Derby stroll for Valletta

Floriana 0
Valletta 2

For the first time in several weeks, Valletta are top of the Premier League.

Their residence at the summit may be temporary, however, as victory for Hibs in their outstanding match against Sliema tomorrow will propel them back to the top but Valletta's emphatic dismissal of arch-rivals Floriana can only have strengthened their belief that they can overhaul the Paolites in the end.

A goal inside the opening four minutes eased any nerves City may have had and the tension ebbed away when Luke Dimech doubled their lead on the half hour.

Floriana did try to make a contest of it but they could not bridge the technical gap as City made it five wins in a row to increase the prospect of a final-day title showdown with Hibs in two weeks' time.

With Paulo Massaro out injured, City coach Paul Zammit made only one alteration from the team that thrashed Birkirkara 4-1.

Priso Doding, the catalyst of that victory after replacing the unlucky Massaro, kept his place in the team. He was the focal point in Valletta's attack with captain Gilbert Agius deployed as an adjunct striker and Dyson Falzon and Roderick Briffa operating on the wings.

Floriana were buoyed by the return to fitness of two key forwards in Ryan Darmanin and Christian Caruana.

The game was just over two minutes old when Valletta shouted penalty after Gilbert Agius appeared to have been tripped by Sunday Eboh inside the box. Referee Chris Lautier signalled that the Floriana defender had struck the ball first.

Two minutes later, Valletta moved ahead. Briffa made headway on the right before directing a cross into the six-yard box where Priso flicked the ball past Glen Zammit.

A rare counter-attack by Floriana saw Marlon Briffa run clear before sending in a cross into the box. Darmanin had timed his run to perfection but was dispossessed by Kenneth Scicluna when in the act of shooting.

Valletta almost doubled their lead on 18 minutes. Priso advanced before laying a pass back to Edmond Agius who hit the ball cleanly but his first-time effort was too central to trouble Zammit.

Midway through the first half, Darmanin was unable to continue and made way for Joseph Borg.

Marlon Briffa remained Floriana's most creative source up front. On 25 minutes, the former Mqabba winger made another run down the right before crossing towards the far post where Mauro Brincat's run had gone unchecked by the City defenders. The Floriana captain flicked the ball towards goal but Nicky Vella dived to his right to save his fort.

From the possibility of drawing level, Floriana found themselves two goals down.

Gilbert Agius was the provider with a trademark swinging corner from the left and Dimech climbed above his marker to head in.

Just past the half hour mark, Vella kept Valletta's 2-0 lead intact when pawing away Pablo Doffo's free-kick.

On the cusp of half-time, Floriana should have narrowed the deficit when Doffo played Orosco Anonam through but the latter's lob sailed over.

Valletta hit back immediately. Zammit fumbled a cross-shot by Falzon, Priso's effort was repelled but the ball rolled invitingly to Gilbert Agius who skewed his effort high with the goal at his mercy.

In the dying moments of the first half, Pace struck the foot of the post after Gilbert Agius's free-kick had been deflected into his path.

Five minutes into the second half, Valletta should have killed off Floriana when Briffa, having traded passes with Edmond Agius, picked out Gilbert Agius in the box. The City captain hit the ball first time but his attempt lacked power and Zammit saved easily.

With Valletta becoming increasingly sloppy, Floriana took heart and began to venture out of their own half more frequently.

But, with the City fans urging their team on, Valletta swiftly produced a string of clearcut chances, Zammit saved from Agius, Priso headed over from Briffa's cross and Doffo twice blocked shots by Priso after Briffa had opened up the Floriana defence with a diagonal incursion on the right.

It was all Valletta now and an excellent move deserved to yield a third goal. A delightful interchange between Priso and Falzon saw the latter dash into the box before serving Gilbert Agius. His effort was warded off by Zammit who also saved Edmond Agius's grounder from the rebound.

The Floriana goalkeeper then produced another fine save to stop Sebastian Monesterolo's strike.

Floriana G. Zammit-6.5, D. Pisani-5.5, S. Eboh-6, J. Briffa-6.5, C. Camoin-5.5, O. Anonam-4, P. Doffo-7, M. Brincat-6, M. Briffa-6.5 ('76 D. Zarb), C. Caruana-5 ('76 L. Agius), R. Darmanin ('22 J. Borg-5.5).

Valletta N. Vella-7, J. Grioli-6 ('68 I. Zammit-6), K. Scicluna-7, L. Dimech-7, S. Bezzina-6, E. Agius-7, R. Briffa-7, J. Pace-6.5, G. Agius-6.5 ('81 S. Monesterolo), D. Falzon-6.5, D. Priso-7.5 ('89 D. Grima).

Referee Chris Lautier.

Scorers Priso 4; Dimech 29

Yellow card Brincat.

BoV player of the match Doding Priso (Valletta).