This game was watched by a sizeable crowd. Floriana registered a first win after three games while Valletta are still without any points from the same number of games.

The first action came from Valletta as Greens’ keeper Kyle Gerada had to fist the ball away from a Yessous Camilleri free kick. At the other end, a free kick by Glenn Agius was cleared away by a City defender.

From a cross by Clyde Borg the ball was partially cleared and Franklin Abela’s rebound missed City’s upright. Gerada then neutralised in two attempts a cross by Justin Camenzuli and foiled Baldasser Sammut with a timely sortie after a Zammit through ball.

On 16 minutes Floriana forged ahead. Clyde Borg put Dylan Balzia through in the area who headed past City keeper Dunstan Zarb who came out of his charge to narrow the angle. Hardly a minute later Karl Azzopardi pounced on a faulty clearance but Zarb saved his shot.

A Tonio Mackay shot was turned to corner by Gerada and Mark Spiteri, son of ex-international referee with same name, put Balzia through but he shot high with only Zarb to beat.

The Citizens had more of the exchanges after the resumption with Floriana defending well and trying to act on the break. Camilleri put Mackay through but Gerada foiled him with a timely sortie and Zarb did likewise foiling Mark Spiteri after a through ball by Glenn Agius.

Neil Chircop won a loose ball in Floriana’s half but his shot missed the upright and Gerada saved on Sammut after an Adrian Carabott through ball.

Balzia headed over City’s bar after a Spiteri free kick. From a Sammut flag kick, a header by Carabott was cleared off the line by a Greens defender.

Three minutes before the final whistle, Carabott was fouled just outside Floriana’s area and from the resultant free kick taken by Sammut, Gerada brought the house down with a fine save to a corner.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Player of Match: Franklin Abela (Floriana)

Melita 1

Paola H 0

The Paolites are on maximum points from three games while the Amateurs have four points from the same number of games.

Paola H had more of the exchanges throughout the game. But the first action came from Melita as Philip Zammit put Andrea Muscat through but he drove over the bar with only Hibs’ keeper Julian Spiteri to beat.

At the other end, Elkien Cauchi passed to Matthew Gauci who drove out from outside the area. Michael Formosa put Muscat through but a Hibs defender cleared to corner.

Formosa then put Muscat through the latter crossed to Timothy Hampton who missed Paola’s upright with his shot. From a flag kick by Matthew Gauci, Melita’ keeper Justin Attard Montalto saved a header by Daniel Grima and from another flag kick by Gauci no one managed to apply the killer touch.

A minute before halftime Paola H scored the all-important goal when Jean P. Farrugia pounced on a faulty goal kick by Attard Montalto and netted with a rising shot.

Paola H resumed their pressure after the restart with Melita trying to act on the break. Tristan Caruana put Randall Refalo through but a Melita defender cleared the ball to corner.

Yan Cauchi put Refalo through whose shot missed the upright. Then Gauci put Andre Farrugia through and Attard Montalto turned his shot to corner, while from a Gauci flag kick a header by Matthew Tabone missed the bar by inches.

In Melita’s only attack six minutes before the end they nearly equalised as a shot by Tobias Terpougoff missed the upright after a Beppe Cassar through ball.

Referee: Josef Bartolo

Player of Match: Matthew Gauci (Paola H)