A solitary goal scored by league top scorer Daniel Bogdanovic was enough for league leaders Marsaxlokk to beat Floriana and extend their lead on top of the table. This was Marsaxlokk's third 1-0 victory on the trot, and the 12th successive match without a defeat.

The victory was a deserved one even though Talbot's boys never set houses on fire. The inclusion of Kevin Sammut and Jamie Pace, at the start of the second period, paid rich dividends for the south seasiders. Apart from Bogdanovic who scored his 15th goal of the season, thus joining Valletta's Monesterolo as top scorer, the other striker Haruna Doda played a very intelligent match, one of his best this season.

Floriana have only themselves to blame for this defeat, a defeat that makes them firm candidates for the relegation pool. They opted for a defensive formation at the start of the match, thus leaving the initiative in their opponents' hands. With the inclusion of Christian Caruana and Trevor Cilia in the last part of the match, the Greens were a transformed lot, with Marsaxlokk at sixes and sevens. In fact Floriana, with some luck, could have even obtained a dramatic equaliser.

Marsaxlokk confirmed the same line up of their last outing against Valletta, while Floriana made some changes, welcoming back Manolito Micallef and Ryan Newell, but with Christian Caruana relegated to the substitute's bench.

The league leaders enjoyed the lions' share in the first half. Da Silva played a blinder in midfield, with Daniel Bogdanovic always menacing whenever he got possession of the ball.

Luke Dimech and Shaun Tellus kept a constant watch on Floriana's only striker Adrian Mifsud. The Floriana attack looked very pale and inefficient and the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper was never tested in the first 45 minutes.

Defender Shaun Tellus was lucky when he escaped the second yellow card following a nasty foul in midfield.

After a rather quiet start, Marsaxlokk took full control of the match with Daniel Bogdanovic creating all the trouble for the Greens' defence. On 19 minutes Bogdanovic received a long ball from defence, and all alone in front of Camilleri he managed to dribble past the Floriana custodian but his rather weak shot at goal was saved off the line by Mario Caruana.

On 36 minutes Matthew Camilleri effected a brilliant save off a well executed freekick by Bogdanovic. From the same corner kick taken by Frendo, Bogdanovic's shot on the turn hit the crossbar. Three minutes from the break Da Silva started the move and his shot slightly missed the base of the upright after a good move with Doda.

At the start of the second half, coach Brian Talbot surprisingly left Da Silva in the dressing room together with Tellus, introducing Sammut and Jamie Pace. Marsaxlokk looked more aggressive and were rewarded on 53 minutes when Doda passed to Bogdanovic who beat the offside trap and scored with a low shot.

With the Greens' reaction nowhere to be seen, Marsxalokk went close again ten minutes later with a good Doda shot from the edge of the area, that was well saved by Matthew Camilleri.

Floriana dominated the last minutes of the match creating several scoring chances. Nine minutes from time Christian Caruana, all alone in front of goal, lobbed the ball over the onrushing Reuben Debono, but defender Luke Dimech covered well to clear the ball off the goal line. Five minutes later Ian Azzopardi tested Debono with a good shot on the turn and in injury time Adrian Mifsud shot inches wide to miss the last scoring opportunity for the Greens.

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Floriana: M. Camilleri, A. Mifsud, C. Cassar, M. Micallef, K. Formosa (T. Cilia), J. Briffa, R. Gangortsa (M. Gauci), I. Azzopardi, D. Pisani, R. Newell (C. Caruana), M. Caruana

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

Referee: C. Pisani. Ass. Referees: Ms. E. Farrugia, C. Micallef, 4th official: P. Caruana

Yellow cards: S.Tellus, M. Licari, J. Briffa, G. Sciberras

Scorer: D. Bogdanovic

Player of the match: Daniel Bogdanovic (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Bogdanovic 2. R. Gangortsa 3. M. Camilleri