Nadur Youngsters chalked up successive wins over Victoria Hotspurs and Xagħra United to join Xewkija Tigers at the top, although the latter have a game in hand.
The Youngsters took an early lead through Milos Stojanovic but the Hotspurs hit back and equalised through Antoine Camilleri.
Three minutes later Nadur were awarded a penalty for a foul by Aldrin Cassar on Anthony Portelli and Claudio Antunes made it 2-1 from the spot.
Nadur increased their advantage after the break thanks to Joseph Grima but the Hotspurs re-opened the issue with a penalty converted by Ian Xuereb on 74 minutes.
Nadur restored their two-goal lead two minutes later through Antunes while Victoria’s Alex Tramboo made it 4-3 nine minutes from the end. Nadur sealed victory with a fifth goal through Stojanovic on 84 minutes.
In the match against Xagħra, Nadur’s win was never in doubt. Xagħra had some regular players missing while Nadur had captain Portelli serving suspension.
The protagonist in this match was Antunes who scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win to consolidate top spot in the scorers’ list with 20 goals.
Joseph Vella, Zach Meilaq and Ryan Meilaq netted the other goals for Nadur with Joseph Xerri scoring Xagħra’s consolation .
Għajnsielem, meanwhile, continued their fight against the drop with a deserved 4-2 win over SK Victoria Wanderers.
The Blacks moved away from the bottom place for the first time this season.
Għajnsielem opened the scoring on 14 minutes through Jurgen Tashi but Edinson Sanchez Estrada made it 1-1 soon after.
The Blacks regained the lead with a John Vella strike and Tashi made it 3-1 with a goal scored four minutes from half-time.
With 16 minutes remaining, Victoria reduced the deficit through a lob by Steve Dimech but Għajnsielem made sure of the victory with a goal scored by Manwel Cordina four minutes later.
The midweek clash between relegation strugglers Sannat Lions and Victoria Hotspurs ended one-all. Sannat looked to be heading for a vital win when Noel Borg headed home 11 minutes from time but Alex Tramboo came to the Hotspurs’ rescue with a late equaliser.
Kerċem champions
Kerċem Ajax secured the Division Two championship title although they still have two more matches to play following a 6-0 win over Għarb Rangers in their last outing.
Kerċem’s goals arrived through a penalty by Malcolm Vella (14), Jean Paul Mizzi (25), a brace by Leonard Camilleri (45, 83) and a goal by Sabri Rais (55).
In another match, a direct clash for second place, Oratory Youths and St Lawrence Spurs shared the spoils in a goalless draw. The Youths are now almost sure of reaching the promotion play-off.