Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, K. Scicluna, J. Mifsud, R. Forace, D. Camilleri, H. Backhaus, C. Mattocks, G. Agius (J. Grioli), S. Monesterolo, I. Zammit (B. Agius)

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, A. Busuttil (F. Silva), I. Nogueira, M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa, M. Pereira, C. Calleja (R. Mintoff), M. Cocks, C. Gatt Baldacchino, D. Zarb (J.P. Muscat)

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: J. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: M. Pereira, I. Zammit, S. Monesterolo, J. Bondin

Yellow cards: M. Bonnici, C. Gatt Baldacchino

Red card: C. Mattocks

Player of the match: Jonathan Bondin (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. J. Bondin 2. I. Nogueira 3. H. Backhaus

Valletta overcame Mqaabba’s early scare with a second half display that instills some confidence in their side, after a stuttering start to the championship.

Valletta may be still struggling to find their best form and their best team, as they were given a tough ride by newcomers Mqabba, but they finally managed to tuck away a convincing win after spurning some chances and also being frustrated team and again by Mqabba’s keeper Kris Calleja.

In fact Mqabba were still left seeking their first league win although for over an hour yesterday they looked capable of obtaining their first points, only to be undone by Valletta’s clinical finish as they conceded two goals within seven minutes.

Both teams were bereft of some regular players. Valletta had Dyson Falzon missing and Massimo Grima starting on the bench while Mqabba took the field without Fabio Silva and Jean Paul Muscat.

As expected, Valletta were all over their opponents, who took some time to settle, in the early stages. Within three minutes, the Citizens had fluffed a good opportunity when Zammit skied the ball in front of a gaping goal after the Mqabba keeper Calleja had palmed out Monesterolo’s blistering drive from outside the area. Backhaus’ shot was saved by the grounded Calleja and Agius shot Monesterolo’s short free-kick just wide.

But Valletta were stunned on 20 minutes as Mqabba took an unexpected lead. Marcelo Pereira raced into open space on a long ball forward, beating Valletta’s offside trap, to lob the ball coolly over the onrushing keeper Darmanin.

But within six minutes, Valletta drew level. Monesterolo’s shot was deflected by Ian Zammit, rendering the Mqabba keeper helpless, when caught off balance.

But to Mqabba fell the half’s next best chance when Nogueira headed Zarb’s sailing free-kick just over Darmanin’s post eight minutes before the break.

Valletta again charged forward after the restart. The inspired Mqabba keeper produced another top rate save from the drawer, holding out Mattock’s goal bound effort.

Valletta’s woes increased on 52 minutes when their skipper Gilbert Agius was stretchered off after injuring himself when shooting at goal.

Mqabba, who found solace in the supreme reliability of Calleja in goal, held on to Valletta’s increasing pressure with every passing minute.

Their hopes of a first point were wrecked on 70 minutes when Sebastian Monesterolo beat Gatt Baldacchino’s challenge inside the area on the left and then keeper Calleja with a low diagonal drive.

That heralded Valletta’s best spell in the game. As Calleja rushed out to block Zammit, Grioli shot the loose ball off a defender and against the post.

And on 77 minutes, Jonathan Bondin crowned a superb performance with a spectacular strike, beating the keeper at the top corner, with a sizzling shot from some 30 metres out to bury Mqabba and condemn them to their fifth league defeat.

Valletta played the last six minutes with ten men when Mattocks received his marching orders for some foul language towards the referee.