Floriana: M. Camilleri, R. Gango Rtsa, R. Newell (C. Cassar), T. Cilia, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, W. Gomes, C. Caruana (M. Caruana), J. Briffa, A. Mifsud (B. Spasojevic), I. Azzopardi

St George’s: B. Paris, J. Spiteri (L. Mizzi), A. Effiong, R. Conceicao, L. Grima, E. Do Nascimento, E. Sevasta, C. Brincat, L. Lagana, B. Fenech, A. Zahra (K. Darmanin)

Referee: A. M. Sant Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: A. Effiong (2), W. Gomes, R. Gango Rtsa, B. Spasojevic

Yellow cards: A. Mifsud, T. Cilia, B. Fenech, R. Conceicao, E. Do Nascimento, A. Effiong

Player of the match: Alfred Effiong (St George’s)

TMI top three: 1. R. Gango Rtsa 2. L. Lagana 3. W. Gomes

St George’s were yesterday dealt a severe blow in their fight against relegation, beaten by the odd goal in five by Floriana, who sit pretty comfortable at the top of the Relegation Pool, having made a big step towards safety.

The Saints gave a spirited performance, putting in a lot of effort, and proved tough opponents, full of purpose and invention. But at the end they were left with nothing to show.

They surrendered an early lead too quickly in the first half and then collapsed to two sloppy second half goals, showing deficiencies in defence. They never recovered fully.

Injuries and suspensions have been taking their toll on St George’s, whose squad had shrinked to only 15 players yesterday. To some relief, Do Nascimento and Zahra returned to the team after a long absence. Trailing the same Floriana by six points and Pieta by three, St George’s had no option but to win this match to keep their salvation hopes alive.

Floriana’s will to win as well, offered the spectators with an exciting opening 20 minutes of flowing football, some chances at both ends and two well taken goals.

The opening exchanges were competitive rather than cohesive but Floriana created the first real scoring opportunity after 12 minutes. Cilia ran on the right, beating the Saints’ offside trap to send an inviting cross towards the middle. Caruana miskicked the ball in front of a gaping goal and then Mifsud fouled in the process and the chance went to waste.

Floriana paid the penalty three minutes later. Lagana delivered a wide penetrating pass towards the advancing Zahra on the right, hitting a quick cross for Alfred Effiong to head past keeper Camilleri.

The goal sparked an immediate response from Floriana. Caruana’s venominous free-kick was palmed out with some difficulty by keeper Paris. On 20 minutes Micallef shielded the ball well before playing it low to Wendell Gomes who unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area to draw level.

After that, the match lost much of its vigour as the players’ early flair went missing. Floriana, however, remained the more adventurous, going forward at more regular intervals. Past the half hour Micallef exploited another opening in the Saints’ defence. He played the ball to Mifsud, whose diagonal shot went tantalisingly wide. Then Caruana went through, played the ball wide for Cilia, whose shot was saved into a corner by Paris.

Luckily, play in the second half improved. St George’s made the early attacking and squandered a couple of chances which could have given them the lead. Effiong ran in well for Lagana’s splitting pass, went past Briffa but then shot horrendously over the post.

Effiong was again blocked inside the Floriana area after a good Saints’ move involving Lagana and Do Nascimento.

St George’s however were let down by two sloppy goals, both from set pieces in the space of 13 minutes. On the hour, keeper Paris missed the flight of the ball on Cilia’s corner kick and the unmarked Gango Rtsa coolly lobbed the ball into an unattended goal.

And after St George’s went close to equalising with Zahra’s near miss, they conceded Floriana’s third goal on 73 minutes, again from a Cilia corner kick which was flicked in low by substitute Bojan Spasojevic.

The Saints kept trying though, despite their morale being severely dented. They temporarily pulled themselves back into the game with 15 minutes remaining as Alfred Effiong reduced the deficit with a perfect lob at the top corner after avoiding Azzopardi’s challenge.

But as the Saints’ energies looked drained, Floriana defended their lead with ease, leaving their opponents in dire straits.