Floriana: M. Camilleri, D. Pisani, M. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, R. Gango Rtsa, C. Cassar, A. Mifsud, T. Cilia, K. Formosa (M. Gauci), W. Gomes (A. Buhagiar), C. Caruana
Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, M. Grima, B. Nisevic, R. Forace, I. Zammit, U. Edafe (S. Bezzina), D. Camilleri, D. Falzon, G. Agius (K. Fenech), S. Monesterolo
Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: S. Monesterolo (2), A. Mifsud
Yellow cards: G. Agius, K. Formosa, U. Edafe, C. Cassar, R. Gango Rtsa, M. Caruana
Player of the match: Sebastian Monesterolo (Valletta)
TMI top three: 1. S. Monesterolo 2. I. Zammit 3. M. Camilleri
Two goals by the league's top marksman Sebastian Monesterolo, enabled Valletta to win this derby against neighbours Floriana to consolidate third place in the standings, having won their last five matches.
Looking superior to their opponents for most of the game, Valletta increased the pace after a slow start to keep Floriana under constant pressure. Lacking in terms of real entertainment, the much awaited match only came to life in the final 25 minutes, that is, after Floriana pulled a goal back after trailing 2-0.
Buoyed by previous wins, the two coaches fielded an almost unchanged side. Monesterolo returned for Valletta, relegating Zarb to the bench and Christian Caruana started the match for Floriana instead of the suspended Micallef.
The early exhanges were competitive rather than cohesive and during the first quarter hour there was only a half chance at each end. Keeper Darmanin saved Pisani's long range shot and Floriana custodian Camilleri footed Monesterolo's effort into a corner.
On 20 minutes Floriana's Gomes limped off, to be substituted by Buhagiar and soon Valletta started to look menacing, going close with efforts from Falzon and Agius.
On 38 minutes they forged ahead. Sebastian Monesterolo ran in from the blind side, as the Floriana defence failed to shut him out, to meet Zammit's deep cross from the right and hammer the ball at the roof of the net.
Galvanised by that goal, Valletta sought defensive security after the restart. Floriana struggled to penetrate a watertight defence and Valletta still looked the more dangerous when they funneled their own attacks.
On 63 minutes, on a fast break Valletta doubled their lead. Monesterolo galloped down the left flank and beat the challenge of Gango Rtsa and Azzopardi before slotting the ball past Camilleri at the far post.
Floriana pulled one back two minutes later. Christian Caruana's free-kick from the right was headed by Adrian Mifsud against the post and rebounded over the line despite the frantic efforts of the Valletta defenders.
That goal inflicted some self belief into the Floriana side who upped the tempo as they kept going forward in furious waves.
In the dying minutes, Monesterolo nearly caught Camilleri out of his line with a goal-bound lob but the Floriana custodian made amends with an elastic save into a corner. And Matthew Camilleri again denied David Camilleri, blocking his shot from close range.