Sannat Lions made sure of winning the championship this season with one match to spare following a 2-1 victory over Nadur Youngsters last weekend.
In other matches from the top flight, SK Victoria Wanderers secured their status for another season with a convincing 4-0 win over bottom-placed St Lawrence Spurs while Xewkija Tigers edged out Victoria Hotspurs 3-2 to revive their hopes of avoiding the relegation play-off.
Sannat needed only one point to clinch the title but it was win-or-bust for Nadur to keep their chances alive. The match, played in front of a sizeable crowd at the Gozo Stadium, lived up to expectations.
Sannat opened the scoring on 19 minutes following an angled shot by John Camilleri who had been sent through by Eric Nwankwo.
Nadur’s reaction was immediate and their efforts were rewarded when Claudio Antunes scored the equaliser with a fine header from a Milos Stojanovic free-kick.
The two teams continued to push forward in an attempt to take the lead. Sannat’s Camilleri had a header coming off the woodwork and a Stojanovic effort just before half-time was cleared off the line by Andrew Debono.
As the second half got underway, Sannat keeper Adrian Parnis did well to keep out an Antunes piledriver. The Lions scored the all-important goal on 63 minutes when Nwankwo, left unmarked in the box, beat keeper Steve Sultana.
SK Victoria Wanderers were never in trouble against St Lawrence Spurs as the Citizens hit two goals in each half.
Ajibade Adesina and Ige Adesina put the Wanderers 2-0 up at half-time and the former increased their lead with a third goal soon after the restart. Ajibade Adesina completed his hat-trick from a penalty four minutes from time.
Xewkija Tigers are now only two points adrift of fifth place thanks to their close victory over Victoria Hotspurs.
The Tigers began the game strongly and raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Jonathan Bajada (7) and a Kiril Dyakov penalty on 15 minutes. The penalty was awarded for a foul by Daniel Farrugia on the same Dyakov.
Victoria reduced the arrears midway into the first half. They were awarded a penalty for a foul by Patrick Camilleri on Osama Madah and Kalin Ganchev converted from the spot.
The Hotspurs could have levelled matters minutes later but Madah’s lob was cleared off the line by Andreas Fotso.
Xewkija restored their two-goal lead on 27 minutes, Rodney Buttigieg scoring after taking advantage of the Victoria goalkeeper’s hesitancy.
Victoria reopened the issue on 59 minutes when they narrowed the deficit to just one goal thanks to Oliver Farrugia’s header but Xewkija held on to their slim lead and also missed other opportunities to widen their margin.
Division Two
A goalless draw against Kerċem Ajax means that Xagħra United must beat current Division Two leaders Żebbuġ Rovers in their final league match to force a championship decider.
In the other game, Oratory Youths trounced Munxar Falcons 4-0 with goals from Joseph Grech and Dione Lautier (3, one penalty). Munxar had Keith Borg sent off after 30 minutes.
Lautier is now the top scorer in Division Two with 17 goals.
Freedom Day Cup
Sannat Lions had the better of SK Victoria Wanderers 3-1 in the Freedom Day Cup final to claim the honour for the sixth time.
John Camilleri fired Sannat ahead early on but the Wanderers made it one-all just before half-time with a Joseph Refalo goal.
Sannat regained the lead after the break with another Camilleri goal and Nwankwo sealed their win three minutes from time.