Nadur Youngsters moved three points clear at the top of the GFA Division One standings after emerging victorious from their direct clash with Xewkija Tigers.
With the match attracting a sizeable crowd to the stadium, the two teams lived up to expectations as the result remained uncertain until the final whistle.
Nadur broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Milos Stojanovic took a quick free-kick and released Joseph Vella who netted with a low drive.
Xewkija could have levelled soon after when referee Darko Stankovic awarded them a penalty for a foul by Ramon Dos Santos on Daniel Bogdanovic.
However, Bogdanovic’s penalty was saved by Nadur keeper Mark Grima.
The Tigers paid dearly for this miss as Nadur doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Claudio Antunes scored with a fine shot from an angled position.
Xewkija keeper Adrian Parnis kept his side in contention with a crucial save to deny Antunes.
On 58 minutes, the Tigers halved the deficit when Kenneth Mercieca took advantage of some lax defending by Nadur who had failed to clear a cross by Bogdanovic.
Xewkija gained in confidence. A header by Shields was stopped by the post while Grima was twice on the right spot to keep out efforts from substitute Chris Camilleri and Bogdanovic.
Nadur went close to adding a third goal late on but a shot by Antunes crashed against the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
Kerċem Ajax moved into third place thanks to a 4-1 win over St Lawrence Spurs.
Andrew Mizzi and Ian Xuereb gave Ajax an early cushion but the Spurs reopened the issue through Mambaye Boye just before half-time.
Kerċem restored their two-goal lead on 52 minutes with another Xuereb goal before weathering the opponents’ pressure and scoring again in stoppage time through Joseph Azzopardi.
Victoria Hotspurs hammered Sannat Lions 4-0 to distance themselves from the drop zone.
The Hotspurs had a Jason Pace penalty hitting the post after five minutes while Sannat were also wasteful from the spot a few minutes later as Fernando de Andrade’s penalty was stopped by keeper Matthew Vella.
The Citizens grew in stature. An effort by Ferdinando Apap came off the Sannat upright but newcomer Nikola Vasilic and Apap gave them a 2-0 lead before half-time.
Sannat were never in the game and keeper Angelo Brignoli was called to make a series of fine saves to keep his side in the match.
However, the Hotspurs made sure of the points with further goals from Rodney Buttigieg and Vasilic.
In another match, Oratory Youths were held to a goalless draw by SK Victoria Wanderers.
The Youths created the best scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, but the exchanges were more balanced after the break.
Victoria’s Nicholas Vella was sent off for dissent on the hour while Oratory’s Michael Mumford followed suit on 73 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Division Two
Xagħra United chalked up their second consecutive win after beating Qala 3-1.
Alan Cini opened the scoring for Qala in the first half but Xagħra turned the result in their favour thanks to a Joseph Buhagiar double and a goal by Luke Attard.
Leaders Għajnsielem were held to a 2-2 draw by third-placed Għarb Rangers.
Għarb broke the deadlock through Christopher Mercieca but the Blacks produced a good reaction to take a 2-1 lead with goals from Joseph Attard and Kenny Hili midway through the second half.
Għarb hit back admirably though and player-coach Noel Borg scored from a corner four minutes from time to save a point for his team.