Xewkija Tigers moved six points clear at the top of the GFA Division One at the end of the second round after having the better of Victoria Hotspurs 1-0 as nearest rivals Għajnsielem were beaten by Nadur Youngsters.
The Tigers struggled to assert their dominance against the Hotspurs at first.
But their hopes were lifted on 28 minutes when Thiago Melo Dos Santos grabbed the all-important goal when pushing the ball home from close in.
The Hotspurs fought back in the second half and their best chance fell to Denis Sytnik who fired over from routine distance.
Nadur are second in the standings on 28 points, one ahead of Għajnsielem who lost the direct clash 3-1.
Coming from two successive defeats, Nadur were determined to put their title ambitions back on track and they took the lead on 28 minutes through Shaun Attard.
The Youngsters gained confidence as time passed by and doubled the score just before half-time. Dewide Dos Santos’s lob came off the upright and in came Milos Stojanovic to stab the ball home.
Għajnsielem managed to pull a goal back nine minutes from time when John Camilleri profited from a misunderstanding in the Nadur defence to tap the ball into an empty net.
But any hopes Għajnsielem had were dashed two minutes later as Claudio Antunes made it 3-1.
Kerċem Ajax consolidated fourth place in the standings with a 6-3 win over bottom-placed Xagħra United. This goal bonanza featured five penalties which were all converted.
Xagħra took the lead after two minutes from an Antonio Lasko penalty.
Kerċem had a spot-kick themselves soon after and Gustavo Amadio made no mistake before Trayo Grozev struck twice on 11 and 28 minutes to put the Ajax 3-1 up.
The Bulgarian striker completed his hat-trick when he scored from the penalty spot on 50 minutes.
Xagħra were awarded a second penalty three minutes later that enabled Gerald Tushe to make it 4-2.
But Amadio restored Kerċem’s three-goal lead on 55 minutes when he put away another spot-kick before completing his hat-trick with a tap in on 80 minutes.
Xagħra’s Michael Bezzina pulled a goal back late on with a low shot.
Division Two
St Lawrence Spurs joined Għarb Rangers at the top of the standings after a 4-2 win over bottom-placed Munxar Falcons.
Munxar opened the score early on through Jordi Parnis but the Spurs hit back and goals from Charlon Tabone (28), Christopher Cauchi (49) and Mohammed Senussi Telassi (58) put them in command.
A Kenneth Mizzi goal put Munxar back in the match but St Lawrence sealed the win with a Marlon Mamo goal. Earlier, Telessi had seen his penalty stopped by Munxar keeper Lorjean Xuereb.
Sannat Lions, the other side vying for promotion, lost pace after a 1-1 draw against Żebbuġ Rovers to miss out on top spot.
Sannat saw more of the ball but failed to pierce the Rovers rearguard.
Żebbug opened the score on 49 minutes through Ikechukwu Igwemeke but the Lions avoided defeat when Sunday Baala hit home five minutes from time.