Naxxar Lions 1
Balzan Youths 4
This was Balzan Youths' ninth win from 10 matches to stay top of the standings, four points clear of nearest rivals Melita. Lowly Naxxar were no match for Balzan but, at least, they did manage what others had failed to do so far this season as they put one behind Balzan goalkeeper Joshua Galea.
After going close through David Agius and Aaron Agius, whose efforts were stopped by Lions keeper Bjorn Attard, Balzan took the lead on 19 minutes.
Anthony Lagana did well to find space before delivering a perfect centre for Cedric Sciberras who headed in behind Attard.
Naxxar could have drawn level soon after but a Chris Farrugia shot was headed off the line by defender David Agius.
At the other end, the woodwork came to the Lions' rescue off a Clint Micallef scorcher.
Balzan doubled their lead on 59 minutes from a perfect Aaron Agius free-kick but Naxxar halved the deficit seven minutes later when Mark Deguara headed past Galea, the latter conceding his first goal in the league.
But Balzan reacted strongly and on 75 minutes it was 3-1 thanks to a Kurt Coleiro goal.
A handful of seconds later Luke Stivala made sure of the points for Balzan. Late on, Aaron Agius almost added another goal but his shot hit the bar.
Naxxar: B. Attard, M. Coleiro, J. Sank, J. Agius, G. Sant, S. Cassar (A. Catania, A. Galea), A. Fenech, C. Farrugia (T. Spiteri), A. Delnegro, M. Deguara, A. Bartolo.
Balzan: J. Galea, L. Stivala, D. Agius, C. Sciberras, J. Francica (A. Camilleri), A. Agius, Is. Zammit, K. Coleiro (L. Micallef), A. Lagana, C. Caruana (Iv. Zammit), C. Micallef.
Referee: Sammy Attard.
Marsa 0
Melita 4
Melita emerged worthy winners from this clash with bottom-placed Marsa. Promising striker Julian Galea had an excellent match and scored two goals for the Amateurs.
Galea went close early on as his shot finished just high over Demis Grima's goal. Marsa tried to hit back but Eric Sciberras's attempt just missed the target.
Melita took a deserved lead on 24 minutes when Galea hit home following a good move by Matthew Borg II. Four minutes later, Kane Micallef took advantage from an indecision in the Marsa defence to head in from close range - 2-0.
Melita continued to press forward for most of the second half with Galea making it 3-0 on 53 minutes.
The Amateurs were unlucky when an angled shot by Micallef hit the upright but in the 72nd minute they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Kevin Scerri on Matthew Borg I. The latter duly converted from the spot for his 12th goal of the season.
Marsa: D. Grima, G. Cutajar, J. Camilleri, S. Callus, E. Sciberras, A. Spiteri, B. Zammit, A. Delceppo, N. Vassallo (S. Farrugia), K. Scerri (B. Demicoli), E. Thornton (P.M. Cachia).
Melita: M. Sapiano (K. Zahra), J. Mifsud, D. Gravino (L. Micallef), G. Gribbon, I. Bilocca, M. Borg II, M. Martin, A. Caruana Scicluna, K. Micallef (S. Galea), J. Galea, M. Borg I.
Referee: Paul Apap.
St Andrew's 1
Lija Athletic 0
Lija's promotion hopes suffered an unexpected setback following a 1-0 defeat to Billy Mock's St Andrew's who chalked up their first win of the season.
Nicky Vella Petroni almost put the Saints in front on 12 minutes with Lija's reply producing an attempt by Ibrahim Tarik which was cleared off the line by Patrick Briscoe White.
On 23 minutes, Luca Buttigieg Desira scored the all-important goal for the Saints following a fine solo move.
St Andrew's were denied by Bonnici off an attempt by David Cuschieri and on another occasion a shot by Matthew Calascione finished just wide. Lija responded with a Lydon Cilia free-kick that caused mayhem in the Saints' defence.
Lija pushed forward after the break but Tarik shot carelessly from in front of goal and on another occasion Michael Mangion hit just wide.
The Saints were dangerous from swift counter breaks. On one occasion, Neil Chetcuti had the ball in the Lija net but the goal was disallowed for an infringement.
Mangion and Tarik wasted good chances to score an equaliser as Lija's last efforts proved futile.
St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, T. Sullivan, T. Martin, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, D. Cuschieri (W. Camilleri), M. Calascione, P. Briscoe White, L. Buttigieg Desira, N. Vella Petroni (M. Grima).
Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Mangion, D. Scerri, D. Cremona (A. Spiteri), G. Barry, L. Cilia, I. Tarik, J.P. Scerri, C. Grech, C. Ciantar (R. Farrugia), B. Antignolo (M. Cremona).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Birżebbuġa SP 0
Sta Venera 1
Sta Venera's recovery continued with another victory. This time they beat Birżebbuġa thanks to a late Andrew Hili goal.
The Lightnings are now equal on points with the seasiders in a safe mid-table position.
Sta Venera settled down quickly but Hili failed to conclude from close range following an inviting Jeffrey Zammit pass.
Birżebbuġa were twice close through Mark Ellul and on another occasion a Jason Cassar shot was saved by Sta Venera's John Agius.
Gradually, Sta Venera started pushing forward again and just before the break they were denied by keeper Paul Celeste off a David Calleja shot.
Five minutes into the second half, Calleja saw his attempt at goal saved with difficulty by the alert Celeste. The Birżebbuġa keeper was at it again to stop shots by Zammit and Micallef.
Twenty minutes from time, Birżebbuġa's Ronnie Celeste delivered a cross from the right and Noel Tabone shot at goal but Agius was on the right spot to save.
Sta Venera scored the goal that mattered six minutes from time, Hili finishing off a move with a firm grounder that flew past a surprised Celeste.
Birżebbuġa: P. Celeste, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, D. Vella, R. Baldacchino, M. Ciappara, M. Ellul, J. Cassar, C. Formosa, N. Tabone, A. Buhagiar (R. Celeste).
Sta Venera: J. Agius, A. Cachia, A. Galea, Y. Mun Law, D. Calleja, G. Micallef (N. Caruana), A. Hili, I. Falzon (L. Farrugia), S. Farrugia, J. Zammit (A. Ellul), D. Zuccaro.
Referee: Gordon Barbara.