Kercem Ajax 0
Ghajnsielem 2

Ghajnsielem were made to fight harder than expected to gain full points against Kercem Ajax.

Kercem put up a stern challenge but their efforts to gain something from this match were hindered by their erratic finishing.

This victory consolidated Ghajnsielem's lead at the top of the table but Kercem are still in danger of facing a relegation play-off.

The Blacks could have opened the scoring after two minutes when Daniel Bogdanovic was floored inside the area by Roger Walker and the referee awarded them a penalty. Bogdanovic's strike from the spot was saved by Kercem goalkeeper Aktpan.

Plucking up courage from Aktpan's early intervention, Kercem controlled proceedings with relative ease and also threatened to score through Alfred Effiong.

Three minutes from half-time, Ghajnsielem's David Carabott thwarted Kercem when clearing the ball away for a corner before Effiong could connect with a cross by Elton Vella.

Kercem missed a fine opportunity to break the stalemate three minutes into the second half when Nenad Veselji entered the area but his final attempt was blocked by Daniel Dengaky.

Making the most of the heady wind blowing behind them, Ghajnsielem had an attempt by Edoardo Do Nascimento shaving the post after nine minutes.

Two minutes later, Ghajnsielem took the lead when Bogdanovic won a tussle for possession with Aktpan and fired the ball into an empty goal.

Ghajnsielem were now in command, Aktpan saving with difficulty an effort by Bogdanovic and Richard Buhagiar concluding high from close in.

Six minutes from time, Ghajnsielem secured the three points when they won another penalty, this time for a foul by Camilleri on Do Nascimento. Bogdanovic atoned for his earlier miss by placing the ball home for a final 2-0 score.

Kercem: I. Aktpan, F. Camilleri, P. Camilleri, M. Cutajar, R. Walker, J. Vella, R. Buttigieg (J. Grech 82), E. Vella, N. Veselji, F. Onovo, A. Effiong.

Ghajnsielem: D. Dengaky, G. Bencini, F. Buttigieg (J. Buttigieg 87), D. Carabott, D. Mbueko, M. Portelli, B. Meilak, D. Bogdanovic, R. Buhagiar, N. Kalenga, E. Do Nascimento.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Xewkija Tigers 2
Zebbug Rovers 0

Two goals in the second half helped Xewkija Tigers brush aside the challenge of Zebbug Rovers to keep up the pressure on Ghajnsielem.

Xewkija had their mind on their crucial game with the leaders on May 1 as they opted to rest Lawrence Attard, Martin Cremona and Thierry Tazameta.

Zebbug played better in the first period but were denied by Xewkija goalie Xuereb who effected difficult saves on Manuel Cordina and Franco Magrin.

Xewkija had shots by Christian Bugeja, Udo Nwoko and Joseph Cefai ending wide.

After the break, Xewkija lifted their game and moved into a two-goal lead in the space of three minutes.

Nine minutes from the start of the second half, Mahjoub Touali put Xewkija in front with a strike from the edge of the area. Touali doubled his team's lead when converting a penalty, awarded for a foul by Mario Azzopardi on Nwoko. After the penalty, Zebbug's Azzopardi was sent off for protests.

Xewkija remained the better side but missed a string of chances to increase their winning margin.

Zebbug could have scored a consolation goal on the stroke of time but a low shot by Joseph Cordina was deflected for a corner by Xuereb.

Xewkija: J. Xuereb, J. Ngangue, S. Farrugia, S. Rais (M. Camilleri 84), J. Portelli, B. Njoku, J. Xerri, M. Touali, U. Nwoko (R. Camilleri 78), J. Cefai, C. Bugeja (I. Mifsud 75).

Zebbug: V. Agius, C. Cini, J. Cordina, P. Ohaka, F. Magrin, C. Mercieca, M. Azzopardi, M. Cordina, S. Galea, D. Draganov, P. Cordina.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Division Two

Sannat Lions 3
Gharb Rangers 1

Sannat Lions maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-1 win over bottom-placed Gharb Rangers. The Lions, already sure of winning the championship, introduced some young players for this match.

They went ahead after 44 minutes thanks to a firm header by Mark Formosa but Gharb equalised on 61 minutes through Michael Chika.

Sannat regained their lead 20 minutes from time with a goal by Cristiano De Oliviera and Abdul el Mutalib put away a late penalty to make sure of victory.

St Lawrence Spurs 2
Qala SJ 1

This was a clash between two teams aiming to land the runners-up position behind Sannat.

Victory for St Lawrence put them back in the reckoning while Qala are now practically out of contention.

Ogun Abimbola fired St Lawrence ahead but Aloysius Ihbeulu put Qala back on level terms.

In the 67th minute, Stephen Apap profited from a defensive blunder in the Qala box to hit the winner for the Spurs who ended the match with ten players after Joseph Portelli was red-carded for retaliation.

Nadur win U-16 double

Nadur Youngsters won the double in the Gozo YFA U-16 category.

Having secured the league title a few weeks ago, Nadur won the Portelli Projects KO competition after beating SK Victoria W. in the final.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw and the issue had to be decided in a penalty shoot-out which Nadur won 5-4.