With the title issue settled after Xewkija Tigers built an unassailable lead at the top, the attention last weekend switched to the Championship Pool derby between SK Victoria Wanderers and Victoria Hotspurs.
Despite their mutual disappointment at missing out on the title, the rivalry between these two clubs was still in evidence during a well-contested match which finished one-all.
With this result, the Wanderers made sure of the runners-up spot while the Hotspurs earned their first point in five matches in the second phase of the championship.
The derby was controlled by match officials from the Spanish and Andorra FAs, a first for Gozitan football.
However, Andorran referee Ignas Villamayor and Spaniard Laudino Lopez, the second assistant referee, looked short of confidence.
In the first notable action after 17 minutes, the referee, after consulting his second assistant, ordered a penalty when Victoria Hotspurs player Daniel Farrugia blocked the ball with his hands during a corner action.
However, Villamayor dismissed the wrong player as he sent off Mark Muscat while Farrugia, who committed the offence, remained on the pitch.
After some protests, Daniel Bogdanovic converted from the spot to put the Wanderers ahead. Minutes later, Bogdanovic had a goal disallowed for an offside infringement and as time passed, the Hotspurs began to share the exchanges.
They drew level on 31 minutes through a header by Dylan Bellotti from a cross by David Camilleri.
The Hotspurs went close to taking the lead with two efforts from Saturday Nanapere, the first going wide and the second saved by SK Victoria Wanderers goalkeeper Simon Agius.
The Wanderers enjoyed territorial supremacy after the break but failed to take full advantage of the extra player. On 68 minutes, they were unlucky when an attempt by Bogdanovic came off the post and on another occasion, goalkeeper Courtney Mercieca denied the former Malta striker in a one-on-one situation.
The other match from the top flight was the Relegation Pool clash between Oratory Youths and Kerċem Ajax who ended their league commitments with a one-all draw.
This was Kerċem’s last match of the season while Oratory are still involved in the semi-finals of the GFA Cup.
Oratory opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a tap-in by Oliver Farrugia following a good move by Johann Attard. Kerċem made a good reaction and just before half-time, they were unlucky when Petar Kyumyurdzhiev’s effort was stopped by the crossbar.
Oratory’s Francesco Cini was also denied by the woodwork.
Their frustration increased a minute later when Kerċem equalised with a lob by Joseph Chetcuti following a through-pass by Ian Xuereb.
Division Two
The direct clash from the lower category between Sannat Lions and Għajnsielem produced a dramatic 2-1 win for the former.
The Lions thus stepped up their promotion challenge as they lead St Lawrence by one point but have played a game more.
Għajnsielem are now virtually out of contention for the runners-up spot .
The Blacks took an early lead through Charlon Tabone (14) and were denied a second goal by a series of fine saves from Sannat goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli.
The Lions equalised on the stroke of half-time through a close-range shot by Fernando de Andrade. In the final stages, Għajnsielem pushed more men forward while Sannat relied on counter-attacks.
Three minutes from time, Għajnsielem had goalkeeper Luke Buttigieg sent off for a foul on the advancing Eric Saliba. Sannat scored the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time through De Andrade.
In another match, Għarb Rangers obtained a 3-1 win over Żebbuġ Rovers. The latter, who had no substitutes, played most of the game with nine players after Philip Mizzi suffered an injury midway through the first half and defender Alfred Mifsud was sent off on 27 minutes for a last-man foul on Josef Portelli.
Għarb took a three-goal lead during the first half-hour through a penalty by Michael Matthias Uzor (3), Josef Portelli (8) and Christopher Gafà (28).
Żebbuġ tried to recover after the break, scoring a consolation goal on 56 minutes through Pedro Adame Calderon.