St Andrew's 2
Lija Athletic 1
This was a crucial win for leaders
St Andrew's against fellow promotion-seekers Lija as the latter conceded their first defeat of the season. The Saints have now opened a five-point gap over Lija and Gżira, the latter, however, with a game in hand.
Lija could have taken the lead from the kick-off but Antoine Sacco hit wide when all alone in front of goal.
Lija then claimed a penalty for a foul on Keith Darmanin and a shot by Matthew Borg was blocked by Saints keeper Gauci.
On 12 minutes, Darmanin saw his well-executed free-kick stopped by Gauci with the Saints finally hitting back with a shot by Michael Grima. St Andrew's were then again close through Anatole Debono and at the other end Lija were denied by Gauci off a Jean Paul Scerri free-kick.
Eight minutes after the restart, Andrew Amato headed past Luke Bonnici from a Michael Calleja ball to put the Saints in front.
Three minutes later, Darmanin lost possession for Lija and Calleja was quick to release Debono whose shot finished inside the net.
Lija pulled one back on 61 minutes when Andre Scicluna was tripped inside the Saints' box and from the penalty Darmanin gave the keeper no chance.
But that was that and St Andrew's held on for their 10th victory from 13 outings.
St Andrew's: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti, A. Camilleri Kamsky, J. Bugeja, J. Briscoe White, M. Valenzia, A. Amato, W. Camilleri, M. Calleja (N. Vella Petroni), A. Debono, M. Grima.
Lija: L. Bonnici, B. Antignolo (A. Spiteri), A. Saliba, D. Scerri, M. Borg (L. Desira Buttigieg), A. Sacco, J.P. Scerri, M. Mangion, A. Scicluna, K. Darmanin (C. Ciantar), H. Schembri.
Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.
Żurrieq 1
Żebbuġ Rangers 0
A second-half goal by Daniel Zammit earned Claude Chetcuti's Żurrieq three useful points in their effort to maintain Second Division status.
Rangers saw more of the ball early on. A Joseph Fenech free-kick was half-parried by keeper Julian Azzopardi and James Galea shot wide from the loose ball.
Żebbuġ held the initiative for most of a drab first half but rarely ventured past the Reds' rearguard.
Five minutes into the second half Żurrieq were close through Zammit and on 57 minutes a Johan Briffa free-kick just missed the target. Żebbuġ were denied by Azzopardi off a Mark Deguara free-kick.
Zammit scored the goal that mattered 15 minutes from time when he headed home from a Clive Shumba centre. Żebbuġ did their best to avoid defeat but were kept out by a well-organised Reds' defence.
Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, C. Gatt, K. Sacco (C. Shumba) (V. Zerafa), M. Spiteri, J. Saliba, J. Briffa, D. Bonnici, D. Zammit, O. Ogun (S. Azzopardi).
Żebbuġ: M. Pace, J. Mercieca, J. Fenech, S. Calleja (O. Rababah), E. Calleja, J. Cilia, S. Privitelli, J. Galea, A. Lagana, G. Scerri (P. Ciantar), M. Deguara.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Birżebbuġa St Peter's 1
Senglea Athletic 3
This was a fine performance by George Faure's Senglea with the main protagonist being Timmy Thomas who scored two goals to jolt Birżebbuġa's promotion hopes.
Thomas opened the score on 13 minutes but the Saints levelled matters ten minutes later thanks to a Carlos Camenzuli goal.
Everyone expected the Saints to go all out for a second goal but it was Senglea who regained the lead with a Julian Spiteri goal.
Birżebbuġa pushed forward in search of a second equaliser and were close in the opening minutes of the second half through Ronnie Celeste and Eric Saliba.
However, from a swift counter-attack Senglea practically closed the match when Thomas beat Mansueto with a powerful shot.
Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba (M. Zammit), D. Baldacchino, C. Cachia (K. Muscat), N. Tabone, R. Adami, C. Formosa, E. Bugeja (A. Mangion), A. Buttigieg, C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste.
Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, C. Borg, H. Hughes (R. Tanti), A. Sciortino, B. Zerafa, F. Dingli, T. Thomas (R. Vella), N. Abela (C. Dimech).
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Rabat Ajax 0
Mellieħa 3
This was a deserved victory for Mellieħa, leaving Rabat in serious relegation trouble.
Rio Micallef opened the score on 10 minutes and Reuben Vella made it 2-0 soon after following some good work by Philip Camilleri.
Rabat were shocked but Justin Felice was almost on the mark on 25 minutes and Alan Zahra hit badly from a good position inside the Mellieħa box.
The Magpies attacked for long stretches after the break but with scant reward.
Adam Smeir was close on two occasions but in a counter attack Wayne Borg St John made sure of the points with Mellieħa's third goal.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, J. Felice, A. Zahra (K. Said), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, K. Cassar (C. Tonna), E. Muscat (S. Cortis), D. Azzopardi.
Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Vella, D. Borg (A. Barr), A. Portelli, L. Cauchi, W. Borg (M. Borg), K. Gauci, R. Micallef, W. Borg St John (J. Vella), R. Vella, P. Camilleri.
Referee: Thomas Debono.
Gozo FC 1
Għargħur 1
Għargħur were the better side during the first period of this basement clash and created a series of scoring opportunities especially through Shaun Vella, Christopher Vella and Clint Farrugia.
They opened the score on 32 minutes with an Alan Spiteri tap-in following a melee in the Gozitan box.
The hosts looked more aggressive after the break and drew level immediately when Anthony Portelli scored from close distance.
Għargħur stepped up their game and on the hour Spiteri incredibly lifted the ball over the bar following an inviting Jonathan Galea pass.
Gozo, however, created the better chances and could have turned the result in their favour had Errol Grima and Anthony Portelli not failed to find the net from good positions.
Portelli was sent off for retaliation on 89 minutes.
Gozo: D. Pace, P. Spiteri (M. Bezzina), F. Debono, A. Debono, P. Buttigieg, M. Azzopardi, B. Njoku, D. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg (N. Micallef), E. Grima (M. Mifsud), A. Portelli.
Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea (J. Galea), D. Borg, R. Debattista, M. Mercieca, C. Vella, C. Zammit, C. Farrugia (D. Mamo), A. Spiteri, D. Cremona, S. Vella.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.