Sirens 0
Birzebbuga SP 1
High-flying Birzebbuga were made to fight hard to tuck in the three points at stake. The match also had a controversial ending when a Sirens 'goal' was disallowed for a dubious offside.
Birzebbuga dictated the run of play but were held back by Sirens. The leaders were twice close in the opening minutes through Jeffrey Zammit and Johann Zammit.
On ten minutes the Sirens keeper turned the ball onto the post off a shot by Ronnie Celeste and five minutes later a Donald Gatt cros-shot rattled the Sirens bar.
The southerners then had a Johann Zammit attempt saved by Buttigieg with Sirens hitting back with two bold efforts by Clyde Grech and Giovanni Galea.
Nine minutes into the second half Celeste put Birzebbuga in front following a good move by Zammit.
Sirens, languishingly dangerously at the bottom end of the standings, tried to lift their game and went close on a couple of occasions. In the 90th minute Patrick Barbara looked to have scored a legitimate equaliser but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Sirens: G. Buttigieg, K. Zammit, C. Muscat, K. Galea, C. Ghio (G. Galea), I. Borg, A. Xuereb (M. Sciberras), N. Mercieca, C. Grech, R. Theuma, Giov. Galea (P. Barbara).
Birzebbuga: J.P. Mercieca, D. Baldacchino, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, R. Celeste, K. Polidano (J. Cassar), J. Zammit (N. Tabone), Joh. Zammit (M. Ciappara), D. Gatt, E. Azzopardi, L. Burke.
Referee: Sammy Attard.
Rabat Ajax 2
Sta Venera Lightnings 0
Rabat striker Adam Smeir was the protagonist in his team's merited win over Sta Venera Lightnings as the Magpies continue to snap behind leaders Birzebbuga's heels.
Rabat dictated the run of play but it was Sta Venera who created the first opportunity after nine minutes through Stefan Farrugia from an inswinging corner.
On 15 minutes Rabat were denied by Elvin Attard, off a shot by Emanuel Muscat, and at the other end Sta Venera were close with an Ian Falzon header.
Rabat threatened on two occasions through Smeir and Darren Galea and just before the break Sta Venera went close through Mark Grech.
Rabat took the lead in the 69th minute when Smeir hit home following a good move by Jonathan Bezzina. Four minutes into injury-time Rabat sealed their win with another Smeir goal following a swift counter-attack.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, A. Zahra, A. Smeir, D. Galea (K. Said), M. Mical-lef, C. Schembri (C. Micallef), E. Muscat, K. Micallef (P. Ciantar).
Sta Venera: E. Attard, M. Muscat, M. Agius (A. Micallef), C. Abela, Y. Mun Law, J. Scicluna, J. Galea (D. Piccinino), D. Demanuele, I. Falzon (P. Spiteri), S. Farrugia, M. Grech.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Lija Athletic 3
Zurrieq 1
Lija notched their fifth win of the season after beating Zurrieq in a match decided by two goals scored in the final 15 minutes.
On 16 minutes, Lija opened the score from a penalty awarded for a foul by keeper Julian Azzopardi on Glenn Barry. Daniel Cremona converted from the spot.
Zurrieq equalized six minutes after the break from another penalty following a foul on Godfrey Chetcuti who scored from the penalty.
The Reds created two opportunities through Jason Saliba and Michael Abdilla with Lija's Michael Mangion hitting the post with a firm shot.
Lija regained the lead 15 minutes from time when Beppe Antignolo hit home from close in. Two minutes later Barry sealed Lija's points following a good move by Lydon Cilia.
Seven minutes from time Lija's Daniel Scerri was sent off for a second booking.
Lija: L. Bonnici, E. Azzopardi, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, D. Cremona, J.P. Scerri, L. Cilia (E. Caruana), G. Barry, S. Ferriggi (B. Lowell), B. Antignolo (A. Medati).
Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, E. Camilleri, K. Sacco (J. Lia), C. Gatt, J. Camilleri, J. Saliba, M. Abdilla (K. Farrugia), D. Bonnici (C. Mamo), F. Cassar, M. Genuis, G. Chetcuti.
Referee: William Debattista.
St Andrew's 0
Naxxar Lions 1
Naxxar goalkeeper Bjorn Attard played a blinder as the Lions held tight for three useful points.
Attard showed his true worth right from the early stages when stopping shots from Anthony Galea and Steve Falzon. Andrew Camilleri Kamsky and Jeremy Gatt Coleiro had little luck for St Andrew's as Attard kept his side in the running.
Naxxar came more into the picture as the minutes ticked away and a shot by Chris Farrugia was neutralised by Tabone.
The Saints pushed forward for most of the second half but it was Naxxar who scored in the 73rd minute when substitute Andy Bartolo hit home from close in.
Attard made various other difficult saves to deny the Saints especially off efforts by Gera and Gatt Coleiro as the Lions preserved their slender lead until the final whistle.
St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti (B. Borg), N. Gatt Coleiro, S. Falzon (T. Agius), J. Briscoe White, A. Galea, J. Gatt Coleiro, A. Camilleri Kamsky, A. Gera, M. Valenzia, M. Calleja (A. Tabone).
Naxxar: B. Attard, E. Cutajar, B. Farrugia, C. Farrugia, R. Farrugia, A. Fenech, A. Catania (A. Bartolo), T. Fenech, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J.P. Zahra, K. Caruana (S. Farrugia).
Referee: Thomas Debono.