Balzan Youths 2
Birzebbuga SP 1

Balzan Youths won the top-of-the-table clash with Birzebbuga who have now slipped into third place. Balzan, the new leaders, won this match thanks to a late penalty.

Balzan attacked from the opening stages and Saints keeper Xerxen was called to make a fine save early on to stop a Kurt Coleiro header. The Youths continued to push forward but in a counter-attack on 23 minutes the southerners took the lead with a goal by Ronnie Celeste.

Balzan tried to hit back with shots from Jerryton Agius, Anthony Lagana and David Agius, all dealt with by Xerxen. The Youths maintained the initiative after the change of ends and deservedly drew level on 47 minutes when Sergio Cappitta headed home a Gilbert Scerri free-kick.

The woodwork denied Balzan another goal off a shot by Coleiro but in the 84th minute they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Scerri by Clive Formosa. The latter was sent off for hotly disputing the decision but Scerri kept calm before scoring his side's winner from the spot.

Balzan: S. Mintoff, D. Agius, R. Mifsud, S. Cappitta, J. Agius (R. Farrugia), A. Lagana (M. Monreal), G. Scerri, I. Bilocca (J. Buttigieg) A. Agius, K. Coleiro, A. Sacco.

Birzebbuga: M. Xerxen, D. Baldacchino, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, D. Burke (M. Ciappara), J. Cassar, R. Celeste, J. Zammit (N. Tabone), Joh. Zammit (S. Aquilina), E. Azzopardi, L. Burke.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Rabat Ajax 2
Naxxar Lions 0

Rabat Ajax are second in the standings behind Balzan following this victory over Naxxar Lions in a match decided with goals from Jonathan Bezzina and Alan Zahra.

The Magpies took the lead after just two minutes following a calibrated Bezzina free-kick that sailed into the Lions net.

Rabat kept moving forward with Naxxar keeper Bjorn Attard bringing off a fine save to deny Clint Micallef. Then, attempts by Zahra and Micallef just missed the target.

At the other end, Naxxar went close through Chris Farrugia. The Lions shared the exchanges during the second half and were close through Kevin Naudi and Andy Bartolo.

Rabat were denied by Attard off efforts by Adam Smeir but they sealed their win seven minutes from time when Zahra hit a scorcher into the net.

On 89 minutes, Rabat scored again but this time Kayne Said's 'goal' was disallowed for an infringement.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana (K. Micallef), C. Micallef, A. Zahra, A. Smeir (K. Said), D. Galea (P. Ciantar), D. Falzon, M. Micallef, E. Muscat.

Naxxar: B. Attard, A. Galea, J.P. Zahra, M. Spiteri Gonzi, B. Farrugia, T. Fenech, A. Fenech, K. Naudi (K. Caruana), A. Bartolo, C. Farrugia (A. Catania), K. Fenech (S. Farrugia).

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

St Andrew's 1
San Gwann 0

An Andrew Camilleri Kamsky first-half goal proved to be enough for St Andrew's to stage an upset as they defeated San Gwann for whom Renie Forace (ex-Valletta) and Antoine Zahra (ex-Hibernians) made their debuts.

St Andrew's played the better football during the first period and after ten minutes a Roberto Brincat free-kick was saved by Edward Vernon.

The Saints replied through dangerous attempts by Anthony Galea and Camilleri Kamsky with San Gwann going close through Brian Zammit whose shot was saved by Vernon.

On the stroke of half-time, Camilleri Kamsky headed in past Spiteri from a Jonathan Briscoe White cross.

San Gwann hit back after the break and after five minutes they wasted an easy opportunity through Alan Spiteri. The same player was then denied by Vernon and at the other end the Saints went close through Jeremy Gatt Coleiro and Michael Valenzia.

Late in the match, Forace headed just wide from a Lee Cumbo corner.

St Andrew's: E. Vernon, N. Chetcuti, B. Diacono, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, A. Galea (J. Galea), J. Gatt Coleiro (S. Sammut), A. Camilleri Kamsky, Ad. Galea (C. Spiteri), M. Valenzia, M. Ellul.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, S. Zammit Fava, R. Forace, L. Cumbo, K. Micallef, A. Gatt (S. Hili), R. Brincat, A. Borg, A. Zahra (C. Gatt), M. Tirchett, R. Zammit (A. Spiteri).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Sirens 0
Zurrieq 1

Sirens are in deep trouble after losing their eighth match of the season when going down to Zurrieq.

The team from St Paul's Bay dictated the run of play during the first half but to no avail as they failed to find an opening.

On 15 minutes a shot by Giovanni Galea went just wide and a lob by Patrick Barbara was saved by Zurrieq keeper Azzopardi.

Sirens striker Adrian Galea missed a sitter and just before the break an effort by Giovanni Galea was stopped by the Zurrieq keeper.

The Reds came more into the picture as the second half got underway.

They went close through Godfrey Chetcuti and Chris Farrugia and late on they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Gareth Magri on Chetcuti. The latter made no mistake from the spot.

The penalty decision was contested by the Sirens players and captain Kristian Galea was sent off for protests.

Sirens: R. Schembri, K. Zammit, G. Magri, C. Muscat, K. Galea, I. Borg (K. Pisani), P. Barbara, A. Galea (C. Grech), A. Xuereb, J. Mallia (M. Sciberras), G. Galea.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, J. Lia (C. Gatt), A. Barbara, K. Sacco, J. Camilleri, J. Saliba (C. Farrugia), M. Abdilla, D. Bonnici, F. Cassar (C. Shomba), M. Genuis, G. Chetcuti.

Referee: Chris Francalanza.

Division Three - Section 'A'

Zejtun Corinthians 0
Attard 4

Attard recovered from two defeats to Mdina and Zebbug with a sound win over the hapless Zejtun.

On nine minutes, Zejtun gave the ball away in midfield and Firas Aboulezz profited to open the score. On 24 minutes Attard doubled their lead with a James Anastasi goal.

Attard were then awarded a penalty for a foul on Floyd Farrugia but Firas's shot from the spot hit the upright.

On 46 minutes Attard made it 3-0 with a Farrugia goal and Aboulezz rounded up the score on 63 minutes.

Four minutes from time Attard were awarded a second penalty for a foul on Kurt Zahra. The same player was denied by Fardell from the spot.

Zejtun: L. Fardell, K. Tonna (J. Mizzi) N. Gerada, R. Gafa (S. Shead), E. Caruana, B. Testaferrata, J.P. Abela, J. Abela, G. Azzopardi Busuttil, A. Farrugia (S. Curmi), M. Farrugia.

Attard: O. Formosa (C. Cini), M. Cutajar, D. Agius, M. Tabone, M. Saliba, Y. Grech, J. Axisa (K. Zahra), J. Anastasi, F. Aboulezz (A. Agius), F. Farrugia, C. Micallef.

Referee: Aaron Fenech.

Fgura United 2
Qrendi 0

Striker Clayton Garzia scored Fgura's two goals in this mid-table clash against Qrendi.

Garzia scored his first goal on 17 minutes with a shot that took a deflection off a defender on its way home.

Qrendi had a shot by Jesmond Azzopardi that hit the bar but on 50 minutes Fgura made sure of the points with Garzia's second goal of the day.

Late on, Mark Ellul's shot seemed destined to hit the net but was deflected to a corner by a Qrendi defender.

Fgura: R. Farrugia, I. Pace (S. Felice), J. Gauci, K. Cachia, C. Ellul, M. Sammut, M. Ellul, D. Said, C. Garzia (V. Testaferrata), M. Spiteri (C. Pace), R. Galea.

Qrendi: R. Mascena, A. Mangion (J. Mansueto), A. Abdilla (J. Farrugia), H. Jones, R. Galea, M. Camilleri, J. Azzopardi, S. Sacco, A. Muscat, J. Mercieca, L. Bartolo (C. Camilleri).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Mdina Knights 0
Xghajra Tornadoes 0

Xghajra dictated the run of play during the first period but found a strong Mdina rearguard in their way.

After seven minutes an Anthony Brignone header was cleared off the line by Andre Vassallo. Mdina suffered a setback in the 12th minute when George Frendo was sent off for unwarranted comments.

In the 53rd minute Xghajra were also reduced to ten players when Alex Azzopardi was sent off for dissent. Xghajra almost scored late on but Jonathan Cachia's drive hit the bar.

Mdina: K. Formosa, G. Naudi, G. Camilleri, M. Paris (T. Nader), I. Sammut (A. Farrugia), J. Debono, R. Schembri, G. Frendo, N. Micallef, C. Caruana, A. Vassallo.

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, A. Muscat, F. Mizzi, M. Portelli, D. Axisa, B. Magro, A. Azzopardi, L. Grech (J. Cachia), J. Azzopardi, A. Brignone (L. Mallia), J. Abela.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Siggiewi 2
Ghaxaq 1

Siggiewi came from behind to notch their third win of the season with second-half goals from Eman Ciappara and David Calleja.

Cristian Cristiano put Ghaxaq in the driving seat after 18 minutes after a Ludvic Camilleri shot hit the upright.

Ciappara made it 1-1 on 46 minutes and Siggiewi almost struck again as Chris Bezzina's shot hit the post.

Siggiewi continued to push forward with Josef Micallef's shot kept out by Gambin with the aid of the bar and the same player had a goal disallowed for offside.

Their efforts were finally rewarded eight minutes from time when Calleja hit home from a Ciappara cross.

Siggiewi: T. Camilleri, C. Bezzina, E. Zammit, J. Debono, S. Said, J. Micallef, J. Camilleri (J. Taliana), J. Vassallo (M. Aquilina), E. Ciappara, D. Calleja, W. Fenech.

Ghaxaq: K. Gambin, M. Axiaq, C. Xuereb, D. Galea, C. Cristiano (T. Agius), L. Camilleri, B. Barbara, M. Caruana, E. Dimech, A. Caruana (D. Lapira), F. Galea.

Referee: Adrian Caruana.

Division Three - Section 'B'

Gharghur 1
Gzira United 2

Gzira turned defeat into victory with two second-half goals scored by Aldrin Muscat and Owen Spiteri.

The Maroons were surprised on the stroke of half-time as Gharghur broke the deadlock against the run of play through Marvic Grech.

But Gzira deservedly drew level in the 74th minute through substitute Muscat. Three minutes later Spiteri finished off a good move by Darren Caruana to win the points for Gzira to go second in the standings.

Gharghur: J.P. Vella, J.P. Galea, J. Schembri, K. Pisani, D. Galea, R. Southward, M. Buttigieg, M. Coleiro (C. Debattista), A. Azzopardi (C. Cachia), E. Lapira, M. Grech (J. Micallef).

Gzira: K. Camilleri, J. Tabone (A. Muscat), D. Caruana, L. Mangion (A. Buttigieg), G. Mizzi, A. White, K. Bonello, N. Zarb Cousin, G. Farrugia (H. Rhababh), O. Spiteri, J. Felice.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Kalkara 0
Pembroke Athleta 3

Pembroke were worthy winners from this match which saw striker Liam Camilleri notching a hat-trick.

Camilleri put his team ahead after 14 minutes when he hit home from a Karl Vella cross before grabbing a second six minutes later.

Pembroke remained well in control and put the game beyond their opponents' reach with a third goal from the excellent Camilleri.

Kalkara finished the match with ten men when goalkeeper Darren Camilleri handled the ball outside the area in an effort to block Carlo Leonardi's shot and was dismissed.

Kalkara: D. Camilleri, L. Agius (A. Cassar), C. Farrugia, C. Barbara, I. Buttigieg (C. Wait), J. Camilleri, K. Tonna, S. Vella, J. Camilleri, N. Zerafa, N. Bugeja (J. Mizzi).

Pembroke: R. Debattista, K. Vella, S. Micallef, A. Briffa, M. Manicolo (C. Bonello), J. Scerri, T. Naudi, J. Fenech (A. Farrugia), R. Zammit, L. Desira, C. Leonardi.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.