Dingli move seven points clear at the top

Mellieha 0
Dingli Swallows 3

Dingli Swallows are the clear favourites to clinch promotion after brushing aside second-placed Mellieha to open a seven-point gap at the top.

Mellieha threatened early on when David Fenech had a low shot finishing just wide.

But Dingli soon regained the initiative with Fabio Cauchi firing them ahead with a fine strike in the 10th minute.

Three minutes later, Mellieha's defender David Cauchi almost committed an own-goal following a shot by Alex Portelli.

The Swallows made it 2-0 on 17 minutes when Portelli's long-range shot surprised Mellieha keeper Vella.

Dingli went close again through Jeffrey Zammit while Mellieha responded five minutes from half-time through a low shot by Fenech which was saved with difficulty by Farrugia.

Three minutes into the second half, Mellieha had a Reuben Vella goal disallowed for offside.

Dingli sealed the points with a third goal from Zammit five minutes from time.

Mellieha: D. Vella, W. Borg, W. Buttigieg, K. Gauci, D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, R. Vella (C. Borg), I. Tarik, M. Borg, L. Cauchi (M. Borg), D. Cauchi.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli (E. Farrugia), E. Casha, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, J. Zammit (R. Farrugia), V. Fiteni, G. Saliba, J. Agius (J. Sapiano), J. Cachia.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Birzebbuga SP 2
Rabat Ajax 2

Rabat Ajax's promotion chances suffered a setback on Saturday after they were held to a 2-2 draw by a resolute Birzebbuga side.

Third-placed Rabat ended the match with ten players after Alan Zahra was sent off for two bookable offences in the final minutes.

Ajax were the better team during the first half, Keith Micallef putting them ahead after 14 minutes following good work by Joe Caruana.

Two minutes later, a Jonathan Bezzina shot was cleared off the line by Clive Formosa. Birzebbuga keeper Fardell also did well to keep out Chris Muscat's shot.

Birzebbuga's response produced efforts from John Paul Barbara and Vince Camilleri that were stopped by Azzopardi.

Noel Tabone equalised for Birzebbuga on 56 minutes but Joseph Caruana restored Rabat's lead 19 minutes from time.

Birzebbuga's late rally saw them scoring an equaliser through substitute Ronnie Celeste.

Birzebbuga: L. Fardell, C. Grech (R. Celeste), J.P. Barbara (K. Farrugia), M. Ciappara, L. Burke, C. Formosa, J. Galea, N. Tabone, A. Muscat (P. Muscat), V. Camilleri, J. Cassar.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, D. Falzon, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, C. Schembri, A. Zahra, E. Muscat, C. Muscat (K. Said), K. Micallef (P. Ciantar), A. Smeir.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Sta Venera L. 1
Melita 0

A Clayton Garzia penalty was enough for Sta Venera Lightnings to take three vital points in their bid to maintain their Second Division status. For their part, Melita could only rue their ill-luck after missing a spate of scoring opportunities.

Sta Venera started strongly. Stephen Said's shot was saved by goalkeeper Sapiano while David Azzopardi headed just wide from a good position.

At the other end, the Amateurs missed two glaring opportunities through Matthew Borg and Jonathan Mifsud.

Just before the interval, Melita might have taken the lead but a Borg header was somehow cleared by a defender.

Three minutes into the second half, Sta Venera were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement by Melita defender Jonathan Mifsud. Garzia scored from the penalty spot.

Borg have should pulled Melita back on level terms on 54 minutes but shot wide in front of an open goal. In time added on, Degabriele also missed the target from inside the penalty area.

Sta Venera: S. Rapinett, L. Stivala, D. Azzopardi (J. Mifsud), C. Abela (D. Calleja), M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef, C. Garzia, D. Mercieca, S. Said, M. Grech (D. Bonnici).

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud (S. Galea), J. Scerri (M. Mamo), D. Gravino, S. Bonnici, M. Martin, M. Hyzler, K. Micallef, G. Gribbon (M. Mamo), G. Degabriele, M. Borg (A. Xuereb).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

St Andrew's 0
Zebbug Rangers 1

Zebbug Rangers completed a double of victories over struggling St Andrew's to climb into a mid-table position.

St Andrew's were unlucky early on as an Adrian Galea shot was hooked off the line by Keith Xuereb. On 21 minutes, a Steve Falzon volley was well saved by Duncan Galea.

Five minutes from half-time, Saints goalkeeper Tabone blocked a Neil Francalanza shot.

Zebbug played better after the break and grabbed the lead on 52 minutes following a long-range strike from Mark Ciantar.

Tabone did well to deny Zebbug a second goal when blocking Keith Farrugia's free-kick.

St Andrew's produced a late rally but Zebbug held on to their lead.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, J. Gatt Coleiro, N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Sank, S. Falzon, A. Galea, P. Briscoe White, Ad. Galea, B. Chetcuti (S. Sammut), I. Borg (E. Hili), J. Zammit.

Zebbug: D. Galea, R. Attard, K. Farrugia, J. Mallia, K. Xuereb, N. Francalanza, E. Cachia, G. Mallia, M. Ciantar (J. Mallia), R. Bugeja (A. Buhagiar), E. Sciberras.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.