Lija Athletic 2
Sta Venera 2

A late goal scored by substitute George Falzon saw Sta Venera clinch a precious point at the expense of leaders Lija who require two more points to make sure of promotion.

At the start, it was Lija who did most of the attacking. However, it was the Saints who scored first when on 23 minutes Mark Grech hit home from a cross by Alistair Camilleri.

The Saints held tight and Lija doubled up their efforts as the second half got underway. Franklin Azzopardi did well to keep out a headed attempt by Matthew Borg from a free-kick and Michael Mangion hit just wide following a cross by Daniel Scerri.

Lija drew level on 63 minutes through a low shot by Beppe Antignolo following a fine solo move and three minutes later Jean Paul Scerri put Lija in front with an excellent shot from the distance.

Sta Venera looked down and out but late on Falzon was on the right spot to secure a point, so vital in the Saints' quest to avoid the drop.

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, M. Mangion, A. Saliba (C. Ciantar), D. Scerri, M. Borg, K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, A. Scicluna (M. Schembri), B. Antignolo, H. Schembri (A. Spiteri).

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, D. Calleja, K. Cilia, M. Muscat, M. Polidano (G. Magri), D. Vella, Y.M. Law, L. Farrugia (M. Ebejer), M. Grech (G. Falzon), A. Camilleri, S. Farrugia.

Referee: Mario Apap.

St Andrew's 0
Senglea Athletic 0

Promotion-seekers St Andrews continued with their dismal run of late as they were held to a draw by lowly Senglea. With two matches to go, third-placed Gżira could dash the Saints' ambitions of playing in Division One next season.

Senglea had the first goal-scoring opportunity through Bjorn Dalli who, however, was foiled by keeper Reuben Gauci. St Andrews missed a clear opportunity through Nicky Vella Petroni and then two dangerous attempts by Michael Calleja just missed the target.

On 33 minutes, the Saints wasted another good chance through Michael Valenzia and just before the end of the first half, Senglea striker Dalli was denied by Gauci.

Six minutes after the restart Dalli was again close for Senglea and on 59 minutes Timmy Thomas was dispossessed by Jonathan Bugeja before he could conclude at goal.

The Saints were unable to find a breakthrough and not even Anatole Debono could do it from a free-kick that flashed just wide as a disciplined Senglea defence held tight for a draw.

St Andrew's: R. Gauci, N. Chetcuti, P. Briscoe White, A. Camilleri Kamsky, J. Bugeja, W. Camilleri, M. Valenzia (J.P. Calleja), A. Debono, M. Calleja (M. Desira Buttigieg), L. Cesareo, N. Vella Petroni.

Senglea: G. Attard, C. Borg, F. Dingli (R. Degiorgio), E. Azzopardi, B. Zerafa, D. Cosaitis, J. Buttigieg (K. Galea), A. Sciortino, J. Spiteri, T. Thomas (C. Dimech), B. Dalli.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Gozo FC 1
Birżebbuġa SP 2

A Carlos Camenzuli brace earned the points for Birżebbuġa at the Gozo Stadium to stay in contention for promotion.

The hosts were looking to wrap up their commitments on home soil on a positive note and ventured forward early on.

A John Camilleri goal was disallowed for offside but after an Andrea Cutajar shot was blocked by Gozo keeper Jonathan Xuereb, Birżebbuġa opened the score when Camenzuli placed in goal after pouncing on a loose ball.

Gozo had a strong reaction and went close to level the score through efforts by Sabri Rais, Joseph Cefai and John Camilleri. However, Camenzuli doubled the visitors' lead on 59 minutes following a fast break.

Gozo scored a consolation goal in added time from a Camilleri free-kick.

Gozo: J. Xuereb, J. Cefai, B. Meilak, A. Debono, E. Grima, J. Camilleri, F. Debono, M. Muscat, S. Rais (R. Scicluna), D. Mercieca, R. Buttigieg.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, C. Formosa, B. Farrugia, R. Adami, A. Mangion, N. Tabone, F. Peplow, C. Camenzuli (R. Peplow), A. Cutajar (A. Buttigieg), K. Muscat.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Mellieħa 1
Għargħur 2

This was a morale-boosting victory for troubled Għargħur who had Robert Southward to thank for the points after scoring both goals.

Għargħur, still with a chance to figure in the play-offs to avoid the drop, had attempts by Clint Farrugia and Daniel Cremona going wide before Southward hit home from a free-kick on 42 minutes.

However, in added time Mellieħa drew level through a penalty awarded for a foul on Wayne Borg St John who made no mistake from the spot.

Għargħur duo Ryan Debattista and Shaun Vella were red-carded midway through the second half. Mellieħa's Luke Cauchi was also dismissed.

The northerners were unable to find a way through though and two minutes from time Southward was on the right spot to head in from a corner to give his team fresh hopes for salvation.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, A. Portelli, Matt. Vella, L. Cauchi, M. Borg (A. Attard), K. Gauci (D. Vella), R. Vella, R. Micallef (M. Vella), P. Camilleri, J. Vella, W. Borg St John.

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

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Rabat Ajax 2
Żebbuġ Rangers 2

This basement clash ended in a fair drawn result.

After just four minutes a Justin Felice free-kick for Rabat was saved with difficulty by the Rangers' keeper. Żebbuġ had a shot by Joe Mercieca which just missed the target with Rabat replying through efforts by Chris Schembri and Emanuel Muscat.

Rangers opened the score on 32 minutes through Errol Cachia following good work by Mark Deguara. Two minutes later Cachia was again close but eight minutes from half-time the Magpies drew level following a Felice goal from a corner.

A minute later Rabat were awarded a penalty for a foul on Adam Smeir who converted from the spot to put the Magpies in front.

Żebbuġ immediately went on the offensive after the break and got the equalising goal through an excellent shot by Sandro Calleja.

Balance prevailed after that goal even though Johan Cilia and Joe Mercieca missed two sitters for Rangers in the dying minutes.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, J. Felice, A. Zahra (K. Said, M. Micallef), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, K. Cassar, E. Muscat (S. Gauci), D. Azzopardi.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, S. Calleja (O. Rababah), K. Farrugia, J. Cilia, J. Fenech, P. Ciantar, E. Cachia (St. Calleja), A. Lagana, M. Deguara (N. Francalanza), J. Mercieca, G. Scerri.

Referee: Paul Caruana.