Floriana-Marsaxlokk 4-3

Floriana yesterday came back from behind twice to beat Marsaxlokk by the odd goal in seven in a highly entertaining, albeit meaningless game with both sides presenting depleted formations.

It was Floriana's first victory in the Championship Pool but it did little to console them after a poor season where they have again remained out of European competition.

For Marsaxlokk, it was a training session in view of next week's FA Trophy semi-final against Msida, but they showed they need to tighten their defence to be successful.

Marsaxlokk quickly took the match in hand as they overwhelmed the Greens in the opening minutes during which they scored twice.

First it was Cleaven Frendo, on six minutes, who struck a fine 25 metre effort which beat goalie Farrugia while on the 10th minute, Malcolm Licari weaved his way into the Greens area to square the ball for Brian Caruana who had no difficulty in planting the ball home with a rising shot.

The Greens fought back to reduce the arrears on 22 minutes through a Craig Schembri header but Marsaxlokk were again in the driving seat two minutes later as Frendo set Edmond Thornton on the edge of the area for the latter to beat Farrugia with a low shot.

At the other end, on 28 minutes, it was EviParker who broke into the Marsaxlokk area to score with a low shot, making it 3-2. The teams were back on level terms on 35 minutes as Ryan Darmanin lobbed past Ivan Casha after a Cassar freekick was missed by the Marsaxlokk defence.

And the Greens almost took a sensational lead when on 44 minutes a Christian Cassar direct freekick hit the crossbar with Casha beaten.

The goals kept coming even in the second period as Floriana took the lead for the first time soon after the second half started. It was Manolito Micallef who concluded a fine move involving several players.

On 52 minutes, Eviparker had a header hitting the upright, but after that we had to wait till the 76th minute to see another shot at goal, though Christian Cassar was off target. And soon after Paiber almost scored an own goal off a Darmanin cross, but the ball hit the upright.

Floriana: D. Farrugia, J. Briffa (J. Brincat), C. Schembri, M. Caruana, C. Ciantar, C. Cassar, K. Formosa, M. Micallef, A. EviParker, T. Cilia (M. Gauci), R. Darmanin.

Marsaxlokk: I. Casha, M. Caruana, C. Paiber, C. Mamo, K. Mamo, A. Cassar, T. Templeman (B. Darmanin), M. Licari, C. Frendo (Ivanov Trendafilov), B. Caruana, E. Thornton (K. Gafa).

Referee: A. Azzopardi. Asst refs: I. Spiteri, J. Rapa. 4th official: L. Sammut.

Scorers: C. Frendo, B. Caruana, C. Schembri, E. Thornton, A. EviParker, R. Darmanin, M. Micallef

Yellow cards: M. Caruana, J. Briffa,

Player of match: C. Cassar

TMI Top 3: 1. C. Cassar; 2. C. Ciantar; 3. K. Mamo.