Lija Athletic 1
St Andrew's 1

Lija had to settle for a draw in this match against St Andrew's.

Now, with just one match remaining, Lija and Melita are on equal points in second place. This result also meant that Balzan Youths have been declared Second Division champions.

Lija gained the early initiative and twice went close through Chris Pace and Beppe Antignolo. On 21 minutes, they won a corner which was taken by Lydon Cilia and Michael Mangion rose high but headed just over the bar.

The Saints had an Andrew Camilleri Kamsky shot blocked and four minutes later Nicky Vella Petroni hit high from a good position.

Lija took the lead on 34 minutes when a free-kick from the distance by Jean Paul Scerri surprised keeper Tabone.

However, four minutes into the second half, Jonathan Briscoe White headed in the equaliser from a Michael Valenzia free-kick.

Now, it was the Saints who took the upperhand but their claims for a penalty for a handling infringement by a Lija defender went unheeded.

They went close through Michael Calleja and Matthew Calasione and on another occasion the Lija keeper had to come out of his goal to anticipate the advancing Glenn Fenech.

Saints' keeper Tabone denied Lija with an excellent save on Pace.

In added time Lija had captain Daniel Scerri sent off for a double caution. They were also very unlucky when two attempts late on, by Jean Paul Scerri, hit the woodwork.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Mangion, D. Scerri, M. Borg (A. Spiteri), C. Leonardi, L. Cilia (D. Cremona), J.P. Scerri, C. Pace, C. Grech, C. Ciantar, B. Antignolo (G. Barry).

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, A. Camilleri Kamsky, B. Diacono, J. Briscoe White, N. Chetcuti, N. Vella Petroni, D. Cuschieri, M. Valenzia, M. Calascione, M. Calleja, G. Fenech (M. Debono).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Melita 3
Marsa 0

Melita kept alive their hopes of winning promotion to Division One when they scored three late goals to surge past ten-man Marsa last weekend.

Goals from Michael Martin and substitutes Gregory Degabriele and Luke Micallef earned the Amateurs three priceless points that lifted them to second place, level on points with Lija Athletic.

Melita dictated the run of play from the start, Kane Micallef twice going close in the opening six minutes.

Marsa goalkeeper Paul Medina did well to keep out efforts from Luke Micallef and Matthew Borg I. But Marsa's chances of a surprise were practically dashed before half-time when Nicky Vassallo was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Melita stepped up a gear after the interval as they looked to break the stalemate. It was Marsa, though, who almost scored first when efforts by Chris Cioffi and Osvaldo Zammit were pushed away by Melita's no.1 Matthew Sapiano.

However, the Amateurs' pressure finally paid off on 73 minutes when skipper Martin tucked the ball home from close in. Three minutes later Melita increased their lead when Degabriele fired home from a Micallef centre.

Micallef then sealed Melita's victory seven minutes from time.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud (M. Hyzler), D. Gravino, G. Gribbon, I. Bilocca, M. Martin, M. Borg II, S. Galea (L. Micallef), K. Micallef (G. Degabriele), M. Borg I, J. Galea.

Marsa: P. Medina, J. Rizzo, G. Cutajar (S. Farrugia), C. Cioffi (J. Martin), S. Callus, A. Spiteri, O. Zammit, B. Zammit, R. Azzopardi, N. Vassallo, K. Xerri (B. Demicoli).

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Sta Venera 0
Birżebbuġa SP 3

Birżebbuġa were the better team in this match and emerged worthy winners with Ronnie Celeste scoring two goals for the seasiders.

Birżebbuġa opened the scoring after just five minutes when Celeste headed in from a Roderick Baldacchino free-kick.

The Sta Venera keeper made a fine save to deny Dennis Baldacchino soon after with the Lightnings having an Antoine Galea shot parried by goalkeeper Paul Celeste.

Keith Muscat wasted a sitter for Birżebbuġa but on 31 minutes veteran Roderick Baldacchino made it 2-0 from a free-kick.

Sta Venera shared the exchanges after the break. Galea should have pulled one back but blasted wide and at the other end Celeste also concluded badly from a good position.

Late in the match the Birżebbuġa keeper did well to deny Brandon Cremona and four minutes from time Celeste broke free in a swift counter-attack but his shot was saved by Agius. However, a minute into injury-time Celeste did better when hitting home his team's third goal of the day.

Sta Venera: J. Agius, A. Cachia, A. Galea, A. Micallef, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef (J. Zammit), A. Hili, S. Farrugia (B. Cremona), A. Ellul, D. Zuccaro, G. Frendo (D. Vella).

Birżebbuġa: P. Celeste, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella, R. Baldacchino, D. Baldacchino, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, R. Celeste, J. Camilleri (B. Darmanin), K. Muscat (E. Desira).

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Mellieħa 3
Gozo FC 0

The Gozitans were completely outclassed by Mellieħa after the break with striker Wayne Borg St John scoring a brace and going close on other occasions for the winners.

The match proved to be a balanced affair during the first period with the Gozitans going close when an Anthony Briffa shot hit James Abela's upright. Late in the first half, Mellieħa had efforts by David Fenech and Philip Camilleri which were saved by Steve Sultana.

Mellieħa were a step ahead of their opponents in the second half.

Borg St John had a couple of shots just wide but he broke the deadlock on 54 minutes when finishing off a good move by Kevin Gauci.

Mellieħa continued to push forward but were found wanting in front of goal. However, on 68 minutes substitute Kayne Said made it 2-0 to ease his team's worries.

Gozo were lost and Borg St John sealed the issue 10 minutes from time with his second goal of the day.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, W. Borg, P. Camilleri, K. Gauci, D. Fenech (M. Borg), W. Borg St John, G. Conti (K. Said), Ph. Camilleri, K. Cassar, L. Cauchi (M.Abela), D. Cauchi.

Gozo FC: S. Sultana (A. Brinjoli), G. Hili, J. Said, A. Briffa, K. Farrugia, F. Apap, S. Muscat, E. Cordina, M. Zammit, K. Hili (J. Sacco), R. Grima.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.