St Andrew's 0
Balzan Youths 0

Although Balzan Youths were expected to win this match which would have given them the league championship, they still gained the point needed to secure promotion with two matches to spare.

St Andrew's battled bravely and were close through a Jonathan Briscoe White free-kick early on. As the game wore on, Balzan gained the initiative and were twice denied by keeper Vernon off attempts by Trevor Thomas and Clayton Caruana.

Caruana had another opportunity with his shot finishing just high over the bar and the Saints coming back with a well-taken free-kick by Michael Grima that was saved by Galea.

A minute later Balzan also won a free-kick which was taken by Caruana. Vernon was alert to push the ball over the bar.

The initial stages of the second half belonged to the Saints who went close through a shot by Grima which was saved by Galea.

In the 58th minute Balzan almost took the lead but Trevor Thomas's headed attempt was cleared off the line by Jonathan Briscoe White.

Balance prevailed as shots by David Agius and Alistair Camilleri finished just wide for Balzan and the Saints replied with an Andrew Amato effort that never reached the desired target.

Late in the match, Balzan almost snatched all three points but Thomas and Cedric Sciberras failed to find the back of the net from favourable positions.

St Andrew's: E. Vernon, P. Briscoe White (D. Cuschieri), B. Diacono, J. Briscoe White, N. Chetcuti, A. Camilleri Kamsky, N. Vella Petroni (K. Galea), M. Calleja (A. Amato), L. Desira Buttigieg, M. Valenzia, M. Grima.

Balzan: J. Galea, L. Stivala (A. Camilleri), D. Agius, B. Bondin, C. Sciberras, R. Farrugia, K. Coleiro, C. Caruana (W. Muscat), T. Thomas, A. Lagana (Is. Zammit), C. Micallef.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Mellieħa 0
Lija Athletic 3

Marco Gerada's Lija left it late to assure themselves of victory as they scored all their three goals in the final 14 minutes. This result has enhanced Lija's promotion prospects with two matches remaining.

Lija were rather careless in front of goal. In the opening seven minutes they wasted two clear opportunities through Beppe Antignolo and Carlo Leonardi as other attempts by Daniel Scerri, Carlo Leonardi and Martin Borg were saved by James Abela.

Lija continued to push forward and on 36 minutes a shot by Glenn Barry just missed the far post with Mellieħa responding through a swift counter-attack by Kayne Said whose shot finished just high over the bar.

Mellieħa came more into the picture as the second half got under way. Lija created two dangerous opportunities through Scerri and Chris Pace and, at the other end, the northerners went close following attempts at goal by Wayne Borg St John.

Lija opened the score on 76 minutes thanks to a goal by captain Scerri. Four minutes from time, the promotion-seekers doubled their lead with a Pace goal.

Two minutes into stoppage time, substitute Daniel Cremona sealed the issue with a third goal for Lija.

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

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

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Birżebbuġa SP 1
Melita 4

The final scoreline flatters Melita as Birżebbuġa offered stiff resistance for most of the match but suffered two late goals scored by Amateurs' substitute Luke Micallef. This result allows third-placed Melita to stay in touch with Lija.

Birżebbuġa surprised their opponents with a goal scored after just five minutes when a John Paul Barbara corner was headed in by Dennis Baldacchino.

Four minutes later a short back-pass by Melita defender Daniel Gravino almost led to the seasiders' second goal but Ronnie Celeste's shot was stopped by Matthew Sapiano.

Melita regrouped and after a couple of near misses, they deservedly drew level in the 24th minute thanks to a Julian Galea goal.

Three minutes after the restart Melita were a whisker away from going ahead but an Ives Bilocca free-kick smashed against the woodwork.

Play continued to be balanced until the 68th minute when a lob by Matthew Borg I had the better of the Birżebbuġa keeper.

Birżebbuġa suffered a setback eight minutes from time when they were reduced to ten players as Michael Ciappara was sent off.

Micallef then scored twice in quick succession to make Melita's victory more comfortable.

Birżebbuġa: A. Ellul, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella, M. Ciappara, D. Baldacchino (J. Camilleri), J. Cassar (E. Desira), N. Tabone, J.P. Barbara (M. Ellul), R. Celeste, K. Muscat.

Melita: M. Sapiano, N. Zammit (S. Galea), D. Gravino, G. Gribbon, I. Bilocca, M. Hyzler (L. Micallef), M. Martin, A. Caruana Scicluna, J. Galea, M. Borg I (S. Diacono), M. Borg II.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Mġarr United 2
Sta Venera 3

This match proved to be a thrilling affair, especially in the second half, with the Lightnings turning defeat into victory thanks to two late goals, leaving their opponents reeling at the bottom end of the standings.

The Lightnings dictated the run of play for most of the first half but were unable to find a way past Mġarr's steady rearguard with goalkeeper Luca Grech always on the right spot to deny his opponents.

Seven minutes from half-time, Mġarr were reduced to ten players when Johan Said was sent off for a second booking.

The Saints tried to make the most of an extra man on the field and eight minutes from the restart they took the lead following a shot from an angle by Andrew Hili.

Mġarr's troubles were compoun-ded soon after when they were reduced to nine players as William Camilleri was sent off for a second caution. However, despite the handicap Mġarr drew level on 68 minutes, thanks to a Simon Mizzi goal, and 12 minutes from time Matthew Muscat surprised the Saints' keeper to make it 2-1.

Sta Venera were shocked but Mark Grech scored an equaliser on 82 minutes even though Mġarr protested for an offside position.

Mġarr defended stoutly but there was little they could have done to prevent Jeffrey Zammit from scoring the Saints' winner in stoppage time, the substitute ramming in with a fine shot that beat Grech hands down.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli, W. Camilleri, N. Busuttil, C. Bugeja, J. Said, S. Aquilina, J. Camilleri (M. Muscat), P. Fenech (S. Camilleri), S. Mizzi, C. Gauci.

Sta Venera: J. Mercieca, A. Cachia, A. Micallef, Y.M. Law (S. Farrugia), D. Calleja, A. Hili, L. Farrugia (J. Zammit), D. Zuccaro, P. Chircop (M. Grech), N. Caruana, G. Frendo.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Naxxar Lions 0
Żebbuġ Rangers 1

An early Timothy Thomas goal earned Żebbuġ Rangers three precious points in their quest to retain their status. Naxxar, however, are now in deep trouble.

Rangers opened the score after just four minutes when Thomas hit home past Attard from close range.

Naxxar were unlucky on 14 minutes when a Chris Farrugia shot hit the bar and at the other end Marlon Vella was denied by Naxxar keeper Bjorn Attard.

Thomas was again close with a shot which was deflected to a corner and six minutes before the break Vella's shot rolled just wide of the Naxxar goal.

Żebbuġ showed better qualities after the change of ends with Thomas twice going close in the opening five minutes. The Lions were unable to stage a reaction and a Vella volley came off Attard's upright.

Rangers were guilty of some missed chances late on and they almost paid for their lapses but Mark Deguara failed to hit home Naxxar's equaliser from a good position in stoppage time.

Naxxar: B. Attard, R. Sammut, A. Catania (D. Falzon), J. Sank, J. Mercieca, A. Fenech, C. Farrugia (J. Agius), M. Deguara, V. Bellia, M. Coleiro, A. Bajada (A. Bartolo).

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, G. Mallia, B. Galea, E. Calleja, E. Cachia, R. Micallef (J. Cilia), C. Tabone, J. Sapiano (R. Bugeja), M. Vella, T. Thomas.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Gozo FC 3
Marsa 0

Gozo FC ended their commitments on home soil for the season with a fine performance and a deserved win over relegated side Marsa.

The hosts opened the score with a shot by Joseph Cefai on nine minutes. They maintained their stance in attack but Marsa looked better after the break even though Shaun Muscat and Rodney Buttigieg could have done better in front of goal for Gozo.

Perhaps, Marsa's best opportunity to level the score arrived on 63 minutes when a shot from the distance by Osvaldo Zammit almost caught the Gozitan keeper by surprise.

Gozo, however, made sure of victory with two late goals, both scored by Muscat on 84 and 89 minutes.

Gozo FC: D. Pace, J. Cefai, J. Meilaq, J. Vella, P.P. Buttigieg, J. Buttigieg, C. Sciortino, O. Farrugia, C. Bugeja (I. Xuereb), S. Muscat, R. Buttigieg (G. Hili).

Marsa: P. Madina, S. Callus, K. Xerri, B. Zammit, R. Azzopardi (B. Demicoli), S. Spiteri (A. Delceppo), G. Cutajar, A. Spiteri, O. Zammit, C. Coffi, R. Spaniol (J. Martin).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.