scerri and Andre Agius but in the 88th minute Attard scored a seventh goal through a low shot by Erjon Beu.

A minute into added time Marsascala got another consolation goal through their captain Matthew Gauci.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar.

Xghajra T.-St Lucia 2-0

Santa Lucia did the attacking throughout the first period and after just eight minutes a shot by Dino Falzon was well saved by the Xghajra keeper.

They were then again close through Joel Grima and Baldassare Borg and on another occasion an overhead kick by Joel Grima just missed the target.

However in their first attack in the 37th minute Xghajra opened the score through a close-range lob by Gordon Borg who took advantage from an indecision in the Santa Lucia defence.

After the change of ends Xghajra dictated the proceedings and early on they were twice denied by Jurgen Cilia off a Jonathan Cachia free-kick and a close-range shot by Gordon Borg.

In the 69th minute Xghajra increased their lead through Alex Azzopardi from a cross by Neil Attard and then Jonathan Cachia went close on two occasions.

In the closing stages the Saints were twice unlucky as they hit the post off efforts by Jason Woodhead and Dino Falzon.

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar.

Section B

Luqa SA-Gharghur 0-0

This direct clash between leaders Gharghur and runners-up Luqa St Andrews ended in a fair drawn result with Gharghur now needing just one point from their remaining matches to obtain promotion to the Second Division.

In the 29th minute Gharghur were denied by Psaila off an Alexander Ribic free-kick with Luqa coming back through Baldacchino whose angled shot finished just wide. Just before the break Luqa were very close once again through Mark Said and Lee Baldacchino.

After the break Gharghur gained the initiative and early on a Neville Arpa attempt was saved by Paul Psaila.

Then a Ribic free-kick was met by Beppe Pace whose shot was saved partially by Psaila and the ball was taken up by Benjamin Perry Acton whose cross was headed on by Daniel Borg with Psaila bringing off another difficult save.

Late in the match Luqa wasted an open goal scoring opportunity through Mark Said.

Gharghur earned promotion after Fgura beat Pembroke 4-0.

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Kalkara-Gozo FC 0-2

The Gozitans played a good match as they managed to obtain a merited win over bottom team Kalkara.

After seven minutes the Gozitans were close as a shot by Dylan Mercieca was turned onto the post by Fulvio Azzopardi.

At the other vend Kalkara were unlucky as a Jacob Camilleri free-kick hit the post but in the 17th minute the Gozitans opened the score through Oliver Farrugia following good work by Mercieca.

Four minutes later the post denied the Gozitans off a header by Noel Borg with Kalkara coming back through dangerous efforts by Clayton Micallef and Jacob Camilleri.

Nine minutes after the restart the Gozitans made it 2-0 through Noel Borg following good work by Mercieca with Kalkara trying to react as they went close through Clayton Micallef and Abdullah Musna.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Sirens-Marsa 2-1

Marsa had the better opportunities during the first period but Sirens were twice close early on through Giovanni Galea and Leandro Blanco De Castro.

Marsa had a shot by Johan Camilleri which was saved by Schembri and in the 15th minute an attempt by Yusif Abdullahi was turned onto the post by the Sirens’ keeper.

Five minutes later Sirens were denied by Keith Brincat off a free-kick taken by Leandro Blanco De Castro.

Then Marsa were twice very close through Kirsten Brincat and they also hit the post off a shot by Yusif Abdullahi but nine minutes before the break Sirens took the lead as a cross by Giovanni Galea was finished off by Daniel Sant

After the change of ends the match remained very balanced with Sirens going close on 54 minutes through a free-kick taken by Leandro Blanco De Castro which finished just wide.

Marsa replied through Yusif Abdullahi whose header just missed the target with Sirens responding in the 67th minute as a drive by Ryan Sciberras ended just high over the bar.

In the 70th minute Marsa were given a penalty for a handling infringement by Sirens’ midfield player Alan Xuereb and Yusif Abdullahi duly converted from the spot to make it one-all.

In the 80th minute Marsa wasted a clear opportunity through Charlo Debattista with Sirens having their captain Kristian Galea sent off five minutes later for unwarranted comments.

Despite this handicap, Sirens managed to get the winning goal three minutes into injury time through a splendid volley by George Falzon.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Pembroke Ath-Fgura U 0-4

Fgura United were the better team throughout the first half and after just four minutes they managed to open the score through a direct free-kick well taken by Vince Camilleri.

Fgura kept pushing forward and were again close through Lydon Vella and Matthew Schembri but in the 37th minute they managed to make it 2-0 through a lob by Lydon Vella.

Just before the break Fgura had a strong shot by Christian Grech which just missed the target.

Early on in the second period Pembroke’s defender Warren Muscat almost committed an own-goal off a cross by Fgura’s striker Lydon Vella with Pembroke replying through a Nicholas Aquilina free-kick which finished just wide and a shot by Andre Cachia which hit the post.

However on 65 minutes Fgura made it 3-0 through a low shot by Nazzareno Abela following good work by Patrick Muscat and a minute later Abela shot just wide following a personal effort.

At the other end Pembroke went close through Lee Grech but late in the match Fgura were denied a fourth goal as Debattista brought off a superb save off a strong shot by Nazzareno Abela.

Two minutes into injury-time Fgura scored a fourth goal through Nazzareno Abela who managed to beat Debattista with a low shot.

Referee: Stefan Pace.