Sliema Wanderers 0
Valletta 3
Massaro 37, 60; G. Agius 81
Already on a high after their 2-1 win over Hibs last week had kept them in the title hunt, Valletta were on the receiving end of another boost on Sunday in the shape of two dropped points by the Paolites after their 2-2 draw with Marsaxlokk.
This result inevitably heightened the level of expectancy among the City fans ahead of their clash with Sliema Wanderers yesterday as victory would take the Whites to within a point of the leaders.
The numerous City fans who braved the cold to see this match were rewarded with another robust performance by their team who beat Sliema 3-0 to augment the pressure on Hibs.
Valletta's showing last night was not as eye-catching as that in the victory over Hibs but they were nonetheless the brighter side against a lightweight Sliema team who only attacked in fits and starts.
Brazilian striker Paulo Massaro stole the limelight with a well-taken brace but the main catalyst for Valletta's success was their indefatigable captain Gilbert Agius who crowned a terrific performance by scoring his side's third goal eight minutes from time.
Before kick-off, Nicky Saliba, Valletta's team manager, laid a bouquet of flowers on the seat in the VIP zone where avid City fan Leli Grima used to sit to watch his favourite team.
Grima passed away a few days ago after collapsing towards the end of Valletta's derby with Floriana earlier this month.
The three changes in Valletta's line-up from last week's 2-1 defeat of Hibs were enforced upon coach Paul Zammit by the one-match ban handed to Luke Dimech and Roderick Briffa and Andrew Hogg's knee injury.
Nicky Vella deputised for Hogg in goal, Josef Mifsud stepped into the boots of Dimech in central defence and Jamie Pace, back in the frame after completing his one-match ban, replaced Briffa in the centre of midfield.
Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, had his fair share of selection problems as Jeffrey Chetcuti was suspended and Branko Nisevic, Mark Scerri and Samsiro Furfaro were sidelined with injuries.
Chetcuti's absence prompted Azzopardi to recall Daniel Severino while Matthew Bartolo was preferred to Victor Ortega Coto.
Inside the opening two minutes, Massaro capitalised on Ian Ciantar's hesitancy to dispossess the Sliema defender but the Brazilian's effort was blocked by Henry Bonello.
Another fast move by the Citizens after 14 minutes unzipped the Sliema defence as Dyson Falzon advanced through the middle before flicking the ball towards Zammit. The City winger-cum-forward elected to shoot instead of passing to the unmarked Massaro inside the box but his tame effort posed no danger to Bonello.
The blustery conditions saw to it that many passes went astray in the initial exchanges.
On the half hour mark, Bonello's miscued clearance sailed straight to Massaro but the Brazilian hit wide from just inside the area.
Although Valletta were struggling to recapture the swagger that marked their performance against Hibs, they remained the more adventurous side.
On one occasion, it took a last-ditch intervention by Lucian Dronca to break down a dangerous City attack, the Romanian dashing back into the box to scrape the ball away from Gilbert Agius who was about to shoot.
Sliema's attacking threat had been negligible for much of the opening half hour but in their first notable foray into Valletta's half, they almost struck.
Bartolo went clear on the left, drifted into the box and, upon seeing that Vella had strayed off his line to close the angle, pulled the back to Miguel Ciantar. The Malta U-21 winger met Bartolo's service with a flying header but the ball fizzed inches wide of the far post.
Sliema paid dearly for this miss as Valletta broke the deadlock eight minutes from half-time. Falzon's curling drive from a free-kick was fumbled by Bonello and in came Massaro to fire home from point blank.
The second half was only five minutes old when Gilbert Agius, defying the signs of father time, made a lung-bursting run down the right to reach Grioli's pass. The Malta captain lunged himself at the ball to prevent it from crossing the touchline, powered his way past Azzopardi and crossed into the goalmouth where Bonello intercepted Massaro but failed to hold the ball. Edmond Agius looked odds-on to score but his first-time shot appeared to come off Massaro.
Valletta doubled their lead on the hour mark, Massaro beating Bonello with a firm header from Falzon's right-wing corner.
Two-nil down, Sliema suddenly found the energy and courage to make a reaction. Referee Adrian Azzopardi inflamed the Sliema clan when turning down no fewer than two penalty appeals after Bajada, and seconds later, Severino, tumbled to the ground after being challenged by Valletta players.
Within minutes, Vella denied Severino when pushing his piledriver over the bar. The woodwork then came to Vella's rescue as Bajada's free-kick ricocheted off the crossbar.
Sliema's rally rattled Valletta for a while but the latter regained their composure. They might have added to their lead but an Agius screamer was met with a great save from Bonello.
The City captain continued to run the show. After seeing his half-volley from the edge of the box charged down by Azzopardi, Agius hit the post with a swerving free-kick.
Valletta were now breaking forward en masse in a bid to put the result beyond Sliema. Zammit spurned a gilt-edged chance to make it 3-0 when blasting wide after getting on the end of the counter-attack.
But the game was over as a contest when, with nine minutes remaining, Massaro slipped a pass to Agius who drove forward before rifling past Bonello.
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5.5, A. Muscat-5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, M. Ciantar-5.5 ('56 V.C. Ortega-4), M. Bartolo-6.5, I. Woods-6, L. Dronca-6, D. Severino-6, I. Ciantar-6.5, R. Bajada-6.5, J. Mintoff-5 ('77 N. Turner).
Valletta
N. Vella-6.5, J. Grioli-5, J. Mifsud-6, K. Scicluna-6.5, S. Bezzina-6, E. Agius-6 ('86 D. Grima), J. Pace-6, G. Agius-8.5, D. Falzon-6.5 ('82 D. Priso), I. Zammit-5, P. Massaro-8 ('85 S. Monesterolo).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Bajada; Mintoff; E. Agius; Dronca.
BoV player of the match: Paulo Massaro (Valletta).