After this result Floriana consolidated second spot in the table having 37 points from 16 games assuring qualification for the Inter-Section Knock Out Competition. Despite playing below par in the first period they managed to turn the result in their favour with a better performance after resumption despite suffering a goal in the first period.

San Gwann lie fifth on 27 points from same number of games and a decider for a fourth placing against Rabat Depiro is very probable as the latter have 28 points also from 16 games.

The Greens were the first to threaten. The alert referee Andrew J. Sammut, had a firm control of the proceedings as Floriana threatened in th early stages but the San Gwann keeper kept them out with some fine saves.

Floriana’s Clyde Borg square-passed to Mark Spiteri who after beating an opponent had his shot from outside the area parried by Vella, Warren Cardona was then fouled by Marsala, who was very lucky not to have been shown a second yellow card, and from the free-kick shot by Mark Spiteri Vella was again forced to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

San Gwann forged ahead in the 24th minute. Quincy Bregman floated a perfect ball from a free-kick in Floriana’s area and with the Greens defenders failing to clear the ball, Dylan Mallia shot the ball in the roof of the net with a hard drive past a helpless keeper Said.

Two minutes after restart Floriana equalized. After a run down the left flank by Mark Spiteri he served Greg Marney with a through ball in the area, from the latter’s shot the ball seemed to have been cleared on the goal line by the San Gwann keeper, but assistant Pierre Saliba, who was up with the action, judged that the ball had crossed the line and flagged for a goal.

The referee agreed with Mr Saliba’s decision, pointed to the centre spot and awarded the goal. San Gwann supporters started hurling insults at Mr Saliba as they ran close to the fencing, but an intervention by a San Gwann and a Luxol ground official calmed down the situation within minutes.

Encouraged by such an early goal, Floriana started mounting pressure on their opponents by building attack after another.

They took the lead on 41 minutes. After a run down the left flank by Greg Marney he entered the area after beating two defenders and was floored by Gianluca Agius. The referee, who was very close to the action, pointed to the spot and showed the yellow card to the Saints defender. Mark Spiteri made no mistake with a hard drive sending Vella the wrong way of the ball.

The Greens kept pressing trying to increase their lead but Vella was in fine form.

In the last minute of normal time the Saints keeper was shown the red card after a second bookable offence.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

Player of the match: Mark Spiteri (Floriana)

* * *

Mosta 1

Melita 3

APS Bank U/14 Section A

Mosta are doomed for Section B next season as they have only obtained one point from 16 games and are lying bottom in the table, while Melita are in safer waters having 19 points from same number of games.

The Amateurs were the better outfit playing more methodical football, their short passing was a delight to watch and also managed to turn tables over their opponents after being in arrears early in the first period.

Melita were the first to threaten as Robert Magro dribbled past two defenders on the right flank and Mosta keeper Clayton Ebejer neutralized the ball from his cross and later saved a shot by Luke Sammut after he was put through in the area by Alan Borg Olivier. Mosta’s reaction was a through pass by Daniel Mizzi to Luke Fenech but Mark Attard foiled him from progressing any further with a timely clearance and from the same clearance.

Mosta opened the score on 11 minutes. Kearney Attard served Luke Fenech with a ball in the area and as Mark Attard failed to clear the ball, Attard came very close to the goal area and shot past Melita keeper David Cassar. Their joy was short-lived as Melita equalized in their next attack five minutes later. Marco Distefano served Borg Olivier with a perfect through ball in the area and as Cassar was late in his sortie he netted with a lobbed ball. And hardly five minutes later they turned the tide as Luke Bianco served Sammut with across from the left and Cassar fumbled the ball from the latter’s cross and rolled slowly behind the fatal line.

Very few were the actions worthy of note after resumption but Mosta reacted by creating two actions in succession. Melita put the issue beyond doubt by scoring a third goal through Borg Olivier after a cross from the left by Sammut.

Referee: Jean Pierre Sammut

Player of the match: Robert Magro (Melita)

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