Baldacchino finishes the job on either side of half-time

St Patrick 0
Floriana 2

Having disposed of newcomers Lija Athletic in their previous match, Floriana had the onus of picking up maximum spoils at the expense of the other promoted team, St Patrick.

Although not displaying the neat football which was evident even against Valletta, in their first league outing, the Greens were good enough to amble through to victory and thus go on the six-point mark.

In any case, they did not have to summon any particular collective skills to beat off the flimsy challenge of the Saints, whose play despite some honest endeavour could hardly reap any tangible results. Unless there is a marked improvement in their game, St Patrick will definitely find life difficult in the top division.

Floriana, managing to beat off the pressure of starting as clear favourites to win this clash, never looked in danger of being caught wrong-footed. Andre Rocha da Silva was the prime cog in the middle, setting up play one moment and going in for a final pass the next.

Some rustiness in their play may have given the impression that Floriana could run short of the required qualities for a challenge for a high placing.

But St Patrick could not pose any yardstick by which Floriana's potential could be gauged. The real tests lie ahead for the Greens.

The match started on a tame note with neither side giving the opposing extreme defenders any cause for worry, despite the Greens' gradually mounting pressure. Following a flag-kick Da Silva's effort found Clayton Failla on the line to clear with Maurizio Valastro beaten all the way.

The Yellow-Blacks were still being pushed into their own half and forced to concede flag-kicks or free-kicks. It was from one such set-piece that Shawn Bajada saw his fierce shot whizz past the left upright.

Bobby Giorev could only hope that the Saints midfield set-up would be able to cut the Greens' supply lines, mostly engineered by Da Silva and Bajada, thus helping to have the pressure relieved on a rather suspect last line of defence.

This flaw was evident when they conceded the first goal ten minutes from half-time.

Steve Wellman set up Nicolò Baldacchino on the right as another gap in the rearguard was exploited. Valastro could not hold the shot and Baldacchino followed up to complete the formalities.

St Patrick could only muster one decent shot and that came from Chima Dozie, following a solo run. Reuben Gauci, replacing Matthew Camilleri, dived to his right to pull of a first-class save.

Dozie was seen limping at the interval and was forced to cry off, allowing Mark Pullicino to take his place.

This forced absence apparently weakened the Saints' attack as it was Dozie who proved the more forceful assailant for them.

The situation was counter balanced on the opposite side as Graham Bencini, inactive for some time, went in for the injured Riad M. Gango Rtsa.

Although Floriana held the upperhand, there was more than a whiff of complacency about their finishing.

A second goal was needed to put their minds at rest. But better defending from the Saints and an inaccurate final pass by the Greens kept the scoreline unaltered.

The Saints could hardly venture forward with cohesion, either, and that made for mediocre fare. Moreover, niggling offences from both sets of players brought a spate of bookings.

The proceedings were livened up when Edoardo Do Nascimento came on for Trevor Cilia. The Greens badly needed an injection of thrustful play in their attack. This time the streaking run came from Wellman down the left, with his low-cross being latched on to by Baldacchino who easily finished the job.

That was that and the Green-shirted players could afford some moments of relaxation. They had been in control throughout and their victory never appeared in doubt.

St Patrick: M. Valastro-6, R. Cassar-5, A. Buttigieg-6, M. Zerafa-5, B. Fenech-5 ('66 C. Micallef), S. Costa Brazilino-6, C. Failla-6, K. Bonnici-5, T. Caruana-5, P. Chizoba Anizoba-5, C. Dozie-6 ('45 M. Pullicino-5).

Floriana: R. Gauci-6, R. Gango Rtsa-6 ('45 G. Bencini-5), C. Ciantar-7, I. Ciantar-7, J. Craig Schembri-6, M. Caruana-6, T. Cilia-6 ('74 E. Do Nascimento), A. Rocha Da Silva-8, N. Baldacchino-6, S. Bajada-6 ('61 J. Briffa), S. Wellman-6.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorer: Baldacchino 35, 76.

Yellow Cards: C. Failla, T. Caruana, Wellman, I. Ciantar, Briffa, Bonnici.

Player Of The Match: Andre Rocha Da Silva (Floriana).