Ajax outclass Maroons to secure promotion

Rabat Ajax 4
Gzira United 1

Rabat Ajax were the third team to gain access to the Division Two championship next season as they completely outclassed Gzira who play in Division Three in 2006/07.

This was an excellent performance by Rabat's youngsters in a match which was unfortunately marred by some incidents at the Gzira end of the enclosure at the Centenary Stadium.

Joseph Caruana gave the Magpies a dream start after putting them ahead in the third minute from a Christian Muscat free-kick.

A draw would have been enough for Rabat but they pressed forward nonetheless and made it 2-0 on 32 minutes thanks to a Darren Galea goal following a Smeir throughpass.

Gzira needed to win this match to retain their status and tried to hit back with a Matthew Cocks free-kick that was deflected to a corner.

Eight minutes after the restart the Maroons were back in the game with a Jeremy Gatt Coleiro goal.

They were close to an equaliser soon after as a shot by Clayton Caruana was turned onto the upright by Rabat goalkeeper Azzo-pardi.

However, the Magpies restored their two-goal lead in the 60th minute through Smeir following a Christian Muscat free-kick.

Rabat then wasted two clear chances through Galea and Smeir. But ten minutes from time they sealed the issue with a fourth goal scored by Smeir from another Muscat delivery.

At the end of the match, the numerous Rabat supporters celebrated their team's quick return to Division Two in style.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Sirens 1
Sta Lucija 0

Sirens ended their commitments for the season with a merited win over Sta Lucija as Charlo Debattista scored the decisive goal early on. Both teams were out of contention for promotion and had regular players missing from their respective line-ups.

Saints' keeper Carabott made an early save off a Jean Paul Desira shot but Sirens took the lead in the fifth minute when Debattista hit home following a good move by Calum Muscat.

In the 14th minute, Mark Camilleri hit just wide from the edge of the penalty area with Sta Lucija having an Antoine Sapiano effort going wide. Sirens were twice denied by Carabott off attempts by Richard Buhagiar and Debattista just before the break as penalty claims by Sirens were rejected after Muscat came down in the Sta Lucija box.

After the change of ends, the Saints held the initiative.

Liam Mangion and Saviour Pavia went close to scoring an equaliser but Sirens ably administered their lead to finish the season on a good note despite failing to win promotion.

Referee: Feodor Zammit.