Floriana failed to beat a determined St George’s side in this derby between the two oldest clubs on the Island. In the end the pioneers had the last laugh as they earned a more than deserved draw, their third this season.

The point earned lifts St George’s above Pieta and Marsa still anchored in the bottom of the table. For the Greens the performance and the result can be considered as rather disappointing. For Floriana these two points lost can have their toll at the end of the first phase, with the Greens searching for a place in the championship pool.

The ex-Floriana player Do Nascimento had a great game and kept the Floriana defence on edge whenever he got possession of the ball. Even Hammed contributed in attack. Lee Grima played a blinder in midfield with central defenders Sevasta and Conceicao giving a five-star performance. Even goalkeeper Paris was solid and was influential on the final result.

Manolito Micallef and captain Azzopardi were Floriana’s best. Christian Cassar and Trevor Cilia were in rather subdued form.

As was expected Floriana took control of the match from the start and the Pioneers of local football immediately retreated in their own area. Floriana were spearheaded by Wendell Gomes in attack helped by Buhagiar and Cilia.

Bernard Paris was immediately called in action saving a dengerous cross shot by Newell, and a shot by mano Micallef. On ten minutes a Cilia dangerous shot following a melee in front of goal was somehow blocked by a defender. However St George's also had their say in attack in the first part of the match and Lee Grima brought the best out of Camilleri with a 30-metre drive, and Camilleri was again called in action saving a Do Nascimento grounder.

St. George's grew in confidence with Do Nascimento showing some neat touches. On 27 minutes Do Nascimento did all the spade work on the left and passed to Hammed whose shot went inches wide. St George's finished the first half in crescendo as Floriana were unable to settle down. Do Nascimento was a constant menace and two minutes from time he dribbled past three Floriana defenders before testing Camilleri.

The second half started with Buhagiar's deflected shot saved by Paris, and the Saints wnet close with a Do Nascimento freekick saved by Camilleri. Hammed created havoc in the Greens' defence but Camilleri denied him with a brilliant save. On 62 minutes a Mano Micallef shot hit the side netting, with Caruana testing Paris with a low shot. Three minutes Floriana created the best chance when Buhagiar's shot beat Paris but Edgar degabriele saved a certain goal from the goal line.

On 67 minutes it was the Saints turn to create a good scoring opportunity with Hammed receiving from Grima but his shot from an ideal position went over the bar.

Ten minutes from time Bernard Paris saved a close range header by Azzopardi as Floriana kept their opponents inside their penalty area in the dying minutes of. On 84 minutes Wendell Gomes' shot on the turn went slightly over the bar.

The last minutes of added time were a nightmare for St George’s as they defended grimly as Floriana mounted an impressive series of corners that yielded no fruit.