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

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Magro, L. Dimech, C. Mamo (K. Mamo), J. Pace, G. Sciberras, K. Sammut, A. Schembri (S. Garci), C. Frendo, M. Licari, D. Bogdanovic (H. Doda)

Referee: J. Attard Asst. refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: K. Sammut, D. Bogdanovic (2), B. Nisevic

Yellow cards: G. Agius, K. Sammut

Player of the match: Daniel Bogdanovic (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. D. Bogdanovic 2. A. Schembri 3. B. Nisevic

Daniel Bogdanovic’s exciting skills and goals earned more dividends for Marsaxlokk yesterday and promised them a rich harvest this season.

The Premier League leaders put Valletta to the sword with the same efficiency and collectiveness with which they disposed of Msida four days before.

It was another reassuring routine win for Marsaxlokk – their sixth on the trot - who restored a nine-point gap from second placed Sliema Wanderers, as they once more demonstrated more ideas, better shape and that extra class.

Despite winning the previous match, coach Talbot still deemed it fit to make some changes to the side. Pullicino and Nwoko were dropped, making way for Frendo and Pace. Keeper Haber was missing from the squad and Gauci deputised in goal.

Valletta also made some changes from the side that drew with Hibernians the previous week. Besides the return of Nisevic after suspension, Bondin was preferred to Grioli in defence while Falzon was relegated to the bench.

Valletta gave their all but were not good enough to disturb superior opponents and were on the back foot throughout.

With the match only one minute old, Marsaxlokk forged ahead. Valletta’s still unsettled defence failed to clear Sciberras’ cross from the left and Kevin Sammut nipped in to toe-poke the ball at the far end.

Facing an early uphill task, the Citizens tried to react. Siberie’s header was cleared by Frendo on the line and another Nisevic headed effort from a corner went wide.

But the goal apart, there were few other goal scoring opportunities in the first half as the game continued to flash from one box to the other in somewhat scrappy fashion.

Marsaxlokk highlighted their superiority with two quick goals within ten minutes of the restart as they sprayed down the pitch with a force that seemed undeniable. The executioner in both instances was their top marksman Daniel Bogdanovic who first steered the ball low past Darmanin on Schembri’s cross on 50 minutes and six minutes later he volleyed low another Schembri cross, leaving the keeper rooted to his line.

It was time for the Valletta coach to rope in Falzon for Zammit and later even Zarb went in for Fenech but the Citizens laboured to take the game away from their technically-gifted opponents.

Of some relief was the goal scored on 77 minutes when Camilleri played a free-kick square to Grima who crossed inside the area for Branco Nisevic to beat keeper Gauci with a spectacular scissors kick. But that was too little too late for Valletta as they remain winless in their last three matches.