SILVIO VELLA

An Eviparker headed goal early in the second half proved the match winner for Floriana in this keenly contested and much awaited derby between these struggling sides. The Greens were rewarded for their sheer perseverance as they snatched a precious win in their battle against relegation.

They are now only one point behind Hamrun Spartans and two adrift of both Valletta and Pieta, as the latter have a game in hand.

Always showing more pace and enthusiasm in their efforts, Floriana tried to breathe life back into their agonising season so far as they came back from a goal down to overturn the score. This derby win surely served as the right injection.

Their defence had few problems stifling Valletta's raids as the Citizens looked erratic in their finishing and rather poor in their delivery, lacking a creative force in midfield, where Floriana excelled, courtesy of the never tiring Cassar and Micallef. Cilia was also a constant menace with his forays on the right flank.

Valletta made some slight changes to their usual line-up, with starts to Debono and Bondin as Cassar and Mark Galea were relegated to the bench. The injured Forace was missing. Floriana had their not fully fit striker Mifsud sitting on the bench.

Valletta's early flurry brought them a quick lead. With only eight minutes on the clock, Zammit's header on a Grima long free-kick was palmed out by Floriana's keeper Agius and Branco Nisevic was on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. It seemed like Valletta's perfect start to new coach Paul Zammit's debut.

Floriana took stock though and battled their way into the game as Valletta conceded the initiative to their opponents.

On 18 minutes they were close to drawing level when Cilia's accurate cross from the right fell to Baldacchino who shot feebly at Sullivan in the Valletta goal.

Past the half hour, Floriana's replica produced a better result. Cilia again ran in from the right flank and Nicolo Baldacchino headed home his pin-point centre to restore equilibrium.

Soon after Baldacchino headed a Cassar free-kick over the bar as, at this stage, Floriana appeared to have the edge in power and confidence.

Just before the break, Valletta created a rare opening but Chukunyere skied the ball and the chance went to waste before an Agius weighted free-kick narrowly missed the target.

Six minutes after the restart, an Agius cross from the right took a deflection off Ciantar, who nearly committed an own goal, were it not for keeper Agius' timely intervention.

On 54 minutes, the Greens forged ahead. Anthony Eviparker nipped in from the blind side to head Cassar's sailing free-kick from the right past the helpless Sullivan.

That goal injected confidence into Floriana whose sharp passing game and long raking crosses had their opponents in a tizzy.

Valletta were quick to substitute Chukunyere with Mark Galea and later Grima with Camilleri as Floriana put in Adrian Mifsud for the last quarter hour.

Valletta's last desperate efforts proved futile as a Camilleri free-kick sailed across the face of the Floriana goal without no one near to connect and in the dying minutes, inside a crowded Floriana area, Agius' close shot had the Floriana keeper save instinctively with his feet to deny Valletta at least a point.

Valletta's future now looks bleak.

Floriana: S. Agius, I. Ciantar, K. Fabri, I. Azzopardi, R. Gango Rtsa, T. Cilia, J. Briffa, M. Micallef, C. Cassar (K. Formosa), A. Eviparker (C. Caruana), N. Baldacchino (A. Mifsud)

Valletta: S. Sullivan, J. Bondin, S. Pace, B. Nisevic, S. Bezzina, M. Grima (C. Camilleri), K. Fenech, A. Debono (D. Zarb), G. Agius, I. Zammit, N. Chukunyere (M. Galea)

Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, N. Baldacchino 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: B. Nisevic, N. Baldacchino, A. Eviparker

Yellow cards: I. Azzopardi, M. Grima, N. Baldacchino, J. Briffa, M. Micallef, S. Sullivan

Player of the match: C. Cassar (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. C. Cassar 2. T. Cilia 3. B. Nisevic