As some had anticipated, the three leading teams in the Championship Pool, Hibernians, Valletta and Birkirkara, maintained their challenge at the top of the standings with victories during the weekend even though the manner with which they secured the points was easier than most had expected.
Marsaxlokk were never in the match against Hibernians.
The leaders had hot-shot Terrence Scerri among the scorers again in a pronounced 4-1 victory over their rivals from the south with the other goals for the Paolites coming from Ben Camilleri, Clayton Failla and the inspirational Andrew Cohen.
Valletta, one point behind, kept the pace with Hibs after trouncing Sliema Wanderers 5-0. The Citizens paved the way for their victory with a strong opening that saw them leading 3-0 by the 17th minute.
Doding Priso opened the score and Justin Grioli added the second following a speculative cross-shot.
Jamie Pace notched his first goal this season and Sliema were down and out. Second-half goals from Gilbert Agius (penalty) and another one from Priso rounded up a fine day for the champions and coach Paul Zammit, in particular. He shed aside speculation about his future to keep the side charged up to maintain their unbeaten run this season.
Third-placed Birkirkara stayed in touch with the leading duo thanks to a 2-0 win over a poor Floriana side who seem to have already reached their objective this season after securing a berth in the top six.
The Stripes, four points behind Valletta, made sure with two first-half goals from Shaun Bajada and Martin Anastasi.
Daniel Mariano Bueno stole the limelight in the opening match from the Relegation Pool on Sunday at the Tedesco Stadium.
The Brazilian striker scored twice for Tarxien in their end-to-end clash with Qormi.
Bueno scored the winner very late in the match to stun Qormi and lift the Rainbows outside the drop zone for the first time in several weeks.
Contrary to what happened in previous seasons, the fight for survival is expected to go down to the wire with all four teams grouped together and three points separating category pole-sitters Msida and bottom-placed Qormi.
Statistics
Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 6, Galea 6; Hartvig 4; Bajada 3, Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens), Dimitrov-Mihaylov 2; Fenech, Sokolov, Anastasi. Own goal - Caruana (vs Hibs). Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs); Holland (vs Msida).
Floriana: Darmanin 7; Anonam 4; M. Briffa 2, Madzar 2; Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara); Doffo (vs Hibs); Eboh (vs Tarxien).
Ħamrun: Comvalius 6 (1 pen.); Cucciardi 5 (1 pen.); Spiteri 4; Micallef 3; Kokavessis 2; Ortega (penalty), Levnaic, Sultana, Ryan Fenech. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana); Roderick Fenech (vs Marsaxlokk); Bondin (vs Valletta).
Hibernians: Scerri 22 (2 pens); Cohen 7 (2 pens); Failla 6; Camilleri 3, Caruana 3, Mbongo 3; Galabov 2, J. Farrugia 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Mbongo (vs Valletta), Scerri (vs Valletta), Galabov (vs Birkirkara).
Marsaxlokk: Pereira 9; Alcorse 8 (4 pens); Licari 3 (1 pen.); Cassar 2, Said 2; Mattocks, Barbara, Pullicino, Sammut, Kokavessis. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara); Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).
Msida: Calcado 11 (2 pens); Aurelio 4; Da Silva 2; Magro, T. Farrugia, Camilleri. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun); T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk), Vella (vs Valletta).
Qormi: Effiong 4, Da Silva 4, Chetcuti 4; Grima 2, Farrugia 2. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians); Nwoko (vs Ħamrun), Fenech (vs Msida).
Sliema: Woods 5 (1 pen.); Muscat 4; Bjedov 3, Dronca 3 (1 pen.); Coto 2, Bajada 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa, Turner. Red cards - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun), Scerri (vs Hibs).
Tarxien: Bueno 18 (2 pens); Chircop 2, Vella Critien 2; Buttigieg, Tanti. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).
Valletta: Priso 12 (3 pens.); Zammit 6, G. Agius 6 (1 pen.); Falzon 4; Frendo 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti, Monesterolo, Grioli, Pace. Red cards - Giglio (vs Msida); Priso (vs Qormi).
Next fixtures
Saturday (National Stadium): 14.00 Hibernians vs Floriana; 16.00 Birkirkara vs Valletta.
Sunday (Hibs Ground): 14.00 Ħamrun vs Msida; 16.00 Marsaxlokk vs Sliema.