Rabat Ajax broke their duck in the women's league after beating fellow strugglers Sta Venera Lightnings 2-1 on Sunday. Melita also bagged the three points after they had the better of Mosta 3-1 in the other match at the Pace Grasso Ground.
Rabat's success was their first since they returned to the championship four years ago. Sta Venera suffered their fifth consecutive defeat but had the consolation of netting their first league goal.
Rabat took the lead in their first attempt on the Saints' goal. Lorita Debono won possession in the opponents' box before shooting low past Elaine Brincat.
Sta Venera equalised in the 27th minute. Claire Ciappara profited from some poor Rabat defending and lobbed the ball over the out-of-positioned Christine Galea.
On the restart, Rabat pushed forward with more intent and scored the all-important goal in the 73rd minute. A goalmouth melee in front of Brincat saw the ball hitting the woodwork twice before Maria Gibson poked home the winner from close range.
Melita had Ingrid Vassallo back in their line-up after a three-year absence. On 15 minutes she put Kelly Agius Pace through but the latter shot wide. Then, Vassallo won possession in midfield, raced into the area and beat keeper Karen Camilleri with a low drive.
Melita held the upperhand and practically sealed the points with two goals in the space of a minute.
On 31 minutes, Oriana Bedingfield received a pass from Vassallo, dribbled past Camilleri before shooting the ball home. Pace then beat the offside trap and rifled the ball into the Mosta net.
Mosta played better in the second 45 minutes and after Jane Coates had an effort hitting the bar, they pulled one back on 53 minutes from a Coates' free-kick.
Mosta turned the pressure on Melita for the rest of the match but still they failed to break their opponents' resistance.
Team line-ups
Sta Venera: E. Brincat, J. Grech, A. Vella (M. Carabott), R. Gatt, D. Gatt, S. Vella, O. Micallef, C. Barbara, O. Cassar, F. Mangion, C. Ciappara.
Rabat Ajax: C. Galea, E. Xerri Mullan, S. Cassar II, C. Ciappara, M. Mizzi (L. Farrugia Saliba), D. Bonello, N. Kelly, M. Gibson, J. Zahra, L. Debono, D. Debono.
Mosta: K. Camilleri, M.A. Vella, M. Deguara, R. Gatt, A. Debono, L. Piscopo, K. Lia, J. Coates, V. Saliba, T. Fenech (Y. Fenech), V. Deguara.
Melita: S. Zammit, D. Allingham, J. Ellul Soler, N. Gauci, K. Agius Pace, M. Azzopardi, L. Tabone, O. Bedingfield, J. Abdilla, N. Pace (C. Scicluna), I. Vassallo (D. Micallef).