Luxol maintained sole leadership in the Gatorade League after a hard-earned 4-3 win over strong contenders and second-placed team Ħamrun Spartans.
This top-of-the-table clash attracted a sizeable crowd to the pavilion with both teams producing entertaining fare. In the end, Luxol clinched victory to move five points clear at the top.
Luxol broke the deadlock in their first attacking foray after two minutes when Ħamrun’s Melo Jose diverted the ball into his own net after being pressed by William Barbosa.
Shortly afterwards, Croatian player-coach Frane Despotovic fired a shot that gave Clint Mifsud no chance to double the score for the champions.
The Spartans regrouped and started seeing more of the ball. In less than three minutes, they pulled back to two-all.
First, it was Michel Melo Jose who finished a solo run with a grounder that had the better of Luxol keeper Nicholas Farrugia.
Before both teams headed for the dressing rooms, Ħamrun grabbed an equaliser when Losada Teruel slid the ball home after an inviting pass from Rodrigo.
Luxol started the second half with renewed confidence. They regained the lead with a Zvezdan Vukovic goal after he pounced on a loose ball.
At this point, Spartans mentor Paul Rapa opted for Peter Pullicino as their flying keeper to apply more pressure on the Luxol defence.
However, in one of their quick breaks, Luxol hit the target for a fourth time as Despotovic shot into an open goal.
Brazilian Rodrigo pulled one back less than three seconds from time but there was no time left for the Spartans to save the match.
In another league game, Mqabba ended their six-match winless streak after edging past Żebbuġ Rangers 7-6.
Kevin Loughborough’s team were a different lot from their previous outings as they showed more commitment to obtain their third victory of the season.
Matthew Buttigieg was in fine form after notching a hat-trick for Mqabba while Thomas Consoli, Leandros Calleja, Ryan Mifsud and Miguel Alcaraz also put their names on the scoresheet for the winners.
Matchday 12 of the championship ends tonight as Lija take on Msida St Joseph while in the late kick-off, Sliema face Swieqi United.
Standings
Luxol 36; Ħamrun 31; Valletta 28; Lija 27; Swieqi 21; Msida 19; Sirens 16; Sliema, Żebbuġ 15; Mqabba 10; Marsaskala 7; Qrendi, Mdina 6; Gozo 0.