Lija Athletic 2
Żurrieq 0

Leaders Lija opened their second round calendar with a merited win over lowly Żurrieq. Lija started strongly and after ten minutes Keith Darmanin was on the mark from a free-kick.

Żurrieq reacted and were twice close through Daniel Zammit as the Lija keeper was on the right spot to deny Johan Briffa from a free-kick.

Lija, however, increased their lead just before half-time thanks to an Antoine Sacco goal after a perfect Heatcliffe Schembri pass.

The Reds gained the initiative after the break and a shot by Clive Shumba finished just wide. At the other end, Lija were denied by Julian Azzopardi off a Schembri free-kick with Żurrieq hitting back with a powerful Dino Bonnici shot.

Żurrieq tried hard to pull one back but Shumba failed to score from an ideal position as attempts by Beppe Antignolo and Darmanin were dealt with by Azzopardi.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, M. Mangion, A. Saliba, D. Scerri (A. Spiteri), M. Borg, J.P. Scerri, K. Darmanin, H. Schembri, A. Sacco (M. Schembri), B. Antignolo (L. Cilia).

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, C. Gatt, K. Sacco (J. Mizzi), D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, J. Saliba, A. Gove (M. piteri), J. Briffa, D. Zammit, C. Shumba, O. Ogun (D. Bonnici).

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Għargħur 0
St Andrew's 3

St Andrew's concluded their first round commitments with a sound win over Għargħur. The Saints are just one point behind leaders Lija with a game in hand.

St Andrew's took the lead after just seven minutes from a penalty converted by Anatole Debono. Goalkeeper Aquilina then came to Għargħur's rescue with superb saves off attempts by Nicky Vella Petroni and Michael Grima.

However, on 16 minutes it was 2-0 when Michael Calleja hit home following a good move by Vella Petroni.

Għargħur were nowhere to be seen and the Saints increased their lead on 22 minutes as a good move by Grima was finished off by Vella Petroni.

With St Andrew's practically sure of victory, they released their foot off the pedal after the break allowing their opponents to come more into the picture. Eleven minutes from time, Għargħur defender Daniel Borg was red-carded for a foul on Kurt Coleiro who left the pitch, leaving the Saints with 10 players as all substitutions had been made.

Six minutes from time, Timmy Martin (St Andrew's) and Marco Mercieca (Għargħur) were also dismissed for an off-the-ball incident.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea, D. Borg, R. Debattista, M. Mercieca, M. Decesare, A. Spiteri, C. Vella (E. Lapira), D. Cremona, C. Farrugia, S. Vella (A. Azzopardi).

St Andrew'S: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti (T. Martin), A. Camilleri Kamsky, J. Briscoe White, P. Briscoe White, W. Camilleri, M. Valenzia, M. Calleja (K. Coleiro), A. Debono, M. Grima, N. Vella Petroni (M. Ellul).

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Sta Venera 2
Rabat Ajax 2

This was a delicate match for two relegation-troubled teams.

Rabat played the better football during the first half and opened the score on 22 minutes through Joseph Caruana.

Three minutes later the Magpies were close to doubling their lead but Adam Smeir's shot was stopped by Azzopardi. However, on 35 minutes an error by Rabat keeper Juergen Cilia let in Sta Venera defender Andre Cachia who made it one-all.

Sta Venera had the first chance of the second half when Mark Grech saw his angled shot saved by Cilia. But, on 63 minutes Gareth Magri put the Saints in front from a corner.

Rabat hit back and scored an equaliser 12 minutes from time through Christopher Schembri from a free-kick.

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, A. Cachia, G. Magri, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef, A. Hili (M. Muscat), R. Carbonaro, M. Grech, R. Borg, A. Ellul, A. Camilleri.

Rabat: J. Cilia, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, J. Felice, A. Zahra (L. Portelli), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, A. Wingfield (C. Tonna), E. Muscat, D. Azzopardi.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Żebbuġ 0
Birżebbuġa 3

Birżebbuġa deserved their victory with striker Carlos Camenzuli scoring a hat-trick.

Martin Pace did well to keep out an Elton Bugeja drive early on but on 16 minutes the Rangers keeper was beaten when Camenzuli hit home following some good work by Andy Mangion.

A Bugeja free-kick finished just high over Pace's goal as Rangers replied with a Stephen Calleja effort that just missed the target.

On 32 minutes, the seasiders increased their lead when Camenzuli scored his second goal of the day after being put through by Mangion.

Birżebbuġa dictated the run of play after the break, keeping Pace under constant pressure.

On 67 minutes, Camenzuli made it 3-0 when hitting home from a Ronnie Celeste centre and the match was over as a contest.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, J. Galea, J. Mercieca, J. Fenech, S. Privitelli, S. Calleja, J. Cilia, M. Cilia (G. Scerri), St. Calleja (M. Ciantar), O. Rababah, M. Deguara.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, C. Cachia, D. Baldacchino, E. Saliba, A. Mangion (F. Peplow), R. Adami, E. Bugeja, A. Buttigieg, C. Formosa, R. Celeste (M. Zammit), C. Camenzuli (K. Muscat).

Referee: Mario Apap.