Mqabba were forced to settle for a 2–2 draw against Kirkop United in a BOV Amateur League I encounter played at the Centenary Stadium on Friday evening, a result that kept the promotion race finely balanced.

Kirkop took the lead five minutes before the interval when Cedric Ezekiel Macalou found the net on 40 minutes. However, their advantage was short-lived as Luka Mijic struck almost immediately, levelling matters just a minute later to ensure the teams went into the break on equal terms.

The second half remained keenly contested, with both sides pushing for a decisive goal. Kirkop regained the lead on 74 minutes through Giorgio Bellia, raising hopes of a valuable victory. Yet Mqabba responded once again, and with eight minutes remaining Saturday Nanapere found the equaliser to rescue a point for the league leaders.

In another match from the same division, Qormi edged past Qrendi with a narrow 1–0 victory, courtesy of a decisive strike by Kieran Xuereb on 75 minutes.

Despite being held, Mqabba remain at the summit of the standings with 19 points. They are closely followed by Attard, Qormi and Qrendi, all on 18 points, while San Ġwann sit on 16. Lija follow with 14 points, Victoria Hotspurs have 13, Mellieħa 11, Żejtun 10, Kirkop 9, Pembroke 8, Luqa and Xgħajra 7, with Senglea at the bottom on 4 points.