Birżebbuġa SP 1
Naxxar Lions 5

This was an excellent performance by promotion candidates Naxxar for whom striker Gilbert Camilleri scored a first-half hat-trick.

The Lions pushed forward from the start. On 17 minutes, Bir-żebbuġa goalkeeper Shaun Cardona saved a shot by Andre Rocha da Silva.

Darren Falzon hit just wide and on 24 minutes, the Lions were again very close as a shot by Victor Bellia was blocked by the keeper.

Naxxar’s supremacy produced an opener on 35 minutes when Camilleri hit home from a free-kick.

Five minutes later, a left-wing cross by John Debono was finished off by Camilleri who was again on the right spot to drive home from an angle just before the break.

Birżebbuġa were never in the game. They were punished again on 51 minutes when Da Silva scored from a penalty after a foul on the Naxxar Lions’ Brazilian midfielder.

Falzon then made it 5-0 after firing home from a loose ball.

Birżebbuġa scored a late consolation goal thanks to Ronnie Celeste but a disastrous outing for the southseasiders ended on a sour note when substitute Noel Tabone was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident.

Birżebbuġa: S. Cardona, S. Privitelli (P. Camilleri), N. Galea, D. Baldacchino (M. Ellul), M. Pullicino, B. Farrugia, C. Formosa, F. Peplow (N. Tabone), A. Florin, C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste.

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, J. Agius, M. Spiteri Gonzi, G. Camilleri, J. Debono (A. Del Negro), M. Del Negro, V. Bellia, D. Falzon, D. Cauchi, G. Magri, A. Rocha da Silva (G. Zanini Duarte, A. Fenech).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Żebbuġ Rangers 0
St Patrick 1

Glenn Barry’s second-half goal earned St Patrick a very precious win in their bid to finish among the top five and win promotion to the first division.

Żebbuġ were the better team during the first period but failed to find a way past goalkeeper Joshua Galea.

After the change of ends, Żebbuġ retained the initiative with Timmy Thomas heading just over the bar in the early minutes of the second half. A shot by Rangers striker Mark Deguara was saved by Galea with the aid of the post and subsequent efforts by Jeremy Agius and Thomas were wide of target.

On 64 minutes, Thomas advanced unchallenged but incredibly fired wide to waste an easy chance. Five minutes later, Żebbuġ suffered a blow when they were reduced to 10 men after Roderick Spiteri was sent off for a second caution.

With their opponents a man short, the Saints took control of the game and 18 minutes from time, Barry scored the goal that mattered with a fierce grounder.

At the other end, Rangers were denied by the woodwork off a Thomas shot.

Żebbuġ: J. Vella, G. Mallia, J. Mercieca, G. Saliba, C. Caruana, H. Doda, J. Agius, R. Spiteri, M. Deguara, T. Thomas, B. Chetcuti.

St Patrick: J. Galea, S. Dimech, S. Zerafa, M. Xerri, G. Barry, I. Scicluna (J. Farrugia), A. Ellul, D. Mamo (R. Cassar), D. Micallef (A. Portelli), D. Gauci, C. Farrugia.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Rabat Ajax 2
Żurrieq 0

Rabat Ajax chalked up their 11th win of the season to move closer to promotion with the all-important goals being scored by defender Yessous Camilleri and striker Adam Smeir.

Smeir could have given the Magpies, under the guidance of Silvio Vella, an early lead but his shot was saved by keeper Reuben Debono.

Żurrieq defender Karl Sacco cleared the ball off the line to deny Emeka Basil Onuta a certain goal and Smeir was again close to opening the scoring for Rabat.

Reds striker Alistair Camilleri ran forward in a counter-attack with his shot just missing the Rabat goal.

On resumption, Żurrieq almost broke the deadlock with a Matthew Genuis free-kick. But, on 56 minutes, Rabat went ahead when Smeir’s cross was headed in by Camilleri.

Żurrieq failed to stage a reaction as Rabat sealed the issue with a second goal, scored by Smeir in the closing minutes.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, Y. Camilleri, J. Felice, A. Smeir (Rio Micallef), D. Falzon, C. Muscat, Y. Cauchi, D. Azzopardi (R. Micallef), E. Basil Onuta (W. Borg).

Żurrieq: R. Debono, K. Sacco, D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, J. Lia (O. Grech), R. Attard (D. Bonnici), C. Shumba, Jos. Briffa (W. Kiomall), Joh. Briffa, M. Genuis, A. Camilleri.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Żejtun Corinthians 0
Senglea Athletics 0

Championship winners Żejtun Corinthians had to settle for a point from this match against Senglea who were inspired by a fine performance from keeper George Attard. Senglea had a brilliant opportunity to win this game but Ricardo Severino missed a second-half penalty.

Żejtun attacked relentlessly in the first period but were rather ineffective in their conclusions at goal.

Edward Azzopardi hit just over the bar from close range and an Adrian Carabott shot was saved with difficulty by veteran Attard.

Żejtun missed a clear opportunity through Andy Portelli and just before the break, Attard was again on hand to keep out a headed attempt by Carabott.

Żejtun continued to press forward after the break only to be denied by Attard who stopped a point-blank shot from Carmel Formosa. Carabott hit badly from an inviting position and on 63 minutes Andy Portelli also squandered a good chance for the Corinthians.

Heathcliffe Schembri did have the better of Attard but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

Then, in a rare Senglea attack on 73 minutes, substitute Glen Tanti was tripped inside the Żejtun box but from the ensuing penalty, Severino’s shot hit the upright.

Żejtun: R. Farrugia, R. Cauchi, H. Schembri, V. Camilleri, P. Carabott (K. Abela), J. Abela, D. Cosaitis, E. Azzopardi, A. Carabott, A. Portelli (M. Pisani), C. Formosa (D. Grech).

Senglea: G. Attard, G. Magri, J. Spiteri, T. Thomas (G. Tanti), B. Zerafa (C. Borg), K. Galea, R. Severino, R. Tanti, S. Aquilina, R. De-giorgio (G. Brincat), R. Adami.

Referee: Roberto Vella.