Nadur Youngsters need only five points form their last four league games to secure the title after crushing Victoria Hotspurs 4-0.
The first half was dominated by Nadur who opened a two-goal lead thanks to a brace from Josef Buttigieg (34, 42). The Hotspurs tried to get back into contention after the break but Nadur’s goalkeeper was rarely tested.
By contrast, the Youngsters were dangerous on the counter and Victoria goalkeeper Matthew Muscat produced some good saves to deny Claudio Antunes, Alex Simoncic and Buttigieg.
Nadur secured the points with two late goals by substitute Charles Hili (85) and Milos Stojanovic (90).
Second-placed Kerċem Ajax lost further ground in the title race after being held to a draw by Sannat Lions. Kerċem have fallen 11 points behind Nadur but have a game in hand.
The match was well-contested as the two sides were determined to take maximum points for different reasons.
Sannat, desperate to win to boost their hopes of avoiding the drop, had an excellent start as they opened the scoring in the fifth minute through Manwel Cordina. The same player could have doubled the Lions’ lead minutes later but his shot ended wide.
Kerċem increased their pressure as the first half moved on. An attempt by Sabri Rais was cleared off the line by Peter Buttigieg while, in the 19th minute, Kerċem’s Michael Vella had a goal disallowed for an offside infringement.
Three minutes later, Kerċem equalised with a fine header by Stoyko Sakaliev from a corner taken by Petar Kyumurdzhiev.
Kerċem continued to be the more adventurous side but were denied by Sannat goalkeeper Adrian Parnis.
Parnis further distinguished himself on 68 minutes when he saved a penalty by Sakaliev, awarded for a foul on Xuereb.
The Bulgarian striker was unlucky nine minutes from time when his lob hit the woodwork.
In the other match from the top flight, SK Victoria Wanderers beat Xewkija Tigers 2-0 to dislodge their opponents from third place.
The Tigers were more dangerous in the opening stages but their attempts at goal, through Dos Santos and William Cassar, were stopped by Victoria’s rearguard.
The Citizens had a shot by Eric Nwankwo which came off the post on 18 minutes.
Eight minutes later, the Wanderers opened the scoring as Bugeja’s long-distance shot had the better of goalkeeper Lorjean Xuereb.
Victoria were now in the driving seat. They doubled their lead 18 minutes from time when Nwankwo converted a penalty, after the latter had been tripped by Fabian Xuereb.
Xuereb was sent off seven minutes from time for a second bookable offence.
Oratory promoted
Division Two leaders Oratory Youths secured promotion to the top flight after a 5-0 win over Qala Saints.
The Youths established a three-goal lead in the first period through Shaun Attard (11), Frank Attard (17) and Daniel Bartolo (41). They added two more goals after the break with a brace from Shaun Attard (64, 67).
In the other match from the lower category, Munxar Falcons consolidated second place in the table following a 6-0 thrashing of Għarb Rangers.
After opening the scoring in the 44th minute when Joseph Grima scored a penalty, Munxar dominated the second half. They scored five times through Clayton Hili (49, 56), Daniel Pace (68), Joseph Borg (84) and an own goal by Christopher Mercieca (87).
Għarb had Anthony Bajada sent off in the 69th minute.