St George’s: B. Paris, B. Fenech (S. Hammad), R. Conceciao, C. Brincat, J.

Spiteri, L. Mizzi, H. Schembri, E. Sevasta, K. Darmanin(T. Abela), L. Lagana, E. Degabriele

Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin (J. Grioli), M. Grima, B. Nisevic, S. Bezzina, D. Camilleri, U. Edafe (K. Fenech), D. Falzon, I. Zammit, G. Agius, S. Monesterolo

(M. Barbara)

Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, J. Rapa 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: M. Grima, S. Monesterolo

Yellow cards: E. Sevasta, S. Monesterolo

Player of the match: Bernard Paris (St George’s)

TMI top three: 1. G. Agius 2. B. Paris 3. D. Camilleri

Valletta’s firepower enabled them to down St George’s resistance and win more comfortably than the final scoreline suggests. They now join Sliema Wanderers in third place.

Two well taken goals gave them a good cushion by halftime and only

the Saints’ keeper Bernard Paris denied them further goals in the second half with a string of fine saves’ to confirm the high level of goalkeeping witnessed during this weekend.

St George’s made several changes from the side which played a goalless draw against Pieta at the end of the year, with notable absentees being Grima, Formosa and Do Nascimento.

Hard as they tried to play their usual passing game and defend cautiously, St George’s were always second best to superior opponents and their defence was often ripped apart by Valletta’s exciting attacks.

As expected, Valletta, who were without Forace, made the early running and threatened the St George’s goal on a couple of occasions before taking the lead on 21 minutes. Agius’ cross from the left found Massimo Grima standing unmarked at the far end to beat keeper Paris with a firm header.

The Saints’ flaccid reaction was a Brincat free-kick to which Spiteri failed to connect in front of goal.

But Valletta kept their grip on the match and even contrived to miss other scoring opportunities before the break. When Camilleri played a perfect ball to the unmarked Zammit, the latter hesitated too long, perhaps doubting his position, and finally his tame lob was saved by Paris.

Then, on Falzon’s cross from the left, both Monesterolo and Agius had successive shots blocked by the grounded keeper.

Valletta deservedly doubled their lead in added time. The move was again

engineered by skipper Agius, who played a through ball to Sebastian Monesterolo on the left, enabling him to flick the ball underneath the onrushing keeper’s body to give his side a comfortable cushion at halftime.

Valletta kept basking in their superiority even after the restart, putting in Fenech for Edafe. The substitute crossed for Monesterolo to head towards goal but Paris saved well.

Towards the hour, St George’s managed to thread into Valletta’s half. Mizzi galloped down the left and crossed for Darmanin to head over the bar. But the Saints were soon forced to weather more of Valletta’s pressure. Falzon’s cross from the left was hit first time by Agius but keeper Paris saved. On 71 minutes, the industrious Agius had two efforts blocked by the St George’s keeper and defender Sevasta in quick succession.

Valletta’s onslaught continued with a Camilleri free-kick which Monesterolo headed well towards goal but Paris was again up to task, diving to his left to save into a corner.

With ten minutes remaining, St George’s missed a good chance of hitting at least a consolation goal as substitute Hammad won possession on Grima’s headed clearance inside the Valletta area but his effort was blocked into a corner and Valletta could preserve their clean sheet.