Marsaxlokk 5
Camilleri 13; Alcorse 43, 55, 73 pen.,90
Floriana 2
Anonam 28; Eboh 83
Marsaxlokk bolstered their chances of claiming a top-four finish this season after cruising to a 5-2 victory over an erratic Floriana side yesterday.
It was a match that failed to arouse much interest among both sets of fans as Marsaxlokk and Floriana are both out of the title race.
The honours on the day went to Marsaxlokk as Julio Alcorse inspired his side with a well-taken poker that lifted the Blues to fourth place in the standings, level with Sliema Wanderers on 17 points. The latter meet Birkirkara this afternoon.
Floriana turned in another poor performance yesterday, especially at the back where their shoddy defending left them with a mountain to climb after Orosco Anonam had cancelled out Chris Camilleri's opener for Marsaxlokk.
The Greens, who are also out of contention for a berth in the Europa League, must show a marked improvement in their remaining five league matches if they are to end their campaign on a positive note.
With the exception of striker Dylan Kokavessis who has a cartilage injury, Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi had a full squad for yesterday's match.
Floriana, who drew 1-1 with Old Firm rivals Sliema Wanderers in their previous outing, were without influential striker Christian Caruana who was serving a one-match ban while goalkeeper Steffen Suessner is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Striker Ryan Darmanin was deemed only fit to start on the bench. Brazilian Paolo Rogerio Da Silva has been released by Floriana.
The early exchanges of yesterday's match were short on fast and creative football.
It was Marsaxlokk who threatened first after 10 minutes when Kevin Sammut's curling free-kick was well blocked by the alert Glenn Zammit, the Floriana keeper.
The southerners kept up the pressure and three minutes later they opened the scoring. Marcelo Pereira's teasing cross from the right was exquisitely met by Camilleri whose firm volley sailed into the net.
Two minutes later, Camilleri went close again with a long-range shot that ended just wide.
Parity was restored on 28 minutes when Marlon Briffa picked out Pablo Doffo just inside the area and the Argentine quickly set up Anonam who beat Reuben Debono with a bold drive.
Thereafter, the match hit a drab patch with both sides struggling to create any scoring chances. That changed two minutes from the end of the first half when Julian Briffa tried to pass the ball back to his goalkeeper but failed to notice the presence of Alcorse who fully profited from the situation to lob the ball over Zammit.
Soon after the restart, Floriana almost levelled matters when Anonam capitalised on sloppy defending by Renato Conceicao but the Nigerian-born player hesitated a second too long and Marsaxlokk managed to clear.
Six minutes into the second half, the Greens were awarded a free-kick just outside the area but Mauro Brincat's swerving drive was well blocked by Debono.
At the other end, Doffo came to Floriana's rescue when he somehow kept out Malcolm Licari's drive with Zammit beaten.
On 54 minutes, it was the turn of Doffo to try his luck from a free-kick but his thumping drive was pushed away by Debono.
However, it was Marsaxlokk who all but secured the three points on 55 minutes when Pereira's through-ball trickled past Floriana's Duncan Pisani and into the path of Alcorse who beat Zammit with a low strike.
On 66 minutes, Brincat saw Debono out of position and tried to surprise him with a lob but the ball sailed just over the bar.
Marsaxlokk increased their lead 17 minutes from time when Pereira was floored in the area by substitute Steve Bonnici and Alcorse made no mistake from the resultant penalty to complete his hat-trick.
Floriana narrowed the deficit seven minutes from the end when defender Sunday Eboh met Mauro Brincat's free-kick and beat Debono with a downward header.
In stoppage time, Alcorse put further gloss to Marsaxlokk's win. Pereira was the provider with a pass to Alcorse whose grounder gave the helpless Zammit no chance.
Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6, M. Licari-6 ('77 T. Templeman), C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Conceicao-6, B. Said-6, K. Sammut-6, P. Pullicino-6.5 ('67 C. Cassar-6), J. Alcorse-7, C. Camilleri-6.5 ('77 M. Barbara), M. Pereira-6.5.
Floriana
G. Zammit-5, D. Pisani-5, S. Eboh-6, J. Briffa-5, P. Doffo-6.5, J. Borg-5 ('64 S. Bonnici-5), C. Camoin-5 ('71 J. Brincat), M. Brincat-6.5, M. Briffa-6, O. Anonam-7, D. Zarb-5 ('64 L. Agius-5).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Eboh; Alcorse.
BoV player of the match: Julio Alcorse (Marsaxlokk).