Balzan Youths 7
Naxxar Lions 0

Leaders Balzan dominated their demoralised opponents during the second period to win by a seven-goal margin as Simon Mizzi and Aaron Agius notched a hat-trick each.

Balzan attacked for long stretches during the first period but were unable to go past an organised Naxxar defensive barrier.

Naxxar keeper Bjorn Attard made a difficult save to foil Gilbert Scerri and at the other end a Chris Farrugia free-kick finished inches high over the Balzan goal.

Balzan opened the score on the half-hour through Kurt Coleiro, following a good move by Scerri and the result stayed like that until the break.

However, the story was different after the interval as Naxxar collapsed.

An error by Attard led to Balzan's second goal, scored by Mizzi on 49 minutes and the same player made it 3-0 three minutes later following good work by Scerri.

Naxxar were nowhere to be seen and Mizzi scored his third goal following another mistake by the Naxxar defence.

In the 68th minute, Balzan netted a fifth goal when a free-kick by Marlon Monreal was parried by substitute keeper Kevin Agius and Aaron Agius was at hand to shoot in. The latter made it 6-0, 15 minutes from time, and rounded up the score late on for the Youths' seventh goal.

Balzan: B. Bonello, D. Agius, S. Cappitta, G. Scerri (J. Buttigieg), A. Agius, K. Coleiro, M. Monreal, R. Mifsud, A. Lagana (L. McKay), J. Agius (R. Farrugia), S. Mizzi.

Naxxar: B. Attard (K. Agius), A. Galea (J. Grech), M. Spiteri Gonzi, J.P. Zahra, A. Catania, A. Fenech (K. Fenech), K. Naudi, C. Farrugia, B. Farrugia, T. Fenech, E. Cutajar.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Rabat Ajax 2
Zurrieq 0

This was a hard-earned victory for Rabat Ajax who were erratic up front but were still good enough to beat Zurrieq and maintain the pace at the top part of the standings.

The match was decided with a brace of goals from Rabat striker Adam Smeir who appears to have regained his scoring touch.

Rabat started strongly and a shot by Darren Galea was cleared off the line by Jeffrey Camilleri. Zurrieq keeper Azzopardi brought off a fine save to deny Galea but on 18 minutes the Magpies opened the score when Smeir concluded a good move by Clint Micallef.

The Reds came more into the picture after Smeir's opener and pressed forward with Rabat keeper Jonathan Azzopardi saving with difficulty off attempts by Matthew Genuis and Clive Shomba.

Eight minutes into the second period Michael Micallef wasted a glaring opportunity for Rabat as he blasted high when all alone in front of goal.

On the hour, Zurrieq won a free-kick which was taken by Genuis and Godfrey Chetcuti headed just wide from close in.

Rabat made it 2-0 on 70 minutes. Galea's cross was headed against the upright by Alan Zahra and Smeir scored from the rebound.

In the 74th minute Zurrieq were denied by Azzopardi off a Joe Lia shot and a minute later a powerful Shomba drive was blocked by a Rabat defender.

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

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

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Melita 1
St Andrew's 0

Melita won the derby with George Gribbon scoring a late winner. The Saints were up to the task but unlucky not to have obtained a point. Victory was Melita's third over their neighbours this season.

The first half was balanced with St Andrew's, perhaps, creating the better opportunities. They were close when an angled Michael Ellul drive just missed the target and then a Michael Valenzia inswinger was saved with difficulty by Sapiano.

In the 28th minute, the Saints were again close through Valenzia and Melita hit back with a Julian Galea effort which was saved by Tabone.

Melita looked better in the second half. In the 77th minute Gribbon should have done better from an ideal position but four minutes into injury-time he made up for his mistake when he headed home the winner after a Julian Galea shot was partially saved by Tabone.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, D. Azzopardi (L. Micallef), G. Gribbon, S. Bonnici, B. Bondin, M. Hyzler (J. Vassallo), J. Galea, M. Borg, G. Degabriele (M. Ellul), K. Micallef.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, B. Diacono, J. Briscoe White, J. Galea (N. Gatt Coleiro) A. Galea, J. Gatt Coleiro, A. Camilleri Kamsky (A. Valenzia), Ad. Galea, M. Valenzia, M. Ellul (P. Briscoe White).

Referee: Darren Calleja.

Birzebbuga SP 0
Sta Venera 1

Yet another setback for Bir-zebbuga as they suffered their fourth successive defeat with Sta Venera scoring the all-important goal in the 92nd minute.

Birzebbuga were looking to relaunch their promotion bid and Sta Venera goalkeeper Elvin Attard was alert early on to keep out shots by Jeffrey Zammit and Edward Azzopardi.

Birzebbuga schemer Jeffrey Zammit hit just wide from close-range with Sta Venera replying through Pierre Spiteri whose rising shot just missed the target.

Early in the second period, Birzebbuga were denied by Attard off a shot by Zammit. Sta Venera's reaction produced dangerous efforts by Glenn Micallef and Stefan Farrugia. On another occasion an overhead kick by Alfred Micallef bounced off the Birzebbuga bar.

Birzebbuga upped the tempo in the late stages of the match and were close on numerous occasions but it was Sta Venera who scored in stoppage time when a cross by Mark Grech was headed in by substitute Dean Demanuele.

Just before the final whistle Birzebbuga were unlucky when a Ronnie Celeste shot hit the post.

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

Sta Venera: E. Attard, A. Micallef, J. Scicluna, M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, P. Spiteri (G. Ancilleri, D.Demanuele), G. Micallef, S. Farrugia, I. Falzon (B. Cremona), J. Galea, M. Grech.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.