Marsaxlokk 1

Floriana 0

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, M. Licari, C. Magro, C. Paiber, S. Tellus, K. Mamo, T. Templeman, S. Bajada, A. Schembri (J. Pace), C. Frendo, M. Trendafilov (I. Zammit).

Floriana: R. Gauci, M. Caruana, A. Da Silva (M. Gauci), J. Briffa, J. Schembri Craig (M. Micallef), R. Gango-Rtsa, A. Eviparker, M. Brincat, S. Wellman, T. Cilia, N. Baldacchino (R. Darmanin).

Referee: L. Sammut Asst refs: C. Micallef, Ms E. Farrugia 4th official: M. Borg

Scorer: S. Bajada

Yellow cards: M. Trendafilov, A. Da Silva, T. Templeman, S. Wellman, M. Licari

Red card: S. Wellman

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. R. Debono 2. C. Frendo 3. S. Wellman.

Marsaxlokk overcame Floriana's first half resilience with a solitary goal scored by former Greens' player Shaun Bajada and then, belatedly, began to mount some sustained pressure in the second period to fully deserve their win. This was their first in the Championship Pool, and moves them four points clear of bottom side Floriana.

The Greens can only blame themselves, and some quality goalkeeping from Debono, for having nothing to show for all their first half efforts. Their deficiencies, mostly from the inept Evi Parker, in front of the opposing goal, again hampered them from reaping any dividends for all their attacking play during the first 45 minutes.

After falling behind to Marsaxlokk's shocking lead, they lost their composure in the second half and they never came to terms with the pace and persistence of their opponents.

Marsaxlokk, who had Charlo' Magro replacing the suspended Carlo Mamo in defence, again deployed Licari as right full back.

Both sides started the match with attacking intentions - in search of their first league win in the Championship Pool.

Floriana, without defender Azzopardi, however dominated most of the first half and carved the better openings, only to be denied by a superb Debono in the Marsaxlokk goal. Debono was soon called to tip over the bar Eviparker's firm header on Briffa's free-kick and then Eviparker caught the Marsaxlokk defence on the hop but failed to capitalise, shooting straight over the keeper's stretched body.

Brincat's corner on the half hour was headed by Eviparker but Bajada was well placed and saved on the goal line. Five minutes later Baldacchino's diagonal shot was parried by keeper Debono who then again recovered on time to flick Eviparker's effort on the loose ball into a corner. A Brincat dipper five minutes from the break forced Debono into another top save.

Marsaxlokk's threats came mainly from fast breaks, aimed at Schembri and Frendo. The former twice looked menacing with his forays on the left flank, although kept under good check by Gango Rtsa. Frendo squandered a good chance on 20 minutes when keeper Gauci rushed out to block at his feet.

And the soutseasiders broke the deadlock against the run of play on the stroke of half-time. Trendafilov played a ball forward from midfield which caught the Floriana rearguard in disarray. The unmarked Frendo crossed low for the unattended Shaun Bajada to shoot in from close range, against his former team.

The goal sapped away the wind from Floriana's sails as Marsaxlokk looked more enterprising after the re-start.

Frendo chased Licari's long ball forward. His volley was tipped into a corner by Gauci, again forced to block a Trendafilov's shot shortly after.

On 51 minutes Floriana put in Micallef for Schembri Craig and four minutes later they were also forced to substitute the injured Da Silva with Gauci.

Marsaxlokk however continued to control the proceedings and defended their narrow lead with minimal difficulty as Floriana needed more cohesion to break them down.

Tame efforts from Brincat and Eviparker did little to bother the Marsaxlokk defence.

Floriana went closest in the late stages. Wellman's fierce free-kick was punched out by keeper Debono but Briffa skied the loose ball to the relief of Marsaxlokk.

And to rub salt inside Floriana's wounds, Wellman's crude tackle on Frendo on the stroke of normal time, brought about his second yellow card and automatic dismissal.

During six minutes of added time, Marsaxlokk could have wrapped up the game when Frendo went past keeper Gauci inside the area, but defender Caruana managed to block his goal bound effort into a corner.

But when the remaining chaotic minutes were over, Marsaxlokk were still winning thanks to Bajada's only goal.