Floriana are on maximum points from two matches this morning after beating Hibernians with a solitary Christian Caruana goal scored in the first half.

The merry Floriana supporters turned up again in good number, but this time they did not have plenty to shout about. The three points apart, their performance was far less enterprising, despite taking the field in high spirits after winning their opening match so convincingly against Valletta.

Except for Brincat, who sat on the bench, the Greens were at full complement. Bolasie, a late substitute against Valletta, was given the nod in the starting line-up.

Hibernians also kept faith in the same side which drew against Birkirkara, but were a disappointing lot, bereft of ideas and lacking their usual menace in attack. The strikers were starved of services as too many of their players gave a below par performance.

Their latest signing, Uzeh Edafe started on the bench but went in as a second half substitute

The quality of play in the first half was mediocre to say the least and, the goal apart, the two sides could not manage one shot on target. Neither goalkeeper needed to have been in residence for the entire 45 minutes.

Floriana, who were only a pale shadow of the dynamic team which beat Valletta four days earlier, scored a goal when least expected. Just past the half hour, Christian Caruana took the ball in his stride and advanced towards the Hibernians goal from the left with such alarming ease. With the Hibernians defenders only bystanders, he slotted home a low angled shot beyond keeper Muscat's reach.

Floriana gave the impression that the pattern of the game was to change abruptly after the restart.

The left-footed Krsteski drilled his powerful free-kick directly at Muscat, but the Hibernians keeper was equal to task, palming away the danger.

Then Bolasie ran through Cassar and Mintoff on the left flank, only for the grounded Muscat to block his shot into a corner.

But it was only a false dawn as play became equally littered with moments of ineptitude.

Still Floriana looked most likely to score their second goal, despite Edafe's inclusion in midfield on 68 minutes for Hibernians.

Caruana turned well inside the eight-yard box in front of goal, but Muscat was good to save his effort.

With Hibernians putting an extra late effort, albeit unconvincingly, Floriana made sure they did not surrender their slender lead. Four minutes from time, a skirmish between Briffa and Failla ensued and after exchanging some prohibitive remarks, both players were booked. It being Failla's second caution, that meant an automatic expulsion for the Hibernians player.

The Paolites, visibly on an off-day, threatened only twice in the late stages with headers from Scerri missing the target.

At the end optimism reigned supreme in the Floriana camp.

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Floriana: S. Agius, M. Micallef, J. Briffa, D. Krsteski, D. Pisani, T. Cilia (M. Brincat), C. Cassar, Z. Levniac, Y. Bolasie (C. Ciantar), C. Caruana, A. Mifsud

Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Cassar (U. Edafe), A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, A. Pulis, E. Agius, P. Doffo, C. Failla, A. Cohen (B. Camilleri), J. Alcorse, T. Scerri

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: M. Debono, E. Spiteri 4th official: A. Casha

Scorers: C. Caruana

Yellow cards: K. Cassar, C. Failla, Z. Levniac, E. Agius, C. Caruana, B. Camilleri, J. Briffa, A. Mifsud, C. Cassar

Red card: C. Failla

Player of the match: Christian Caruana (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. M. Micallef 2. M. Muscat 3. D. Krsteski