Sta Venera 1
Rabat Ajax 1

Rabat appeared heading towards victory when leading Sta Venera 1-0 late on. However, they conceded an equaliser to throw away two points and blow their chances of securing sole leadership in the table.

Rabat now have 41 points, the same tally as Balzan Youths and San Gwann and two ahead of other challengers Melita with two matches to go.

Play in the opening half took place mainly in midfield as the two teams battled for supremacy.

Rabat had two opportunities through Emanuel Muscat and Alan Zahra and at the other end Sta Venera were unlucky when a shot by Pierre Spiteri was turned onto the post by Rabat keeper Jonathan Azzopardi.

Rabat forged ahead midway through the half when Clint Micallef finished off a move by Adam Smeir.

In the closing stages of the first half, the Sta Venera keeper did well to stop shots by Smeir and Micallef.

Rabat decided to adopt a prudent approach after the break. Sta Venera were finding more space now and Azzopardi made a superb save off a shot by Glen Micallef.

On 84 minutes, Rabat were shocked when Dylan Mercieca won possession before ramming home the equaliser.

In added time, Rabat went close as a shot by Smeir finished just wide. However, the Magpies ran out of time and now face a tense finale.

Sta Venera: E. Attard, M. Muscat, D. Piccinino, Y.M. Law, G. Micallef, A. Hili, P. Spiteri (D. Demanuele), J. Galea, M. Grech (I. Falzon), S. Farrugia, D. Mercieca.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Bezzina, J. Tonna (J. Caruana), C. Micallef, A. Zahra, A. Smeir, D. Galea (K. Said), D. Falzon, M. Micallef, C. Schembri, E. Muscat.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Zurrieq 0
Lija Athletic 0

Lija dictated the run of play for long stretches but were denied on various occasions by Zurrieq goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi as the Reds fight on to preserve their status at the end of the season.

After only eight minutes, Lija were denied a certain goal with Azzopardi stopping a point-blank Andre Scicluna shot. Lydon Cilia had two clear chances to put Lija ahead before Zurrieq regrouped to share the exchanges in midfield.

In the 38th minute, a powerful Chris Farrugia shot was excellently saved by Luke Bonnici in the Lija goal.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Lija were twice denied by Azzopardi off attempts by Beppe Antignolo and Cilia. Then, the latter blasted wide from a good position and a volley by Michael Mangion was again stopped by the alert Azzopardi.

Zurrieq: J. Azzopardi, F. Cassar, J. Lia, J. Camilleri, E. Camilleri, D. Bonnici (J. Saliba), M. Abdilla, C. Farrugia (D. Bellizzi), D. Zammit, M. Genuis, G. Chetcuti.

Lija: L. Bonnici, A. Cachia, M. Mangion, A. Ellul, D. Scerri, B. Antignolo, L. Cilia, A. Medati (D. Cremona), A. Scicluna (H. Friggieri), C. Ciantar, J.P. Scerri.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.

Naxxar Lions 1
St Andrew's 3

St Andrew's distanced themselves further away from the red zone after beating Naxxar Lions in a crucial basement clash.

Substitutes Michael Calleja and Brian Chetcuti scored two goals in the Saints' win as the Lions are still in deep relegation trouble.

The Saints looked the more motivated team early on but on 12 minutes Naxxar were a whisker away from opening the score when a Mark Deguara header was turned onto the post by keeper Tabone.

Deguara's shot was saved by Tabone and on the half-hour mark Naxxar took the lead from a penalty following a foul on Trevor Fenech. Matthew Spiteri Gonzi scored from the spot.

Naxxar's joy was short-lived though as the determined Saints equalised three minutes later through Jeremy Gatt Coleiro following a fine solo move.

The Saints dictated the run of play in the second period. They pushed more men forward in attack and deservedly took the lead on 72 minutes when Calleja scored following some good work by Adrian Galea.

Five minutes later, the Saints sealed the issue with a Chetcuti goal, making it 3-1 following a close-range header.

Naxxar: B. Attard, R. Farrugia, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J.P. Zahra, A. Catania, A. Fenech, M. Deguara, C. Farrugia (A. Bartolo), K. Fenech (K. Naudi), T. Fenech (A. Galea), E. Cutajar.

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, N. Chetcuti (Ad. Galea), N. Gatt Coleiro, S. Falzon, J. Briscoe White, Ant. Galea (M. Calleja), E. Hili, A. Camilleri Kamsky, A. Busuttil, M. Valenzia (B. Chetcuti), J. Gatt Coleiro.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Birzebbuga SP 2
Sirens 1

Birzebbuga collected their 11th win of the season after seeing off the stiff resistance of lowly Sirens through goals by their chief scorers Ronnie Celeste and Johan Zammit.

Celeste put Birzebbuga in front on 15 minutes after profiting from an indecision inside the opponents' penalty area.

Things looked bright for Birzebbuga when three minutes later they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Calum Muscat on Johan Zammit. However, Celeste's shot from the spot hit the upright.

Birzebbuga were made to pay for that miss as Sirens drew level on 35 minutes with a Giovanni Galea goal.

Sirens, who play in Division Three next season, showed better qualities after the change of ends with Giovanni Galea wasting an easy opportunity in the 51st minute.

However, Birzebbuga regained the lead on 63 minutes when Zammit headed home a cross by substitute Adrian Domincos.

Sirens were unlucky in the 79th minute as a shot by Alan Xuereb hit the bar. Late in the match, the St Paul's Bay team were again very close through Glenn Gatt and Justin Mercieca.

Birzebbuga: J.P. Mercieca, J.P. Busuttil, M. Ciappara (E. Azzopardi), C. Formosa, J. Zammit, J. Cassar, C. Borg (S. Aquilina), B. Darmanin, R. Celeste, Jeff. Zammit (A. Domincos), L. Burke.

Sirens: R. Schembri, K. Zammit, R. Bonett, C. Muscat, K. Galea, A. Xuereb, P. Barbara (J. Buhagiar), J. Mercieca, Giov. Galea (E. Sant), G. Gatt, G. Galea (J. Camilleri).

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Division Three - Section 'A'

Fgura United 0
Siggiewi 1

A late goal, scored by substitute Marlon Vella, earned Siggiewi the points as Fgura failed to keep in touch with the teams challenging for the play-offs.

Both sides had their chances early on. Clayton Garzia and Mark Ellul were close for Fgura and Siggiewi hitting back with a Mark Camilleri shot that was saved by Farrugia.

Siggiewi gained the initiative after the break. Camilleri and Marlon Vella led their charge. In the 75th minute Fgura were reduced to ten players when Ellul was sent off for a foul on a Siggiewi player.

Five minutes later Siggiewi were awarded a penalty for a foul on Eman Ciappara but the latter's spot-kick smashed against the bar.

However, six minutes from time Siggiewi got the winning goal when Vella headed home a Chris Bezzina centre.

Fgura: R. Farrugia, S. Felice (D. Azzopardi), I. Pace, V. Testaferrata, C. Ellul, R. Galea, M. Ellul, C. Bordieri, C. Garzia, M. Spiteri, C. Pace (I. Cassar).

Siggiewi: R. Vella, C. Bezzina, M. Aquilina, J. Debono, M. Camilleri, A. Farrugia (M. Vella), J. Camilleri, E. Ciappara, J. Mascena, J. Taliana, K. Buhagiar (J. Micallef).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Zejtun Corinthians 4
Qrendi 0

Zejtun showed their true worth in the second half to consolidate their safe mid-table position on 19 points, now along with the same Qrendi.

The Corinthians showed the better football in the opening half but Qrendi held tight for a scoreless draw at the interval.

Four minutes after the restart Sergio Schembri finally found a breakthrough for Zejtun following a pass by Andy Portelli.

The Qrendi fort succumbed and Jesmar Abela headed in goal no.2 for Zejtun following a Portelli corner.

In the 65th minute, Zejtun ended up with ten players when Roderick Gafa was sent off for passing remarks to the referee.

However, despite the handicap the Corinthians increased their lead on 75 minutes from a penalty given for a foul on Jean Paul Abela. Goalkeeper Ludvic Fardell made no mistake from the spot.

In added time, Portelli scored his team's fourth and final goal of the day.

Zejtun: L. Fardell, J. Mizzi, K. Tonna (S. Curmi), A. Farrugia, B. Testaferrata, R. Gafa, J.P. Abela, J. Abela, A. Portelli, S. Schembri (F. Cesare), G. Azzopardi Busuttil (E. Caruana).

Qrendi: M. Mangion, A. Mangion (S. Sacco), A. Abdilla, H. Jones, R. Galea, M. Camilleri, K. Agius (A. Grech), L. Bartolo, L. Spiteri (M. Briffa), J. Mansueto, J. Azzopardi.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Division Three - Section 'B'

Gozo FC 1
Kirkop United 0

As expected, Gozo FC beat Kirkop at the Gozo Stadium.

The hosts, already sure of promotion, lacked motivation but Kirkop still failed to profit from the situation. They are still without a win so far this season.

Gozo applied some early pressure but had to wait until the 33rd minute to open the score. Joseph Cefai did all the spadework and John Camilleri hit home with a rasping grounder.

Kirkop's best chance to level matters arrived one minute from half-time but Alan Deidun fired wide.

Gozo took their foot off the pedal after the break although they continued to be the better side.

Kirkop had a shot by Tyrone Bonnici saved by substitute goalkeeper Joseph Grima and in the 63rd minute the visitors were unlucky when a Benoit Buhagiar shot from outside the area hit the bar.

Gozo FC: J. Xuereb (J. Grima), F. Camilleri (E. Portelli), J. Cefai, P. Buttigieg, C. Hili, B. Meilak, J.C. Portelli, J. Camilleri (J.P. Saliba), J.M. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, S.F. Bajada.

Kirkop: S. Mizzi, J. Galea (J. Callus), B. Falzon, K. Buhagiar, M. Farrugia, A. Deidun, B. Buhagiar, T. Bonnici, M. Cilia (D. Mangion), A. Cacciattolo (M. Dowling), O. Zammit.

Referee: Franco Cachia.

Pembroke Athleta 11
Sta Lucija 0

Leading scorer Liam Camilleri scored four goals as Pembroke ripped apart a depleted Sta Lucija side.

At half-time, Pembroke led 3-0 following goals by Camilleri (2) and Steve Micallef.

Sta Lucija collapsed after the break, conceding eight more goals. Camilleri saw his 50th-minute penalty saved by Attard but quick goals from Micallef, Jeffrey Fenech and Camilleri made up for that upset - 6-0.

Pembroke then added five more goals to their tally through Camilleri, Kevin Vella, Carlo Leonardi, Luke Desira and Simon Buhagiar.

Pembroke: R. Debattista, R. Cann, S. Micallef, L. Desira, A. Farrugia (C. Mahoney), J. Fenech (K. Vella), D. Bugeja, M. Sammut, L. Camilleri (S. Buhagiar), C. Leonardi, A. Briffa.

Sta Lucija: M. Attard, S. Lanzon (M. Attard), C. Agius, T. Micallef, C. Cutajar, A. Sapiano (P. Bugeja), D. Tabone (M. Vella), J. Grima, K. Grima, A. Sciortino, O. Magri.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Gharghur 0
Luqa St Andrew's 0

This was a fair result with Gharghur suffering a setback in their efforts to qualify for the promotion play-offs.

Luqa dictated the run of play during most of the first half and on 15 minutes a Clive Psaila free-kick was deflected to a corner. Alessandro Pirrone headed just over from a cross by Psaila as Antonello Brincat wasted a glaring opportunity at the other end.

Gharghur looked better after the break but the Luqa keeper twice denied them off attempts by Christian Glass and Robert Southward.

Marvic Grech was sent off nine minutes from time for Gharghur following a second caution.

Gharghur: J.P. Vella, D. Borg, J. Schembri, C. Debattista (M. Coleiro), D. Galea, E. Lapira, A. Azzopardi (J. Micallef), A. Brincat (M. Buttigieg), C. Glass, R. Southward, M. Grech.

Luqa: J. Agius, C. Penza, C. Psaila, N. Falzon, L. Baldacchino, M. Said, A. Psaila, A. Pirrone, C. Caruana, E. Cumbo, M. Dimech.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.