Valletta 4
Dimech 25; Priso 35 pen; Zammit 87; Bondin 90
Ħamrun Spartans 0
Valletta are slowly but surely rediscovering their sparkle.
Having won only twice in their opening six games, the champions made it two victories from their last two matches yesterday after seeing off the challenge of Ħamrun Spartans.
Their morale sky-high after their 2-1 win over rivals Floriana, Valletta delivered their most comprehensive performance so far to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches, in the process pushing themselves to within a point of leaders Birkirkara.
Ħamrun's compelling victory over Qormi last weekend had raised hopes of a balanced confrontation but two goals in the space of 10 first-half minutes all but killed the Spartans' hopes.
Justin Grioli was demoted to the bench as City coach Paul Zammit restored Steve Bezzina to the starting formation. Stefan Giglio failed to shake off a thigh problem, his place in midfield awarded to David Camilleri who had a very positive outing.
Ħamrun coach Steve D'Amato made two changes from the team that edged Qormi as Gaetan Spiteri, back from suspension, and Zoran Levnaic, who returned from injury, came in for Manolito Micallef and John Debattista.
Valletta threatened to take an early lead but Luke Dimech, swooping at the far post, lifted his shot over the bar from Camilleri's corner.
Midway through the first half, City fashioned their best chance to open the scoring when Gilbert Agius's set-piece cross was met by Priso but his header flew just over.
Valletta suddenly stepped on the gas pedal and Ian Zammit, showing his trademark persistence, might have put them ahead.
Latching onto Agius's lofted pass, the City striker accelerated into the box to reel in with Mark Anthony Bonnici and nudge a shot past Ivan Casha but the Spartans right-back just managed to kick the ball over the by-line.
The Citizens nosed ahead on 25 minutes and their goal came from the unlikeliest of sources as defender Dimech slalomed his way into the box and, after his attempted pass to Priso was deflected back into his path, he drilled a low shot into the net.
Valletta then shouted 'penalty' when Edmond Agius went down in the box after being challenged by Levnaic but the referee waved play on.
Five minutes past the half hour, referee Clayton Pisani did give Valletta a penalty after Roderick Fenech was adjudged to have fouled Priso as the latter closed in on goal. Priso converted from the spot.
The ascendant champions would have tripled their lead six minutes before the break when the lively Priso advanced down the right before squaring to Zammit whose first-time flick beat Casha but came off the base of the far post.
Pinned in their own half from the moment they fell behind, the Spartans might have gained a lifeline when Cucciardi made space for a shot in the box but his effort was parried by Andrew Hogg.
Five minutes into the second half, Valletta almost made it 3-0 when, from Agius's free-kick, Priso's point-blank effort was touched away by Casha but only as far as Zammit whose rising effort was deflected away for a corner.
Micallef, who had just come on for Cucciardi, almost scored with his first touch of the ball but his header from Bonnici's cross was repelled by Hogg.
Zammit then fired wide from an angled position as Valletta remained in control of proceedings.
On the terraces, the two sets of fans goaded each other but most of their songs were unsavoury, what with the torrent of foul language piercing the Ta' Qali air.
On the field of play, the Ħamrun players should have reduced the deficit when Kokavessis got on the end of a long ball but his chip was smothered away by Hogg and from the rebound, the Spartans striker lobbed high.
Substitute Stefan Sultana then headed over from Ryan Fenech's free-kick.
As the minutes rolled by, the Spartans, now with three men up front, charged forward with abundance. Kokavessis mustered a piledriver that arrowed just wide of the far post.
Yet, three minutes from the end it was Valletta who widened their winning margin when Zammit rifled his shot past Casha after receiving a great pass from Agius.
In time added on, Jonathan Bondin, on as a second-half substitute for Priso, stabbed the ball home to finish off a devastating counter-attack from Valletta.
Valletta
A.Hogg-7, E. Agius-5.5 ('37 J. Grioli-5.5), J. Mifsud-6.5, L. Dimech-6.5, S. Bezzina-6, I. Zammit-6.5, D. Camilleri-7, J. Pace-6.5, D. Priso-7.5 ('81 J. Bondin), G. Agius-6.5 ('89 D. Grima), K. Scicluna-6.
Ħamrun
I. Casha-5, M.A. Bonnici-6, D.A. Cucciardi-5 ('54 M. Micallef), Z. Levnaic-6.5, A. Attard-5, Rod. Fenech-6, S. Meilak-4 ('74 S. Sultana), Ryan Fenech-4, R. Mangion-5, G. Spiteri-5, D. Kokavessis-5.5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Meilak; Camilleri; E. Agius; Pace; Levnaic; G. Agius; Bondin.
BoV player of the match: Doding Priso (Valletta).