Gżira United 1
Mellieħa 2
Mellieħa recovered from two successive defeats to beat Gżira United and enhance their promotion chances.
Gżira were also looking to boost their hopes of going up and went close early on when a shot by Josef Felice was saved by Simon Gauci.
Mellieħa were soon running the show though and twice went close through Nikolay Filipov and Fabiano Bassi.
Bassi saw his effort stopped by Kyle Gerada and from the corner, Mellieħa defender Philip Taylor headed in to give the northerners a deserved lead.
Mellieħa insisted in attack and Gerada did well to keep out Filipov’s drive. Gerada was hesitant on another occasion, allowing Mellieħa with a clear opportunity but Thane Micallef cleared the ball off the line to deny Philip Camilleri.
In added time, however, the Maroons drew level following Keith Bonello’s goal who hit an unstoppable shot from outside the box.
Mellieħa were the better team after the break and it was no surprise that they regained the lead on 63 minutes when Kevin Gauci’s inviting ball was finished off by Bassi.
Gżira’s reaction produced two efforts by Keith Bonello and Richard Attard which were both dealt with by Gauci. At the other end, Micallef almost committed an own-goal and substitute Connor Muchmore should have done better when in an inviting position inside the Maroons’ box.
Gżira: K. Gerada, T. Micallef, A. White, C. Sciberras, N. Gatt Coleiro, M. Cocks, K. Bonello, J. Felice, R. Brincat (R. Attard), A. Pirrone (A. Razak), L. Cilia (C. Giordemaina).
Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Vella, L. Cauchi, P. Taylor, A. Portelli, K. Gauci, N. Filipov, P. Camilleri, K. Simiana (M. Vella), F. Bassi (C. Muchmore), J. Vella (I. Sammut).
Referee: Mario Apap.
Mġarr United 2
Naxxar Lions 1
Bottom team Mġarr shocked promotion contenders Naxxar.
Mġarr took three minutes to open the score through Chris Abela and Naxxar almost drew level soon after but a Gavriel Buys Duarte free-kick flashed past the post.
The Lions wasted a series of chances to draw level as Mġarr pushed forward early in the second half and keeper Julian Azzopardi repelled efforts from Vosko Martinovic and Luca Theuma.
At the other end, Claude Carbonaro stopped an attempt by Falzon before Naxxar were awarded a penalty for a foul on Kurt Drago.
Falzon’s spot-kick was saved by Carbonaro and from the ensuing counter-attack, Mġarr’s Matthew Muscat made it 2-0.
Naxxar reduced the arrears on 88 minutes through Andre Rocha da Silva, but it was too little too late.
Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, W. Buttigieg (C. Sant), M. Bugeja, W. Camilleri, I. Bilocca, J. Said, V. Martinovic, C. Tabone, C. Abela, J. Borg (E. Grech), L. Theuma (M. Muscat).
Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, J. Agius (G. Magri), K. Fenech, M. Spiteri Gonzi, R. Schembri (K. Grago), G. Camilleri, J. Zammit (K. Farrugia), G. Buys Duarte, A. Rocha da Silva, V. Bellia, D. Falzon.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Senglea Athletic 0
Żurrieq 4
Edmondo Romagnoli’s Żurrieq sustained their fine form with a convincing win over Senglea. This result means that now various teams are embroiled in the scrap against relegation.
The first half was a balanced affair with both sides having their chances to open the score. However, the Reds were the better team after the break and after a shot by Alistair Camilleri hit the upright captain Darren Bellizzi opened the score on 63 minutes with a powerful shot.
Senglea were stunned and Camilleri headed in from a Matthew Genuis corner to make it 2-0. Another Genuis free-kick hit the crossbar but three minutes from time substitute Warren Kiomall netted Żurrieq’s third goal.
Deep into stoppage time, Żurrieq scored yet another goal through Camilleri. Senglea’s Erin Azzopardi was sent off before the final whistle following a second caution.
Senglea: G. Attard, G. Magri, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, B. Zerafa (R. Tanti), S. Aquilina, S. Calleja, R. Adami (A. Spiteri), K. Galea (G. Tanti), G. Brincat, R. Severino.
Żurrieq: R. Debono, K. Sacco, D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, J. Lia, D. Sciberras (C. Shumba), M. Genuis, S. Azzopardi (W. Kiomall), Jos. Briffa, Joh. Briffa (J. Zerafa), A. Camilleri.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Żejtun Corinthians 3
San Ġwann 0
Leaders Żejtun chalked up their 10th win of the season as they made yet another important step towards attaining their aim of playing first division football next season.
Żejtun opened the score through Amadeo Mercieca early on and they never looked back. The Saints tried to hit back but the Corinthians held control and were denied by Justin Spiteri off a conclusion by Silvio Sciberras. Just before the break, Żejtun had a Kenneth Abela shot which just missed the target.
San Ġwann shared the exchanges at the restart. Free-kicks taken by Lee Galea and Chris Cacciattolo were saved by Ranier Farrugia but Żejtun sealed the issue with their second goal, again scored by Mercieca, midway through the half.
Then, just before the final whistle, Żejtun rounded up the score when substitute Ryan Cauchi finished off a fine solo run with a firm grounder that went in past keeper Spiteri for a 3-0 final scoreline.
Żejtun: R. Farrugia, E. Azzopardi (R. Cauchi), J. Cachia, D. Cosaitis, C. Magro, K. Vassallo, V. Camilleri, S. Sciberras (C. Formosa), K. Abela (H. Schembri), O. Majtara, A. Mercieca.
San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, K. Vella (D. Micallef) F. Cauchi (P. Xuereb), G. Agius, M. Francica, M. Caruana, L. Galea, M. Busuttil, J. Chidi Achokwu (S. Vella), A. Borg, C. Cacciattolo.
Referee: Duncan Sultana.