Gżira United 0
Mellieħa 4

Mellieħa produced their best performance of the season to ease past promotion hopefuls Gżira United with Wayne Borg St John notching a hat-trick.

The Maroons, who had to play for long stretches with ten men after Steve Gatt was sent off in the first half, have now slipped seven points adrift of leaders St Andrew's and four behind second-placed Lija Athletic.

Mellieħa played the better football during the opening 45 minutes but it was Gżira who had the first opportunity after just seven minutes when Joseph Gatt concluded just wide following a personal effort.

Three minutes later, Mellieħa opened the score when Camilleri failed to hold on to Reuben Vella's shot and from the rebound Borg St John fired home.

Gżira's reaction produced two attempts by Keith Bonello that finished just wide.

Three minutes from the break, Gżira were awarded a penalty after Vella handled the ball in the box but Keith Bonello's spot-kick was saved by James Abela.

In added time, Gżira were reduced to ten players when Gatt was sent off for retaliation.

After the change of ends, Mellieħa held the initiative and on 51 minutes the Gżira keeper brought off difficult saves to deny Rio Micallef and Borg St John.

Mellieħa doubled their lead on 67 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after an Andre White handball and Borg St John duly converted from the spot.

The Northerners were clearly on top and they made it 3-0 on 70 minutes with a firm shot from Kevin Gauci.

On 76 minutes, Mellieħa were awarded a second penalty for a foul on Joseph Vella and Borg St John's low shot hit the back of the net.

Gżira Utd: K. Camilleri, A. White, H. Gatt Bonello, J. Tabone (E. Falzon), N. Gatt Coleiro, J. Felice (O. Spiteri), K. Bonello, M. Sultana, J. Gatt, S. Gatt, R. Attard (G. Mizzi).

Mellieħa: J. Abela, L. Cauchi, A. Portelli, M. Vella, K. Gauci (M. Vella), W. Borg, R. Micallef, P. Camilleri, R. Vella (M. Borg), W. Borg St John, I. Tarek (J. Vella).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Żurrieq 0
Senglea Athletic 0

Senglea Athletic fully deserved the point gained from this match as they defended well against a Żurrieq side that created the best chances throughout but were denied by some fine saves from goalkeeper George Attard.

Żurrieq proved to be the better team throughout the first half and after just four minutes a shot by Michael Abdilla was saved by Attard and the Senglea custodian then blocked Daniel Zammit's effort.

At the other end, Senglea were twice close through Timmy Thomas and Julian Spiteri.

Żurrieq continued to push forward and had efforts from Dino Bonnici, Zammit and Josef Briffa that failed to hit the target.

Four minutes into the second half, Thomas saw his effort saved by Żurrieq goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

Żurrieq then had a shot by Jason Saliba that finished just wide and at the other end Azzopardi charged out of his goal to anticipate the advancing Thomas.

Senglea finished the match with ten men when Glen Brincat was dismissed for retaliation.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri (K. Sacco), D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, C. Gatt, J. Saliba, D. Bonnici, M. Abdilla (S. Azzopardi), Joh. Briffa, Jos. Briffa (V. Zerafa), D. Zammit.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Borg, J. Spiteri, F. Dingli (G. Brincat), H. Hughes, J. Buttigieg, D. Cosaitis, A. Sciortino, B. Zerafa, N. Abela (K. Galea), T. Thomas.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Sta Venera Lightnings 2

Sta Venera Lightnings earned their fifth win of the season to ease their relegation worries with substitute Nenad Veselji getting the all-important goal midway through the second half.

Żebbuġ were unlucky after ten minutes when a Mark Deguara shot bounced off the crossbar.

Sta Venera responded with a George Falzon shot that finished just wide while an effort by Glenn Micallef was saved with difficulty by Martin Pace.

At the other end, the Rangers were twice close through Anthony Lagana but they managed to open the score on 32 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Lagana and Mark Ciantar made no mistake from the spot.

Sta Venera almost drew level on the stroke of half-time when Pace was at his best to repel efforts from Redeemer Borg and Falzon.

The match remained evenly balanced after the break and the Lightnings managed to draw level on 67 minutes when Gareth Magri headed the ball in from a Stefan Farrugia free-kick.

Four minutes, later keeper Pace lost possession of the ball and Sta Venera's veteran striker Veselji fired home from close in to put his team 2-1 ahead.

Seven minutes from time, the woodwork denied Sta Venera a third goal when Veselji's shot hit the upright.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace (B. Bartolo), J. Cilia, J. Fenech, E. Calleja, S. Calleja (J. Galea), P. Ciantar, S. Privitelli, A. Lagana, M. Deguara, O. Rababah, M. Ciantar (G. Scerri).

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, D. Calleja, G. Magri, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, A. Hili, G. Micallef, R. Borg, K. Vella (N. Veselji), G. Falzon (A. Ellul), A. Camilleri (I. Zammit).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Birżebbuġa St Peter's 3
Għargħur 0

Birzebbuġa St Peter's recovered from their defeat to Sta Venera Lightnings with a merited victory over relegation-haunted Għargħur. The Saints assured themselves of the points courtesy of first-half goals from Robert Adami and Carlos Camenzuli.

The first period was a balanced affair with Birżebbuġa going close early on through Adami and Ronnie Celeste.

Għargħur were twice denied by Gabriel Mansueto off attempts by Shaun Vella and Clint Farrugia and on another occasion a shot by Andre Azzopardi was cleared off the line by Saints defender Eric Saliba.

Birżebbuġa took the lead on 35 minutes when Adami headed the ball home from a Clive Formosa corner.

Two minutes before the break, Birżebbuġa increased their lead when Camenzuli profited from an indecision by a Għargħur defender to fire the ball home.

On the resumption, Għargħur gained the initiative and were close early on through Vella.

At the other end Birzebbuġa went close through Andy Mangion.

Six minutes from time Birżebbuġa wrapped up the points when Camenzuli shot home from close in after some fine work from Formosa.

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

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Borg, C. Farrugia (R. Southward), M. Mercieca, C. Zammit, M. Decesare, D. Cremona, S. Vella (F. Grech) A. Azzopardi (D. Galea), C. Vella, D. Mamo.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.