Mosta 0
Valletta 4

It was the turn of Valletta and newly-promoted Mosta to take the stage of the premier division championship. The credentials of the City team made them obvious favourites to emerge unscathed from this contest. Anything else would be a bonus for the newcomers to the top league.

It took some time before the Lilywhites drew concrete dividends. But once they did, with two quick goals towards the latter stages of the first half, the destination of the points was a foregone conclusion.

The white-shirted players ran forward with purpose to leave their opponents penned in their own half for long stretches. Daniel Bogdanovic and Chris Oretan were a constant threat to the Mosta defenders what with their running and interchanging of positions.

Newcomer Keith Fenech and Gilbert Agius, both deployed in midfield, played their part adequately alongside Daniel Theuma and flank player Renie Forace.

Mosta were unable to offer any serious opposition. Their propensity to close the gaps in their rearguard, even after they conceded the first two goals, left wide gaps in their midfield. The outcome was that they were unable to construct any valid attacking forays. Valletta could only finish easy winners.

The City team were naturally intent on shedding off the pressure that would bear on them until they broke the ice as early as possible.

They set about their task vehemently and the initial pressure came from them. Front runners Bogdanovic and Oretan ran incessantly in search of a clear avenue towards Charles Sciberras' fort.

There were a couple of Valletta shots over the target, with Mosta replying through a Da Machado incursion on the right which ended with Sullivan somehow stopping his low effort.

The Lilywhites' pressure was kept up and Sciberras had to dive low to cut out a Bogdanovic rasping cross. Angel Terzyski, lying behind his line of defence, tried to mop up his opponents' raids.

Soon after the half hour mark, Dennis Fenech was relieved to see his team take the lead. David Carabott, returning to league duty after the unfortunate fracture of his leg last season, sent a looping cross towards the unmarked Forace, who took his chance before gleefully turning to his team's fans for acknowledgment.

Three minutes later, Valletta struck again. The fast-running Bogdanovic did all the spadework before serving Oretan. The ball was headed past Sciberras like a flash.

Valletta oozed more confidence now that they were two goals up. The chips seemed to be well and truly down, with Mosta unable to make a reaction.

The thrusting runs of Bogdanovic remained very much in evidence after the change of ends. Despite occasional efforts from Mosta, the Whites kept the upperhand.

It was no surprise that Valletta scored again. A millimetric free-kick from Bogdanovic found the unmarked Oretan on the blind side and the ball was headed into the net like a bullet.

There had always been one team in it and at this point City's dominance became more pronounced. The wind continued blowing in their favour.

Libero Ivan Zammit was detailed to make way for Karl Bonnici and he made no secrets about what he thought was an unsatisfactory substitution.

That mattered little since things could be righted at the backstage. A round of applause greeted a miscued shot from the otherwise valid Bogdanovic.

The incoming Bonnici provided the cross from the right for Theuma to head in goal number four 12 minutes from time.

Sciberras denied Bogdanovic, with a subsequent header from the same player ending over the bar. The former Sliema and Naxxar striker again missed with a header but the cheering still went his way.

He rightly won the man-of-the match award.

Mosta: C. Sciberras, M. Abela (P. Vassallo), B. Agius, R. Newell (S. Farrugia), F. Ellul, A. Terzyski, P. Sciriha, D. Cuschieri, C. Mizzi, P. Zammit, J. Da Machado (D. Falzon).

Valletta: S. Sullivan, D. Theuma, R. Forace, D. Debono, I. Zammit (K. Bonnici), G. Agius, K. Fenech (D. Cachia), D. Carabott, C. Oretan, M. Penchev (J. Bondin), D. Bogdanovic.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Forace 31st; Oretan 34th, 57th; Theuma 78th.

Player of the Match: Daniel Bogdanovic (Valletta).