Pietà Hotspurs boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop when they eased past bottom side Żebbuġ Rangers 3-1 at the National Stadium.

After a balanced opening it was Pietà who drew first blood on 25 minutes when Ricardo Costa picked Kyle Cesare at the far post and the young midfielder hit a rasping drive that flew into the net.

The Hotspurs remained on top but for all their possession they rarely created any scoring opportunities.

Instead, it was Żebbuġ who restored equilibrium a minute from the break when Paltemio Barbetti’s througball put Luke Montebello clear and the former Valletta striker blasted the ball past David Cassar, the Pietà goalkeeper.

The goal spurred the Rangers forward and a minute later Mauricio Britto almost grabbed a second but his shot flashed past the upright.

On the restart, Pietà regained the initiative and on 48 minutes Claudio Frances moved past two defenders but his deflected shot finished just over.

On 75 minutes Costa showed great footwork but was upended by Barbetti on the edge of the area.

From the resultant free-kick, Frances hit a scorching low drive that flew into the bottom corner of the net.

Pietà all but wrapped up the points ten minutes from time when from a Frances corner-kick, Leonardo Fortunato nodded the ball into the path of Gabriel who volleyed the ball home from close in.

Pietà midfielder Claudio Frances was voted as the BOV Player of the match.