Valletta finished their commitments in the first phase with a rather easy win against bottom of the table Mosta. The Citizens were the better team displaying some good football in the process with Claude Mattocks and youngster Dylan Zarb in splendid form.

Monesterolo showed all his worth with some neat touches, and this player could be an asset for Valletta in the future. Valletta were in sharper form compared to their last outing against the Spartans, as they practically scored the chances created.

Gilbert Agius, Craig Dean and Keith Fenech played their hearts out in midfield with Massimo Grima solid at the back.

Mosta should now concentrate all their resources on the Relegation Pool battles, where they still can have their say. Dyson Falzon was very good, but rather isolated in attack, with Nwoko showing some flashes of his sizzling dribbling qualities. Although soundly beaten however, the boys in red were not outclassed yesterday by their more fancied opponents.

Both teams started the match without their regular goalkeepers, with Montfort and Charles Sciberras called for duty, leaving regulars Sullivan and Farrugia on the bench. However both sides had important returns to their side, namely Udo Nwoko for Mosta and Argentine Monesterolo for Valletta.

Mosta were very aggressive in the opening minutes with Falzon, Chibueze and Nwoko putting pressure on Grima, Nisevic and Cassar. In fact the Valletta custodian Miguel Montfort had to rush out of position on two occasions to block the Mosta foreign strikers.

However Valletta forged ahead in their first real break on ten minutes when Dylan Zarb did all the spade work with a good run on the right, before passing to Claude Mattocks who slotted home from close range. For Mattocks this was his first goal in the Citizens' white strip since joining them from Sliema in January.

On 23 minutes another good move by Dylan Zarb who won a tackle in the heart of the Mosta penalty area and passed to the onrushing Gilbert Agius whose shot was blocked by Sciberras. Valletta increased the pressure and were rewarded with their second goal two minutes later. Mattocks passed to Monesterolo who shot low into the corner of the net after neatly controlling Mattocks' pass.

Dyson Falzon, surely his side's best in the opening part created havoc in the City defence but his shot went inches wide. Before half time Gilbert Agius had a fine run from midfield but his shot went well over the bar.

The second half started with a good move between Gilbert Agius and Mattocks with the latter's shot hitting the side netting. On the hour Monesterolo tested Sciberras with a good grounder.

On 63 minutes Valletta scored their third goal, when a Gilbert Agius corner was headed by Monesterolo towards Mattocks who headed past Sciberras from close range.

Mark Brincat had a good chance for Mosta, but he blasted high from the edge of the area. The match dragged on with Valletta moving around the pitch with relative ease and with Mosta unable to create a real threat to their rearguard.

Mosta: C. Sciberras, P. Scriha, M. Spasic, D. Okonkwo, M. Bartolo, P. Camilleri, I. Chibueze, U. Nwoko, M. Brincat (S. Borg), R. Newell, D. Falzon (L. Cilia)

Valletta: M. Montfort, K. Cassar (S. Pace), B. Nisevic, M. Grima, R. Forace (S. Bezzina), C. Mattocks, C. Dean (C. Camilleri), K. Fenech, D. Zarb, S. Monesterolo, G. Agius.

Referee: C. Lautier, asst. refs: K. Borg, J. Rapa 4th official: K. Azzopadi.

Scorers: C. Mattocks (2), S. Monesterolo

Yellow cards: M. Spasic, B. Nisevic, K. Cassar

Player of the match: Claude Mattocks (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. C. Mattocks 2. D. Zarb 3. D. Falzon