Żebbuġ Rangers 1
San Ġwann 0

Żebbuġ Rangers notched their second consecutive win to go top of the standings with maximum points along with Żejtun Corinthians and Rabat Ajax.

The first half proved to be a balanced affair with the Saints going close early on through Neil Goodlip.

Żebbuġ hit back when a Gordon Mallia free-kick was saved by Christian Francica while George Saliba saw his shot hitting the upright.

On 34 minutes San Ġwann were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Francica was dismissed for a crude challenge on Omar Rababah.

Numerical parity was restored four minutes later when Żebbuġ’s Jeremy Agius was sent off for foul language.

On resumption, San Ġwann were close when Mauro Busuttil shot just wide from a good position.

However, it was Żebbuġ who made the crucial breakthrough on 63 minutes when Haruna Doda scored with a long-range shot.

San Ġwann’s late reaction produced two dangerous attempts by Shaun Vella and Marco Mercieca but Rangers managed to hold on to their one-goal lead.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace (J. Vella), K. Xuereb, V. Fiteni, G. Saliba, J. Mercieca, G. Mallia, E. Cachia, J. Agius, H. Doda, M. Deguara (E. Sciberras), O. Rababah.

San Ġwann: C. Francica, S. Grima, M. Mercieca, A. Mangion (C. Cacciattolo), M. Francica, M. Caruana, S. Vella, M. Busuttil (P. Xuereb), N. Goodlip, A. Borg, J. Chidi Achokwu (J. Spiteri).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Gżira United 2
Żurrieq 2

Two second-half goals from Roberto Brincat helped Gżira United come back from two goals down and earn a point against Żurrieq.

Żurrieq forged ahead after 16 minutes when Joseph Lia sent a low cross into the area and Rocco Vardaro was on hand to stab home.

Nine minutes from the break Żurrieq’s Johan Briffa headed just over from a Josef Briffa cross but Żurrieq made it 2-0 in time added on when Vardaro netted his second with a fine lob.

After the interval, Gżira took the initiative and on 49 minutes Brincat pulled a goal back with a low shot.

The Maroons continued to push forward and were again close through Lydon Cilia and Brincat.

At the other end Vardaro should have done better on 63 minutes when he headed wide from a Daniel Zammit cross.

Gżira deservedly drew level 15 minutes from time with a firm shot from Brincat.

The Maroons could have taken all points late on but Andrew Scerri and Cilia failed to find the target.

Gżira: M. Aquilina, C. Giordemaina (M. Sultana), H. Gatt Bonello, C. Sciberras, N. Gatt Coleiro, T. Micallef, L. Cilia, J. Tabone (K. Bonello), R. Attard (A. Scerri), R. Brincat, Y. Tonna.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri, D. Bellizzi, J. Lia, A. Barbara, R. Attard, D. Zammit (S. Azzopardi), Joh. Briffa, R. Vardaro, Jos. Briffa (K. Sacco), D. Spina (M. Genuis).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Senglea Athletic 4
Birżebbuġa Sp 0

Senglea bounced back from their heavy defeat against Rabat as they eased past a poor Birżebbuġa side.

Birżebbuġa went close early on through Carlos Camenzuli whose shot was saved by George Attard.

But gradually Senglea dictated the proceedings and took the lead on 18 minutes when Timmy Thomas hit the back of the net with a powerful shot.

The Cottonera outfit doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Thomas squared the ball to Robert Adami who easily tapped home.

After the change of ends, Birżebbuġa tried to reopen the match but were ineffective upfront.

On 71 minutes, Thomas scored his side’s third goal.

Birżebbuġa were unlucky not to pull one back minutes later when Denis Baldacchino’s shot hit the bar.

But in injury time Senglea made it 4-0 through substitute Craig Pickard following a good move between Thomas and Ricardo Severino.

Senglea: G. Attard, G. Magri, R. Adami, S. Aquilina, G. Tanti (R. Tanti) Ty. Thomas (K.Galea), T. Thomas, R. Severino, A. Spiteri (C. Pickard), J. Spiteri, B. Zerafa.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, A. Buttigieg (R. Peplow), M. Pullicino, D. Baldacchino, D. Grech, C. Formosa, N. Tabone (S. Privitelli), K. Muscat (N. Galea), C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste, F. Peplow.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

St Patrick 0
Rabat Ajax 4

Rabat Ajax reaffirmed their status as one of the candidates for promotion this season when they brushed aside St Patrick’s challenge last weekend.

Adam Smeir came close twice for Rabat early on while at the other end Gordon Failla’s free-kick was pushed away by goalkeeper Ivan Cassar.

On 29 minutes, Rabat were unlucky when an attempt by Smeir hit the post.

On 41 minutes Rabat broke the deadlock when Justin Felice was first to Smeir’s cross to put the Magpies ahead.

After the break, Rabat remained the better side and on 63 minutes Felice was again on target when he finished off another Smeir move.

On 70 minutes, Alan Zahra hit their third goal with an angled shot.

Late on, St Patrick came close when substitute Marko Petrovic saw his shot hit the post.

However, Rabat struck again in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Smeir and Emanuel Muscat made no mistake from the spot.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, R. Cassar, G. Failla, J. Farrugia (M. Xerri), K. Micallef (A. Portelli), A. Ellul, D. Mamo (M. Petrovic), D. Gauci, C. Farrugia, D. Pace, G. Saliba.

Rabat: I. Cassar, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, Y. Camilleri, J. Felice, A. Zahra, A. Smeir, W. Borg (D. Azzopardi), D. Falzon, C. Muscat, R. Micallef (E. Muscat).

Referee: Roberto Vella.