Dingli still six points clear after derby draw

Dingli Swallows 1
Rabat Ajax 1

Leaders Dingli maintained their six-point lead over Rabat in the standings after scoring a second-half equaliser to cancel Rabat's first-half opener. Both teams had a good backing from the stands. The two neighbouring clans should be commended for their sporting spirit.

Dingli went all out in attack but gradually Rabat gained the initiative and forged ahead on 18 minutes when Kayne Said headed in from a Jonathan Bezzina cross.

Rabat were again close through Joe Caruana as Dingli keeper Farrugia stopped shots from Jonathan Bezzina and Chris Schembri. Just before the end of the first period Rabat could have doubled their lead but Bezzina headed just wide from an inviting Alan Zahra cross.

Dingli drew level 14 minutes from time when Jason Cachia scored following a Jeffrey Zammit corner.

Said's shot was then saved by Farrugia. Two minutes from time Dingli midfielder Zammit was sent off for a second booking.

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

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

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Sta Venera Lightnings 1
Lija Athletic 0

These three points will surely come handy for Sta Venera as they continue in their bid to stave off the relegation threat. Lija were all out for a victory to stay with the front-runners in the standings. They attacked for most of the match but in the end their efforts proved futile.

On the half-hour mark, Sta Venera were denied what seemed to be a clear penalty when Dylan Mercieca was fouled by Giles Lanzon in the box. Lija were close through Daniel Scerri and six minutes before the break Cremona's point-blank shot was cleared off the line by Yau Mun Law, of Sta Venera.

The Lightnings looked a different lot after the break and found a way through on 68 minutes when Mark Muscat headed in a Micallef cross.

Lija's late reaction produced two dangerous attempts by Glen Barry and Lanzon with Sta Venera missing the target in the final minutes from an angled Dino Bonnici shot.

Sta Venera: S. Rapinett, R. Farrugia, M. Muscat, C. Abela, Y.M. Law, C. Garzia (D. Bonnici), G. Micallef, A. Hili, I. Falzon (S. Said), D. Mercieca, L. Stivala (D. Azzopardi).

Lija: L. Bonnici, J. Cauchi, M. Mangion, G. Lanzon, D. Scerri, C. Ciantar, D. Cremona (A. Ellul), G. Barry, C. Lanzon (B. Lowell), A. Gera (J. Felice), B. Antignolo.

Referee: Ian Miller.

Balzan Youths 1
Melita 2

Melita obtained three precious points in their bid to avoid the drop. The winner was scored by Mark Hyzler three minutes into injury-time. Balzan's promotion hopes have now suffered a severe setback.

Melita had a Matthew Borg I goal disallowed for a handling infringement in the first minute and a Julian Galea shot saved by Balzan's Bonello.

Melita were again close through Gregory Degabriele and Hyzler. On 27 minutes Bonello made an excellent save to deny Borg I.

Balzan seized control of midfield after the break even though it was Melita who were close to taking the lead when a Hyzler volley almost had the better of Bonello.

The Amateurs finally broke the deadlock on 67 minutes when Galea hit home from a Hyzler cross.

There was drama late in the match when Balzan equalised on 90 minutes with a shot from the distance by substitute Chris Azzopardi. However, Melita had the last laugh when Hyzler pounced on a mistake by Bonello and scored the winner.

Balzan: B. Bonello, D. Mamo, D. Agius, J. Agius (C. Azzopardi), S. Cauchi, B. Pace, S. Mizzi, L. McKay (S. Cappitta), A. Sacco, M. Sciortino, M. Tirchett.

Melita: K. Zahra, M. Borg II, M. Stivala, M. Mamo, S. Bonnici, M. Martin, M. Hyzler, J. Galea, G. Gribbon, G. Degabriele (K. Micallef), M. Borg I.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Birzebbuga SP 2
Gudja United 0

Birzebbuga obtained a double over Gudja this season. Goals by Aldrin Muscat and James Galea pushed Gudja deep into relegation trouble.

Birzebbuga had the better opening and after going close through Leslie Burke and Vince Camilleri, Muscat put them in front on 21 minutes.

The southerners continued to dictate the run of play with Noel Tabone being denied by Xerxen four minutes later. Then, a Camilleri free-kick was headed over the bar by Jason Cassar and just before the break Tabone hit just wide from the edge of the Gudja box.

Gudja tested Fardell after the break with shots from Jeffrey Farrugia and Terence Vella. Then, Birzebbuga defender Burke almost committed an own goal as his clearance hit the post.

Nineteen minutes from time Birzebbuga wrapped up the points after notching their second goal, scored by substitute Galea.

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

Gudja: M. Xerxen, C. Micallef (J. Galea), M. Galea, J. Zahra, J. Farrugia, S. Orlando, J. Micallef (G. Debattista), C. Grech, C. Scicluna (O. Zammit), E. Bugeja, T. Vella.

Referee: Esther Farrugia.