Qormi look to bounce back with promotion in sight

Matchday 24 of the BOV Division One league should produce more hard-fought and exciting duels as three teams are vying for automatic promotion to the BOV Premier League and three other clubs are still mathematically in contention for third place and a play-off spot. Long-time leaders Qormi, four points clear at the top, could get promoted this weekend if they beat mid-table Vittoriosa Stars and results elsewhere go their way. Qormi will be going all out to bounce back from their slim defeat to Żejtun last Saturday. The Yellow-Blacks will also be looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Vittoriosa in the first round. The seven-match programme kicks off on Friday evening with San Ġwann facing Pembroke Athleta, the latter having won the first round tie 2-0. The Saints, sixth on 39 points, saw their eight-match winning run halted last weekend after losing 3-1 to Żebbuġ Rangers. HOTSPURS ON A HIGH There are two enticing fixtures on Saturday with second-placed Pietà Hotspurs looking to make it a double over Żabbar St Patrick, having beaten them 3-1 in the first round. A win for the Hotspurs would edge them closer to securing promotion. Żabbar are still in relegation trouble as they lie third from bottom, one point behind Marsa with both sides striving to avoid the relegation play-off come the end of the season. The headline match of matchday 24 is the direct encounter between two promotion candidates as third-placed Żejtun Corinthians meet Mqabba with only two points between the two teams. The Corinthians are on a high after extending their winning run to seven matches following their 1-0 victory over Qormi. They will be looking for sporting revenge following their 5-1 mauling in the reverse fixture with Mqabba taking the all three points following a convincing performance in the first round. There are four games on Sunday’s card with mid-table Qrendi playing second-from-last Melita whose hopes of avoiding the drop look slim. The Amateurs are five points behind Żabbar. Marsa lock horns with Żebbuġ Rangers who had won the first-round match 5-0. Nevertheless, this time the clash between the two teams is likely to be a close affair with Marsa needing the points to improve their survival chances. Sirens meet the relegated Rabat Ajax with the side from St Pauls Bay having won the first-round fixture 2-1. Three points for Sirens would all but guarantee their Division One status for next season. PROGRAMMEFriday-06-Apr 19:00 Victor Tedesco Stadium San Ġwann vs Pembroke AthletaSaturday-07-Apr 16:00 Victor Tedesco Stadium Żabbar SP vs Pietà HotspursSaturday-07-Apr 18:15 Victor Tedesco Stadium Mqabba vs Żejtun CorinthiansSunday-08-Apr  16:00 Centenary Stadium Qrendi vs MelitaSunday-08-Apr 18:15 Centenary Stadium Marsa vs Żebbuġ RangersSunday-08-Apr 16:00 Victor Tedesco Stadium Sirens vs Rabat AjaxSunday-08-Apr 18:15 Victor Tedesco Stadium Vittoriosa Stars vs Qormi