Martin Gregory's Qormi showed all their credentials yesterday when they humiliated Mosta following a five star display. The match was completely dominated by Qormi who were in a class of their own.

For Mosta it was the third successive defeat in the championship, even though they sprang the biggest surprise in the U*Bet FA Trophy when they managed to eliminate Floriana. But yesterday Alex Delia's team was a pale shadow of the team that ousted the Greens.

On the other part Qormi were by far the better team dominating all sectors of the field. Australian Talcevski was outstanding in midfield together with Farrugia and the polished Carmel Formosa. In attack Michael Borg Olivier was in lethal form scoring two goals in the early stages to put the Yellows on the right track.

Qormi dominated from the very first minute and went ahead after only nine minutes when Michael Borg Olivier headed in an Edward Azzopardi cross. Mosta failed to make an impact on the game and six minutes later Qormi were two goals up. It was Michael Borg Olivier who was on hand to shoot home the rebound after Mosta goalkeeper Galea could only partially block a Farrugia freekick.

Qormi were now in full command and a Farrugia effort from the edge of the area slightly missed the target. Mosta never really tested Matthew Farrugia, even if they started to get more in the game.

Qormi could have added a third goal on 25 minutes when Carmel Formosa passed to Talcevski whose close range shot was brilliantly blocked by Galea.

Just before the break a dangerous Joseph Farrugia freekick went slightly wide.

Qormi started the second half on the same crescendo with Borg Olivier missing the third goal when his shot went over the bar. Mosta's best chance came on 49 minutes when Philip Camilleri pounced on a loose ball just inside the area but his shot was blocked by Matthew Farrugia.

On 51 minutes Qormi scored their third goal when an Azzopardi corner was headed by Talcevski towards Zuccaro who nodded home from close range. Two minutes later Qormi scored their fourth goal when Talcevski received a long ball from defence, dribbled past two defenders before beating Galea with a low shot.

Mosta were now dead and buried and Qormi controlled the remaining minutes with relative ease.

Mqabba 2

Vittoriosa S. 2

Two late goals enabled lowly Vittoriosa to snatch a dramatic but deserved equaliser against high flying Mqabba. Mqabba were heading for a hard earned two-goal victory with seven minutes to go, a win that would have restored their sole leadership.

But Vittoriosa who played their best match of the season, continued to believe in their resources and eventually obtained the equaliser with two quick goals, leaving Mqabba in top spot but accompanied by Tarxien and Qormi.

The result is a fair one, in one of the most interesting matches of the season.

The first half was very balanced and keenly contested, with struggling Vittoriosa giving Mqabba a good run for their money. In fact the two-goal advantage by which Mqabba finished the first 45 minutes was more than flattering and was very harsh on the Stars.

Mqabba could not settle down as Vittoriosa pressed hard in midfield and in attack and the Mqabba defence passed through some anxious moments. Trevor Thomas and ex-player Anywanna were a constant menace as Mqabba sorely missed the presence of Mauro Bonnici in defence.

Cedric Sciberras and Donald Gatt battled in midfield with Albert Busuttil for the dominance of this vital sector.

On five minutes Thomas blasted high a good pass by Donald Gatt, and a minute later Trevor Thomas should have done better when he pounced on a Delia defensive blunder, but his weak shot was easily saved by Calleja.

Slowly but surely Mqabba started to show their better technical qualities. On 18 minutes John Paul Muscat passed to Chibueze who was denied by a brilliant Psaila save. Minutes later Anastasi chested the ball down for Chibueze who shot slightly over the bar.

On 35 minutes Mqabba took the lead. Anastasi passed to Chibueze whose shot slammed against the crossbar, but to Vittoriosa's dismay the ball rebounded off defender Justin Camilleri and into the net.

Vittoriosa had a strong reaction and the Mqabba goalkeeper effected two brilliant saves off shots by Thomas to keep his side in the lead. But on 42 minutes Mqabba doubled the score with a breath-taking goal on the break with Anastasi passing to John Paul Muscat who hammered the ball home from the edge of the area.

The second half was less intense with Vittoriosa constantly on the offensive, with the league leaders defending their two-goal cushion. On the first minute Thomas passed to Sciberras who missed a sitter in front of goal, a chance that could have made a drastic change to the match. On 59 minutes Mqabba went close with a good shot on the turn by John Paul Muscat well saved by Psaila.

On 72 minutes substitute Privitelli made his way inside the area beating a couple of defenders, but yet again Kris Calleja was on the alert and blocked his dangerous shot. But Calleja could do nothing on 83 minutes to block Ivan Zammit's shot that finished at the back of the net.

Mqabba should have wrapped the match a minute later but Chibueze's grounder hit the upright. On 87 minutes Vittoriosa obtained a dramatic equaliser when Kris Calleja mistimed his sortie, Anywanna crossed to Thomas who headed home from close range.