No goals in top match of the week

Balzan Youths 0
Rabat Ajax 0

This top-of-the-table clash between leaders Balzan Youths and second-placed Rabat Ajax ended in a goalless draw with both teams having various chances to score but to no avail.

Balzan goalkeeper Brian Bonello was alert all the time, making a series of fine saves throughout the match.

Balzan had the best chances early on with Antoine Sacco wasting a clear opportunity when he shot wide in front of goal.

Gradually Rabat started coming more into the picture with Kayne Said being denied by Bonello. On another occasion, Rabat's Clint Micallef shot straight into Bonello's outstretched hands.

In the 19th minute the Balzan keeper showed his true qualities when keeping out a calibrated Bezzina free-kick as efforts by Emanuel Muscat, Michael Micallef and Clint Micallef just missed the target.

After the change of ends it was Balzan who looked sharper and could have scored early on but a shot by Kurt Coleiro was cleared off the line by Josef Tonna.

A header by Sergio Cappitta went wide and a Gilbert Scerri free-kick was saved by Azzopardi. At the other end, Adam Smeir and Chris Schembri worked hard to find openings but their efforts at goal bore no fruit.

Balzan: B. Bonello, J. Agius, V. Micallef, D. Agius, S. Cappitta, A. Lagana, M. Monreal, G. Scerri, A. Agius, K. Coleiro, A. Sacco.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, C. Micallef, A. Zahra, K. Said, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, M. Micallef, E. Muscat.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Zurrieq 2
Melita 2

Promotion-seekers Melita recovered from a two-goal deficit against Zurrieq who are fighting to avoid the drop.

Melita gained the initiative during the first half but it was Zurrieq who opened the score in the 23rd minute through Chris Farrugia.

Melita hit back and in the 37th minute Reds substitute Karl Sacco cleared the ball off the goal line to avoid an own-goal by Frans Cassar. Then, an indecision inside the Melita box led to Zurrieq's second goal, scored by Godfrey Chetcuti.

A minute before the break, Melita got a reprieve as Julian Galea, in a clear goal-scoring opportunity, was fouled by Azzopardi, the latter escaping with a yellow card and Borg hitting home from the penalty.

In the second half, Melita pushed forward in search of an equaliser and deservedly drew level on 66 minutes when Borg headed in from a David Azzopardi corner.

Two minutes from time Azzopardi denied Melita's Galea from a winner with a fine save.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, E. Camilleri, J. Lia, J. Camilleri (A. Barbara), F. Cassar, C. Shomba (K. Sacco), M. Abdilla, C. Farrugia, D. Zammit, M. Genuis, G. Chetcuti (D. Bellizzi).

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud (J. Vassallo), D. Azzopardi, G. Gribbon, M. Mamo (L. Micallef), M. Martin, M. Hyzler, B. Bondin, M. Borg, K. Micallef, J. Galea.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Naxxar Lions 1
San Gwann 3

San Gwann recovered from their defeat in the previous outing with a hard-earned win over Naxxar.

The decisive goals for the Saints, now back in the hunt for promotion, came in the final four minutes through Sergio Hili and Adrian Gatt.

After five minutes Naxxar were close through Mark Deguara whose free-kick was saved by Justin Spiteri.

Gradually, the Saints started to dictate matters though and missed a clear opportunity to take the lead through Hili after the Naxxar keeper had parried Renie Forace's volley.

The Saints continued to push forward and in the 26th minute Rio Micallef concluded just wide following a Hili cross. The Naxxar defence managed to control the San Gwann forwards who were never really dangerous in their conclusions at goal.

San Gwann maintained the initiative after the break and early on a point-blank shot by Roberto Brincat was stopped by Kevin Agius.

The Saints opened the score in the 65th minute when Roberto Brincat headed in from a Hili free-kick.

Barely two minutes later Naxxar drew level thanks to a goal from substitute Aaron Galea following an indecision by goalkeeper Spiteri.

San Gwann applied some hot pressure in the dying minutes and their efforts were rewarded with goals from Hili (86th) and Gatt (90th).

Naxxar: K. Agius, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J.P. Zahra, A. Catania, A. Fenech, K. Naudi (C. Farrugia), M. Deguara, E. Cutajar, A. Bartolo (K. Fenech), T. Fenech, B. Farrugia (A. Galea).

San Gwann: J. Spiteri (F. Axisa), K. Fabri, C. Giordemaina, R. Forace, A. Gatt, M. Mercieca, R. Micallef (A. Zahra), A. Borg, C. Gatt (S. Zammit Fava), R. Brincat, S. Hili.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Mgarr United 3
Sirens 0

This was an easy victory for Mgarr over neighbours Sirens who are now relegated to the Third Division.

Mgarr were looking to improve their chances of avoiding the drop and opened the score after just nine minutes through an angled shot by Matthew Muscat.

Muscat then shot wide in front of goal with Sirens being unlucky in the 44th minute when a header by Adrian Galea bounced off the bar.

On the hour, Mgarr increased their lead from a penalty, awarded for a foul on Matthew Borg and converted by Malcolm Bugeja.

Mgarr made it 3-0 12 minutes from time with another Muscat goal following good work by Matthew Borg.

Mgarr: K. Ellul, A. Portelli, C. Attard, W. Camilleri, C. Gauci, M. Bugeja, M. Muscat, M. Borg (G. Said), B. Deguara (A. Wingfield), N. Busuttil, E. Sciberras (C. Scerri).

Sirens: R. Schembri, K. Zammit, R. Bonett (I. Borg), C. Muscat, K. Galea, J. Mercieca (G. Galea), P. Barbara, A. Xuereb, G. Gatt, A. Galea, R. Theuma (Z. Galea).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Birzebbuga SP 4
Lija Athletic 2

Birzebbuga notched their 10th win of the season to stay in touch with the teams challenging for promotion.

Andre Cachia put Lija ahead after 12 minutes but the seasiders drew level on the half-hour mark with a Noel Tabone goal.

Six minutes later, Birzebbuga were awarded a dubious penalty for a foul on Johan Zammit which appeared to have taken place outside the box.

There were hot protests by the Lija players but Zammit kept hold of his nerves to score from the spot.

After the change of ends Lija pressed forward and were close on various occasions but it was Duncan Burke who added to Birzebbuga's lead when heading in from a Donald Gatt corner.

Substitute Jeffrey Zammit made it 4-1 and just before the final whistle Daniel Mizzi scored Lija's second goal of the day.

Birzebbuga: M. Xerxen, D. Baldacchino, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, Joh. Zammit (Jeff. Zammit), J. Cassar, S. Aquilina (R. Celeste), D. Burke (M. Ciappara), D. Gatt, E. Azzopardi.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Cachia, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Cremona, J.P. Scerri, L. Cilia (M. Cremona), A. Medati, D. Mizzi, B. Lowell, A. Scicluna.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Sta Venera Lightnings 3
St Andrew's 1

Substitute Dylan Mercieca was the protagonist in Sta Venera's win on Monday as he scored two late goals to push St Andrew's into deep relegation trouble.

Mark Grech put Sta Venera ahead after 11 minutes with St Andrew's failing to produce a decent reaction. They looked better after the break and midway through the half Edward Hili levelled the scores.

St Andrew's had a penalty in favour following a handling infringement by Gerald Ancilleri but Frederick Tabone's shot from the spot finished high over the bar.

Three minutes from time Mercieca put Sta Venera ahead and in the 90th minute he was again on hand to shoot past Tabone for a final 3-1 scoreline.

Sta Venera: E. Attard, D. Demanuele (G. Ancilleri), M. Agius, M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, S. Farrugia, G. Micallef, A. Hili, P. Spiteri (D. Piccinino), J. Galea (D. Mercieca), M. Grech.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, J. Galea (B. Chetcuti), N. Gatt Coleiro, N. Chetcuti, S. Falzon, A. Galea, E. Hili, A. Camilleri Kamsky, A. Busuttil, M. Valenzia, J. Gatt Coleiro (Ad. Galea).

Referee: Mario Apap.