the top position of the Premiere League table was at stake.

The Southseasiders were fielding a more or less full team with their stalwarts, Bogdanovic, Schembri and Da Silva in the starting line-up whilst Msida had to do without the services of Omar Borg and Daniel Nwoke.

The first minutes saw both sides studying each other’s movements with no team appearing in any sort of goalmouth action as the game was being played in midfield.

Marsaxlokk had the first real chance on 10 minutes when a Frendo-Schembri interchange saw the latter shoot just wide with Bartolo left helpless.

Marsaxlokk took a deserved lead on 12 minutes when Schembri passed to Bogdanovic who curled a beautiful shot into the top corner leaving Bartolo rooted. Minutes later, the same forward could have doubled for the Southseasiders but his conclusion ended up wide after another fine cross by Schembri.

The Southseasiders continued showing their supremacy and were unlucky not to double their lead on 24 minutes. An inch perfect corner by Frendo was superbly met by Mamo whose header smashed against the crossbar. Another fine move finished up with a shot by Andre Schembri which was well parried by Bartolo on 32 minutes.

Msida were looking livelier as they tried to regain equilibrium but they could not find a scoring chance to bring the match to level terms.

A goalmouth melee’ in the dying seconds of half time almost saw an Msida goal but Gauci managed to punch the ball away. Seconds later, Baldacchino missed a golden chance to equalize but he shot well wide from an excellent position.

Marsaxlokk continued strongly at the start of the second half with a fine free- kick by Frendo ending up just wide on 52 minutes.

On 58 minutes, Kevin Sammut was felled in the box by Bartolo who was duly booked for his trip. Bogdanovic notched up his second and his side’s second with a coolly taken penalty.

In this unlikely top of the table clash between the new high fliers Marsaxlokk and Msida,

Schembri was released again on 62 minutes and with only Bartolo to beat he lobbed the Msida keeper who responded by punching the ball from a dubious position that appeared to be outside the box.

However, the third goal finally came on 67 minutes with Schembri finishing delightfully after some good work on the left by Frendo.

That put the match beyond any doubt with Marsaxlokk threatening several times to increase their winning margin.

* * *

Marsaxlokk: Gauci, Mamo, Wellmann, Sammut, Dimech, Sciberras, Da Silva (Tellus), Frendo (Mamo), Bogdanovic, Schembri (Doda), Pace

Msida SJ: Bartolo, Grima (Ellul), Sciriha (Vella), Farrugia, Mifsud, Pullicino, Baldacchino, Zongo, Fenech (Ellul), Babatunde, Sciberras

Referee: A.Azzopardi asst refs: I. Spiteri, J. Camilleri 4th official: A. Gambin

Scorers: D. Bogdanovic (2) (1 pen), A. Schembri

Yellow Cards: Sciberras, Babatunde, Bartolo, Sciriha, Frendo

TMI Top Three: 1.Frendo 2.Bogdanovic 3. Schembri