Melita 3
Sta Venera Lightnings 0

Melita opened their league commitments with a sound win over a disappointing Sta Venera Lightnings side to confirm their status as one of the frontrunners for promotion.

After a balanced opening to the match, Melita broke the stalemate on 28 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Sta Venera goalkeeper John Agius on Matthew Borg I. The Melita forward stepped up for the kick and made no mistake to put the Amateurs ahead.

Sta Venera failed to react as George Gribbon and Luke Fenech came close to doubling Melita's lead.

The second period belonged to Melita with Sta Venera keeper Agius keeping out efforts from Matthew Borg II and Matthew Borg I.

Melita's pressure finally paid off in the 81st minute when Matthew Borg I fed Kane Micallef who had no difficulty in beating Agius.

Six minutes later Melita made it 3-0 with Paul Fenech's through-pass finding Matthew Borg I who fired the ball home.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, I. Bilocca (L. Fenech), G. Gribbon, D. Gravino, M. Martin, K. Micallef (L. Micallef), A. Caruana Scicluna, M. Borg II, G. Degabriele, M. Borg I (R. Schembri).

Sta Venera: J. Agius, S. Zuccaro, A. Galea (A. Cachia), M. Muscat, M. Briffa (J. Zammit), G. Micallef, A. Hili, I. Falzon (F. Debono), M. Grech, A. Ellul, S. Farrugia.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Naxxar Lions 0
Mellieħa 2

Ronald Vella's Mellieħa had to fight hard to overcome Naxxar's stiff challenge especially during the second period but in the end they fully deserved the three points.

Mellieħa gained the initiative early on and after just eight minutes they were very close to opening the score as a shot by Reuben Vella was tipped over by Naxxar's David Vella.

At the other end, the Lions were unlucky when an angled shot by Mark Deguara finished inches wide of the far post.

It was Mellieħa who forged ahead on 38 minutes when Gotthard Conti tucked the ball home from a Jeffrey Gauci cross.

Naxxar looked determined to draw level after the break and came close with efforts from Andy Bartolo and Adrian Fenech.

Mellieħa were unlucky not to double the lead late on when Reuben Vella's shot bounced off the crossbar but in the 89th minute the northerners sealed the issue through a penalty awarded for a foul on Paul Vella and duly converted by David Fenech.

Naxxar: D. Vella, A. Catania, A. Bajada, J. Agius (K. Fenech), E. Sank, M. Coleiro, A. Fenech, J. Mercieca, M. Deguara, A. Spiteri (A. Del Negro), A. Bartolo.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Abela, W. Borg, K. Gauci, D. Fenech, R. Vella, G. Conti (P. Vella), M. Borg (F. Vella), K. Cassar, L. Cauchi, J. Gauci (L. Attard).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Marsa 0
Żebbuġ Rangers 3

This was a fine performance by Żebbuġ Rangers who dominated their match against Marsa for long stretches. By virtue of this win Żebbuġ have now reduced their five-point handicap they incurred for their involvement in last season's incidents in the Division Three championship decider against Gozo FC.

Marsa threatened early on through Kevin Scerri and Nicholas Vassallo but gradually Żebbuġ took firm control with George Saliba giving them the lead on 20 minutes.

It was all Żebbuġ now who kept pounding the Marsa goal with Marlon Vella and Timothy Thomas just missing the target.

After the break, Donald Gatt was unlucky to see his shot hitting the Marsa woodwork.

Gordon Mallia doubled Żebbuġ's lead on 64 minutes before Vella rounded up the points in stoppage time with a third goal.

Marsa: R. Spiteri, J. Rizzo, B. Demicoli (A. Pace), C. Cioffi, S. Farrugia, D. Gatt, J.P. Zammit (C. Debono), A. Galea, B. Zammit (O. Zammit), K. Scerri, N. Vassallo.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, G. Mallia, K. Farrugia (R. Attard), B. Galea, J. Cilia, C. Tabone, D. Gatt, R. Micallef (J. Galea), M. Vella, T. Thomas (E. Sciberras).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Mġarr United 0
Lija Athletic 1

Lija's new coach Patrick Zammit had a winning debut as his team managed to obtain the three points in a very difficult match against Mġarr United.

Mġarr played the better football during the first period and after 16 minutes a Josef Micallef free-kick was well saved by Luke Bonnici.

Five minutes later Bonnici blocked a shot by Matthew Muscat and Mġarr then just missed the target off attempts by Steve Aquiilina and Neil Busuttil.

Gradually Lija settled down and just before the end of the first period Lija won a free-kick which was taken by Martin Camilleri and Michael Mangion's header was somehow kept out by keeper Luca Grech.

After the change of ends, Mġarr continued to assume the initiative with Matthew Muscat being denied by Bonnici in the 52nd minute.

However, it was Lija who struck on 75 minutes when Andre Scicluna's header flew into the net.

Late on, Beppe Antignolo almost sealed it for Lija but his effort was stopped by Grech.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Muscat (D. Muscat), A. Portelli, C. Muscat, W. Camilleri, C. Gauci (L. Muscat), M. Muscat, S. Camilleri, J. Micallef, S. Aquilina (B. Deguara), N. Busuttil.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Mangion, M. Borg (C. Ciantar), D. Scerri, C. Pace, B. Antignolo, L. Cilia (A. Spiteri), I. Tarik (M. Cremona), J.P. Scerri, A. Scicluna, M. Camilleri.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Gozo FC 0
St Andrews 0

Gozo FC and St Andrews started the campaign on a positive note after a goalless draw in a balanced match at the Gozo Stadium.

St Andrews saw more of the ball in the early stages but Gozo created the better scoring opportunities. On 17 minutes a direct free-kick by Brian Meilak was turned to a corner by goalkeeper Tabone. St Andrews responded with two attempts by Patrick Briscoe White that just missed the target.

The hosts dominated possession in the second period but rarely threatened the Saints goal.

Their best chance arrived in the 84th minute when a low Joseph Portelli shot was saved in two attempts by Tabone.

Gozo FC: J. Xuereb, J. Cefai, J. Vella, C. Mercieca, B. Meilak, J. Portelli (R. Buttigieg), J. Camilleri; A. Portelli (O. Farrugia), C. Hili; S.F. Bajada, C. Bugeja.

St Andrews: F. Tabone, T. Martin, B. Diacono, J. Briscoe White, S. Falzon, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White (M. Ellul), M. Valenzia, M. Calleja (N. Vella Petroni), M. Grima (A. Busuttil), E. Grima.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.