Ħamrun Spartans 1
Pietà Hotspurs 0

Ħamrun Spartans secured an important victory as a first-half goal from Jake Grech enabled them to overcome neighbouring rivals Pietà Hotspurs and strengthen their grip on second place.

The Spartans have now opened a six-point gap on the third-placed Hotspurs.

Pietà will surely feel hard done to have lost the match on the back of a bright second-half display but they will have been encouraged by the performance of the talented 15-year-old James Scicluna who gave a glimpse of his potential.

The Spartans dominated proceedings in the early stages.

After two minutes, Haruna Garba stole possession and quickly released Grech who was denied by goalkeeper Miguel Montfort.

Seconds later, Saturday Nanapere’s cross-shot flashed wide.

On 10 minutes, the Spartans were awarded a free-kick but Alan Tabone’s drive grazed the bar.

After this early flurry of chances, the rhythm dropped with scoring opportunities few and far between.

Three minutes before the break Ħamrun were awarded a penalty.

Garba was brought down in the area by Neil Pace Cocks and from the spot, Grech drilled the ball home.

Pietà were a rejuvenated side in the second half.

Dylan Agius missed a great opportunity when he failed to make contact with the ball from close in following a Mead Mifsud cross.

Ħamrun responded on 59 minutes when Nanapere dribbled past a defender but his shot was saved for a corner by Montfort.

At the other end, Pace Cocks’s header finished just over.

Pietà protested for a penalty on 72 minutes when Karl Micallef’s cross hit Philip Chircop’s hand but referee Clayton Pisani waved play on.

On 77 minutes, Scicluna was fouled by Melvin Busuttil just outside the area. The Spartans defender was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card.

From the resultant free-kick Christian Grech’s drive was deflected just wide as the Spartans held on for the win.

Ħamrun Spartans: D. Cassar, P. Chircop, G. Azzopardi, M. Busuttil, M. Hrubsa, J. Grech, O. Anonam, A. Tabone (E. Briffa), S. Nanapere (M. Mucciardi), T. Cilia (R. Refalo), H. Garba.

Pietà Hotspurs: M. Montfort, K. Micallef, T. Bartolo, N. Pace Cocks (W. Rizgalla), D. Agius (R. Harrevelt), M. Mifsud (M. Licari), J. Emeka, K. Cesare, J. Gorskie, C. Grech, J. Scicluna.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: James Scicluna (Pietà Hotspurs).

Gżira United 3
Rabat Ajax 0

Gżira: K. Gerada, D. Scerri, B. Farrugia (Y. Tonna), J. Pace, M. Avila Perez (K. Pulo), J. Bondin (L. Martinelli), G. Aquilina, R. Kooh Sohna, A. White, B. Muscat, S. Borg.

Rabat Ajax: J. Azzopardi, S. Gauci (G. Bugeja), B. Micallef, S. Abela (D. Micallef), W. Borg, C. Vella, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, A. Azzopardi (N. Attard), Z. Tanti, E. Scicluna.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorers: Kooh Sohna 25, 32, 55.

Missed penalty: Kooh Sohna (GU) 13.

Man of the match: Raphael Kooh Sohna (Gżira United).

San Ġwann 1
Melita 2

San Ġwann: D. Sciberras (M. Vella), Z. Bowman, S. Vella, J. Briffa, J. Azzopardi, A. Borg (S. Vella), J. Cutajar (J. Seita), R. Zammit, A. Abemanga, F. Udoh Okon, J. Tanti.

Melita: M. Sapiano, A. Borg Olivier, L. Bianco, J. Abela, M. Cachia, D. Cachia (I. Curmi), N. Vella Petroni, G. Schranz, E. Cornago, J.P. Attard (N. Bonello), A. Attard (L. Mifsud).

Scorers: Cutajar (SĠ) 32; Vella Petroni (M) 33; J.P. Attard (M) 51.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: A. Abemanga (San Ġwann).

Vittoriosa Stars 0
Mqabba 2

Vittoriosa Stars: J. Mercieca, C. Spiteri (M. Barbara), D. Fava, P. Mrvic (T. Nasiti), R. Previ, M. Camilleri, L. Gauci (R. Degiorgio), S. Meilaq, M. Lukic, A. Galea, M. Milivojev.

Mqabba: J. Debono, C. Farrugia, J. Borg, A. Mello Da Silva (R. Caruana), S. Sylla (D. Azzopardi), C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, K. Farrugia, G. Adamovic, B. Grech, I. Galea.

Scorers: Mello Da Silva 82, 90.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Red cards: Galea (M) 75; Grech (M) 84.

Man of the match: A. Mello Da Silva (Mqabba).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Gżira Utd	12	9	3	0	24	3	30
Ħamrun	12	9	2	1	26	11	29
Pietà	12	7	2	3	15	10	23
Senglea	12	7	1	4	18	11	22
Lija	12	7	0	5	23	12	21
Vittoriosa	12	5	3	4	20	13	18
Żebbuġ	12	5	2	5	13	13	17
Rabat Ajax	12	5	1	6	14	16	16
Fgura Utd	12	4	3	5	11	13	15
Melita	12	5	0	7	10	20	15
Mqabba	12	3	3	6	10	15	12
St George’s	12	2	4	6	7	13	10
San Ġwann	12	1	3	8	11	29	6
Gudja Utd	12	1	1	10	7	30	4