Xewkija Tigers ended their commitments in the second round of the GFA Division One championship with a convincing 5-1 win over bottom-placed St Lawrence Spurs.
The Tigers stay in second place, three points behind leaders Għajnsielem who have a game in hand.
As expected, Xewkija were streets ahead of the Spurs. They opened a two-goal lead by the end of the first half, following a Thiago Melo Dos Santos double (20, 39), and never looked back.
Dene Shields made it 3-0 on 53 minutes from a corner and Daniel Bogdanovic added the fourth from a penalty, awarded for a foul by Daniel Micallef on Shields.
Two minutes from time St Lawrence had a penalty in their favour after Joseph Mario Vella was sent tumbling inside the box. Vella dusted himself up to score with his second effort after substitute goalkeeper Joseph Grima had parried his spot-kick.
Xewkija, however, had the last laugh after sealing victory with a Bogdanovic goal deep into stoppage time.
In the other match from the top flight, SK Victoria Wanderers and Oratory Youths returned home with a point each after a one-all draw.
Oratory retained their three-point lead over the Wanderers in the lower half of the standings.
Joseph Grima put the Youths in front six minutes from half-time but the Wanderers staged a bold reaction after the break and levelled matters with a Chris Scior-tino strike on 57 minutes.
Oratory created the best chances late on as the Wanderers had to defend strongly to avoid defeat after having substitute Joseph Refalo sent off for a foul ten minutes from time.
Kerċem in final
Kerċem Ajax booked their place in the GFA Cup final after a 3-0 win over Victoria Hotspurs.
Jean Paul Mizzi beat keeper Angelo Brignoli midway through the first half to put Ajax in front.
Kerċem goalie Adrian Parnis denied the Hotspurs an equaliser with a series of fine saves after the break as Kerċem made sure of qualification, and a match-up against Xewkija, with two goals scored by Claudio Antunes (56) and Charles Mercieca (81).
Nadur drop points
Nadur Youngsters lost a golden opportunity to join Xagħra United at the top of the Division Two standings as they were unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Żebbuġ Rovers.
The Rovers took a shock lead after 11 minutes when Paul Camilleri committed an own goal.
Nadur hit back strongly but only managed to level the scores on 55 minutes thanks to Saviour Attard.
The Youngsters also ended the match with ten players when Christian Azzopardi was sent off late on for a second bookable offence.
In the last match of the second round, Sannat Lions moved to within three points from Nadur after a 4-2 win over Għarb Rangers.
Nicholas Micallef (11) and Antoine Camilleri (27 penalty) gave the Lions a double lead but Sylvan Galea (30) pulled one back for the Rangers and Christian Attard (72) scored from a penalty to make it 2-2.
The Lions were temporarily stunned but regrouped in time to score two decisive goals, through Kenneth Bonnici (80) and substitute Eric Gauci (90).