Marsaxlokk: J. Haber, C. Mamo, L. Dimech, M. Licari, G. Sciberras, C. Magro, K. Sammut (S. Garci), D. Bogdanovic, U. Nwoko (C. Frendo), P. Pullicino, A. Schembri (H. Doda).

Msida SJ: O. Borg, S. Grima (L. Micallef), R. Baldacchino, S. Vella, J. Mifsud, P. Fenech, D. Cachia, T. Farrugia (K. Ebejer), D. Nwoke, S. Bajada, A. Farrugia (A. Spiteri).

Referee: C. Pisani, Ass. Referees - P. Agius, J. Camilleri, 4th Official - P. Caruana

Scorers: D. Bogdanovic, C. Frendo

Yellow cards: S. Vella, K. Ebejer, C. Magro

Player of the match: Carlo Mamo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI Best three: 1. C. Mamo 2. P. Pullicino 3. J. Mifsud

League leaders Marsaxlokk moved closer to winning their first ever league title when they beat Msida to notch their fourth consecutive win and move nine points clear at the top of the table.

Both teams had some players missing. Marsaxlokk had Jamie Pace and Steve Wellman, while Msida missed the services of Ibrahim Babatunde and Zongo. Msida are surely a pale shadow of the team that impressed so much in the first phase, and yesterday they slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat.

For Marsaxlokk it was three in a row against the Saints. However it was certainly not one of Marsaxlokk's best displays this season. Ex-player Peter Pullicino was very efficient and ever present, with captain Carlo Mamo having a very good match on the left flank.

Daniel Bogdanovic had a rather quiet match, but was still deadly in front of goal putting his side in the lead. Msida's problems lie mainly in attack were Nwoke found little support from Shaun Bajada, with their midfield unable to produce scoring chances, and for the third time this season they failed to score against the leaders.

Marsaxlokk took the game by storm surging forward from the initial whistle and went very close on two occasions in the first eight minutes. A Charlo Magro went inches wide, and Garreth Sciberras was well served by Bogdanovic but his rising shot went over the bar.

Msida, with only one foreign import, Daniel Nwoke, could not settle down as the league leaders penetrated with relative ease. Udo Nwoko and Kevin Sammut were the most effective in the opening minutes. However Msida made their presence felt on 14 minutes with Shaun Bajada testing Haber from an acute angle.

Marsaxlokk's dangerman Daniel Bogdanovic had his first effort towards goal on 17 minutes heading a dangerous Carlo Mamo cross from the left. On 25 minutes Daniel Bogdanovic found space with a typical run and crossed to Andre Schembri who managed to beat a hesitant Omar Borg, but Josef Mifsud managed to clear the ball before it went over the goal line.

Msida received a double blow in the final minutes of the first half. With Tyron Farrugia nursing an injury, Marsaxlokk took the lead when Andre Schembri put Daniel Bogdanovic through and the league top scorer side footed past Borg in the low corner of the net to notch his 23rd goal of the season. Farrugia could not make it and was substituted by Karl Ebejer. In stoppage time following another good move by the leaders, Omar Borg saved his side from further damage diving sideways to block an Andre Schembri shot.

For the second part of the match Brian Talbot introduced Cleavon Frendo for Udo Nwoko. Msida were more on the ball in the second half with Daniel Nwoke heading inches wide following a good Adrian Farrugia cross.

Slowly, Marsaxlokk regained their confidence and re-started their dominance and pressure on the Msida fort. Ten minutes from time Marsaxlokk sealed the issue when from a Carlo Mamo cross, substitute Gabri nodded down to the other substitute Cleavon Frendo who slammed the ball home from close range.