Marsaxlokk-Floriana 4-2

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari (S. Bajada), C. Mamo, L. Dimech, S. Wellman, G. Sciberras (A. Da Silva), C. Frendo, J. Pace, A. Schembri, K. Sammut, D. Bogdanovic (H. Doda)

Floriana: S. Agius, J. Briffa (M. Caruana), R. Gango Rtsa, R.Newell, I. Azzopardi, T. Cilia (C. Caruana), C. Cassar, M. Micallef, M. Brincat (M. Gauci), W. Gomes, A. Mifsud

Referee: P. Caruana, Ass. referees: K. Borg, M. Debono 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: D. Bogdanovic (3), W. Gomes, A. Mifsud (pen), I. Azzopardi o.g.

Yellow cards: S. Agius, A. Mifsud, G. Sciberras, M. Micallef, C. Frendo

Player of the match: Daniel Bogdanovic (Marsaxlokk)

TMI best three: 1. D. Bogdanovic 2. C. Frendo, 3. R. Gango Rtsa

So, Marsaxlokk’s surge goes on, their third successive win provided by a glorious Bogdanovic hat-trick in a pulsating match of see-saw fortunes. They now join Msida and Hibernians temporarily at the top of the standings.

A good first half and a strong finish to the match, enabled them to edge fighting Floriana, who succumbed to their first league defeat after four outings. Floriana were looking for maximum points after dropping four in their previous two matches but although they fought bravely, they were only allowed to put their mark on the match in flashes, especially in a 20-minute spell after their 1-1 draw.

Purposeful and determined as well as penetrative on the break, Marsaxlokk were good value for their advantage by halftime, even missing a penalty, but Floriana bounced back after the interval and managed to restore equilibrium early in the second half.

Marsaxlokk dropped Da Silva, Doda and Bajada, giving starts to Sammut, Schembri and the returning Dimech from suspension. Floriana’s only change from the previous match was the inclusion of Mauro Brincat for Christian Caruana.

For the first 20 minutes, Floriana were forced to absorb much of Matsaxlokk’s pressure.

The Southseasiders, riding on their present good form, went close after seven minutes. Frendo, charging in from the left, had his shot blocked by keeper Agius.

The Floriana strikers, Mifsud and Gomes, were starved of service until the former’s shot on the turn, on Brincat’s pass, was deflected into a corner.

Marsaxlokk could have gone in front on 20 minutes when the Floriana keeper rushed out of his line to intercept Bogdanovic’s progress, tripping the Marsaxlokk striker in the process to concede a penalty. But Bogdanovic himself lofted the ball from the spot kick and the chance went to waste.

Floriana’s pace gathered momentum after that and towards the half hour they too went close of breaking the duck.

Challenged by Licari, Gomes sprinted inside the Marsaxlokk area on the left. Keeper Gauci lost the ball when rushing out at his feet but as Gomes shot at an open goal, the sliding Sciberras deflected the ball against the foot of the post and into safety.

Marsaxlokk did one better on 35 minutes. Sammut delivered a low centre from the right and with nobody to connect, Daniel Bogdanovic, standing at the far end, made easy work, sliding the ball past the helpless Agius.

Gauci was called to block Mifsud’s headed effort on Brincat’s cross but for the remaining minutes of the first half, a more aggressive Marsaxlokk started to toy with their opponents.

Floriana started the second half in more lively fashion and a couple of incursions by Cilia caused some anxious moments to the Marsaxlokk rearguard, which leaked water on 52 minutes, conceding Wendell Gomes’ equaliser with a deflected shot.

That goal sapped Marsaxlokk’s brittle confidence, as they suddenly lost their composure. Coach Talbot tried to regroup his side by putting in Da Silva for Sciberras past the hour as Floriana hassled and harried them into a plethora of errors.

Gradually, Marsaxlokk pulled themselves back into the game though as Daniel Bogdanovic exhibited all his scoring touches. On 70 minutes. Frendo robbed Caruana of the ball, advanced on the right flank and served the unmarked Bogdanovic to beat Agius with a low close shot. Five minutes later, Bogdanovic added to Floriana’s woes with a powerful strike on Schembri’s cross to give his side a two-goal lead.

But the match was far from over. Floriana earned a penalty for Licari’s foul on Christian Cassar and with ten minutes remaining, Adrian Mifsud reduced the arrears from the spot kick.

All Floriana’s hopes flickered away on the stroke of time when defender Azzopardi deflected Frendo’s cross into his own net to clear Marsaxlokk’s progress in the standings.