Football BOV Premier League

Floriana 1
Anonam 88
Qormi 1
Chetcuti 57

Orosco Anonam came to Floriana's rescue yesterday as the Nigeria-born midfielder struck late to earn his team a merited draw against Qormi.

It was a fair outcome to a match which saw Floriana dominate proceedings for most of the match but their inability to turn superior possession into goals almost cost them dear when Joseph Chetcuti put Qormi in front midway through the second half.

However, the Greens showed commendable fighting spirit and inspired by the hard-working Christian Cassar they managed to avoid defeat when Anonam fired home the equaliser to spare coach Roddy Collins from a defeat in his first official match in charge.

On the other hand, Qormi will feel gutted to have failed to take maximum spoils from a match they looked well-placed to win.

In the end, only a lapse in concentration at their defence saw them conceding a costly equaliser to end up settling for a point.

Collins could only field three of his four new signings. In fact, English forward Donovan Simmonds was not registered in time for the match as his international clearance failed to arrive in time.

Clifton Ciantar and Cassar were given the nod to start after returning to the club with which they started their career while Bernard Paris took his place in goal.

Qormi, on their part, were almost at full strength with goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri the only absentee for coach Jesmond Zerafa as the newly-acquired goalkeeper had to serve suspension.

The match was keenly balanced early on with Floriana creating the first chance of the match after nine minutes when Roberto Brincat was first to Cassar's free-kick but his header finished just over.

Both teams kept pushing forward but their efforts were being thwarted by poor distribution of the ball in the final third.

The next attempt at goal arrived on the half hour when Cassar's low drive finished just wide.

The Greens remained the most dangerous team and eight minutes from the break they won a free-kick. Cassar's swerving shot almost surprised Matthew Farrugia who just managed to tip the ball to a corner.

After the interval, Collins was forced to make his first change when Pablo Doffo failed to recover from a knock suffered in the first half and was replaced by Joseph Borg.

The woodwork denied Floriana an opener on 53 minutes when Ryan Darmanin was first to Cassar's free-kick but his dipping header came off the upright with Farrugia beaten.

However, four minutes later it was Qormi who struck when in a typical fast break, Alfred Effiong ran clear on the left before picking the unmarked Chetcuti who had little difficulty in beating the onrushing Paris.

Stung by that goal, Floriana increased their efforts to redress the imbalance but Qormi were proving a hard nut to crack.

Fifteen minutes from time the hard-working Marlon Briffa tried his luck from the distance but his rising shot finished just over.

Luck seemed to have deserted Floriana as ten minutes from time the woodwork again came to Farrugia's rescue.

Joseph Borg did well to meet Cassar's delivery inside the box but his firm header hit the bar with the Qormi keeper again beaten.

It was all Floriana now and on 86 minutes Farrugia produced a fine save to push to a corner Cassar's drive from the distance.

From the ensuing flag-kick, Cassar fed Anonam who fired a stinging drive that flew into the net much to the relief of the Greens clan... and coach Collins. Next up for him will be the derby against Valletta on Friday.

Floriana
B. Paris-6, J. Briffa-6, C. Ciantar-5.5, S. Eboh-6, O. Anonam-6.5, C. Cassar-7, P. Doffo-4 ('46 J. Borg-6), M. Briffa-7, R. Brincat-5 ('63 J. Brincat-5), C. Caruana-6 ('53 D. Pisani-5), R. Darmanin-5.5.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, R. Dos Santos-6.5, M. Grima-6, K. Fenech-6, A. Effiong-6, J. Chetcuti-6.5, J. Farrugia-7, K. Spiteri-6.5 ('84 S. Meilak), S. Wellman-5.5 ('55 R. Sammut-6), R. Deguara-6 ('75 M. Buttigieg), S. Pace-6.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Eboh, Anonam, Chetcuti, Ciantar, Wellman, Fenech.

BoV Player of the Match: Joseph Farrugia (Qormi).