After just nine minutes Rabat were close through Christian Muscat following a good move by Adam Smeir and at the other end the Saints’ midfielder Silvan Privitelli shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Play continued to be very balanced with the Saints having a free-kick taken by Anton Florin which ended jusr wide off the far post and on another occasion Rabat’s defender Dylan Falzon cleared the ball off the goal line to deny Carlos Camenzuli.

The Saints were then denied by Azzopardi off an Anton Florin free-kick and in added time the Birzebbuga keeper brought off a difficult save to deny Christian Muscat.

After the break Rabat opened on a good note, taking the lead after just three minutes through Justin Felice from a pass by Adam Smeir.

In the 50th minute Rabat were denied by Gabriel Mansueto off a Yan Cauchi crosshot with the Saints replying four minutes later as a dangerous free-kick taken by Anton Florin was well saved by Jonathan Azzopardi.

The Saints kept pushing forward and were rewarded for their efforts with equalizing goal in the 74th minute as Keith Muscat crossed from the left flank and Noel Tabone headed in past the Rabat keeper.

In the 86th minute Birzebbuga won a free-kick which was taken by Anton Florin with ball ending just wide and in injury-time a Florin corner-kick was headed at goal by Ronnie Celeste which was deflected by a Rabat defender.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Naxxar L-St Patrick 2-2

The Saints played the better football during the first half and after 12 minutes they lost a clear opportunity through Glen Barry following good work by David Mamo.

Then efforts by Alex Ellul and Gordon Failla finished just wide. The Saints increased the pressure and in the 36th minute a close-range shot by Ilyad Scicluna just missed the target but three minutes later St Patrick took a deserved lead a a cross by David Mamo was finished off by Alex Ellul who managed to beat the Naxxar goalkeeper. I

n the 42nd minute the Saints made it 2-0 through a low shot by Ilyad Scicluna after an attempt by Jurgen Farrugia was saved partially by Azzopardi.

In the 44th minute Naxxar almost reduced the arrears by Darren Falzon’s header was blocked on the goal line and two minutes into injury-time they suffered a severe setback with Kevin Fenech making some remarks which led to his sending off by referee Duncan Sultana.

After the resumption Naxxar made a strong reaction and early on they were twice denied by the St Patrick goalkeeper Joshua Galea off a shot by Darren Falzon and a header by Gilbert Camilleri.

They deservedly got a goal back in the 67th minute when a Saints’ defender handled the ball in the penalty box, and referee Sultana awarded Naxxar with a penalty which was duly converted by Andre Rocha Da Silva.

Naxxar were again very close through Da Silva whose free-kick was blocked by Matthew Xerri with the Saints going close through David Mamo in a swift counter-attack.

Then the Saints missed an open opportunity through Randall Cassar but five minutes into injury-time Naxxar managed to salvage an important point as a cross by Justin Zammit was finished off by Darren Falzon.

After the match there were iuncidents in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms and trouble continued outside the stadium between both sets of supporters.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Senglea Ath-Zebbug R 0-2

After just three minutes Senglea had a shot by Rennie Tanti which just missed the target and then went close on two occasions through efforts by Robert Adami.

Zebbug replied in the 14th minute through a dangerous effort by George Saliba and on another occasion a shot by Bjorn Chetcuti was saved by the Senglea veteran keeper George Attard.

At the other end Senglea were close through Alan Spiteri who shot just high over the bar whereas on another occasion a low drive by Robert Adami was saved by Jonathan Vella.

In the 38th minute Zebbug had a through-pass by Bjorn Chetcuti but Timmy Thomas was anticipated by the Senglea keeper.

Nine minutes after the restart Senglea went close to taking the lead but they were denied by Vella off a low shot by Kevin Galea.

Gradually the Rangers started dictating the proceedings as a shot by Timmy Thomas and a Clint Caruana free-kick were saved with difficulty by the Senglea keeper.

In the 58th minute Senglea won a corner-kick which was taken by Alan Spiteri and Simon Aquilina’s headed attempt was saved by the Rangers’ custodian. A minute later Zebbug striker Timmy Thomas hit an angled shot which hit the upright and in the 62nd minute they were again very unlucky as this time the crossbar stopped a shot by Roderick Spiteri.

Then an effort by Bjorn Chetcuti was deflected to a corner-kick and on another occasion an attempt by Clint Caruana was well saved by Attard.

In the 76th minute the Zebbug captain Melvin Farrugia passed undue remarks and was sent off but in the 84th minute the Rangers opened the score through Roderick Spiteri following a persistent effort.

Four minutes from time Zebbug increased their lead as a cross from the right flank by substitute Mark Deguara was finished off by Jeremy Agiius.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Zurrieq-San Gwann 4-2

Zurrieq took an early lead as after just nine minutes a through-pass by Clive Shumba was taken up by Alistair Camilleri who managed to shoot in past the San Gwann keeper Luke Camilleri.

At the other end the Saints had a shot by Joseph Cutajar which was blocked by a Zurrieq defender but in the 19th minute they managed to get the equalisingh goal through their foreign striker Joseph Chidi Achokwo.

San Gwann continued to dictate the proceedings and they gained the lead in the 28th minute through Peter Xuereb from a Mauro Busuttil corner-kick.

At the other end Zurrieq were twice close through efforts by their best player Johan Briffa.

Just four minutes after the restart Zurrieq made it two-all as Johan Briffa found his brother Johan Briffa with a square pass and the latter managed to beat Luke Camilleri with a low close-range shot.

Zurrieq sustained the pressure and in the 54th minute they made it 3-2 through an angled shot by Alistair Camilleri and two minutes later Camilleri provided a cross from the left flank and Clive Shumba hit a rising shot past the San Gwann keeper.

San Gwann tried to react and in the 81st minute Shaun Vella shot just wide.

Four minutes from time they were denied by Debono off a conclusion by Mauro Busuttil.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Gzira U-Zejtun C 2-3

After just seven minutes Zejtun wasted a clear opportunity through Adrian Carabott and then a shot by Kenneth Abela was vlocked by Kyle Gerada.

However on 10 minutes Gzira broke the deadlock as a cross from the right flank by Carl Camilleri was headed in by Keith Bonello. Zejtun’s reaction produced a header by Kenneth Abela which was saved by Gerada and in the 18th minute Gerada saved partially off another attempt by Abela and the loose ball was taken up by Adrian Carabott whose lob was cleared off the goal line by Gzira’s defender Andre White.

Then Ryan Cauchi shot just high over the bar and in the 24th minute they were again very close through Oldi Majtara.

A minute later the Corintians got their deserved equalising goal with Ryan Cauchi crossiong from the left flank and Kenneth Abela shot in past Gerada from close-range.

But three minutes later an indecision by Zejtun’s custodian Ranier Farrugia allowed Gzira to make it 2-1 through a long-range shot by Keith Bonello.

Zejtun came back strongly and on 33 minutes the Gzira keeper made two excellent saves off efforts by Kenneth Abela and Oldi Majtara.

Zejtun then wasted a clear opportunity through Adrian Carabott but four minutes before the end of the first-half Zejtun had a shot by Kenneth Abela which was handled by Gzira’s captain Matthew Cocks with the referee awarding Zejtun with a penalty and Cocks was shown astraight red card.

Silvio Sciberras scored from the spot to make it 2-2. In the 44th minute Zejtun were again denied by Gerada off a conclusion by Adrian Carabott.

Just a minute after the restart Zejtun went close through Oldi Majtara whose shot was saved by Kyle Gerada and in the 56th minute Jesmar Abela shot just high over the bar.

However in the 67th minute Zejtun got the goal that mattered through Adrian Carabott following a personal effort.

Three minutes later assistant referee Ingmar Spiteri noted an incident and Zejtun’s foreign striker Oldi Majtara was shown a straight red card with Gzira going close through Hubert Gatt Bonello.

Then the Gzira keeper brought off an excellent save to stop a strong shot by Charlo Magro and in added time Gzira were very close through Andre White.

This win means that Zejtun Corinthians have been declared Second Division champions as their numerous supporters celebrated in style their team’s merited success.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Mellieha SC- Mgarr U 6-0

Mgarr United were no match for a superior Mellieha side which broke the deadlock after just four minutes as a pass by Philip Camilleri was finished off by Fabiano Bassi.

At the other end the crossbar denied Mgarr off a shot by James Borg with Mellieha making it 2-0 in the 10th minute through Daniel Cremona.

In the 23rd minute Mgarr had an angled shot by Ismael Cutajar which just missed the target but on the half-hour Philip Camilleri dribbled his way past Carbonaro to make it 3-0.

Four minutes later a Camilleri crosshot was saved by Carbonaro, and before the break, the latter was again on hand to stop a shot by Daniel Cremona.

After the resumption Mellieha remained the better team but in the 50th minute the Mellieha keeper saved with the assistance of the upright to avoid an own goal by his central defender Hubert Vella.

Three minutes later Gauci denied Mgarr off a header by Russell Marmara with Mellieha getting their third goal with Mgfarr’s defender Malcolm Bugeja committing an unfortunate own-goal from a cross by Daniel Cremona.

In the 74th minute Mellieha made it 5-0 through substitute Mark Vella from a pass by Fabiano Bassi and then a shot by Philip Camilleri was blocked by an Mgarr defender.

In the 83rd minute Bassi crossed from the right flank and Kevin Gauci scored from close-range for a 6-0 final scoreline.

This result means that Mgarr United have now been relegated to the Third Division.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.