Valletta were by far the better outfit during the game being quick in their approaches, sharper in their moves and precise in their passing. Floriana had two regulars missing through suspension and two through injury, but this cannot be accepted as an excuse because their performance left much to be desired.

They lacked punch up-front and left too many gaps in midfield and their passing was very erratic. After a balanced first period Valletta dominated the second half creating most of the actions and adding two more goals.

Valletta created the first occasion when Neil Goodlip served Neil Chircop with a through ball in the area and Greens keeper Kyle Gerada had to come out of his charge and clear the ball into a corner.

Floriana reacted by creating two occasions in succession through Bugeja and Marmara. At the other end, Adrian Carabott crossed from the left to Neil Chircop but he drove over the bar from a very ideal position. Valletta kept insisting and MacKay served Chircop with a through ball and Gerada was forced to come out of his charge to head the ball away to safety.

Eight minutes before the break Valletta opened the score from a Baldasser Sammut penalty spot as a Greens' defender handled the ball in the area after a cross from the right by Clive Caruana.

Neil Chircop was cautioned for time-wasting and a minute before half-time Valletta were awarded another penalty as Tyrone Bugeja handled the ball in the area. Sammut again took the kick and scored but the referee ordered a re-take because of an encroachment in the area and Gerada managed to save the second kick.

Valletta created much more actions than Floriana in the second period. Carabott was fouled on the right flank and Gerada saved the free-kick by Justin Camenzuli. From a flag-kick by Chircop it was headed away with difficulty and after Sammut served Carabott on the right flank, Gerada neutralised the ball from the latter's cross.

Bugeja was served from a long drop-kick by Gerada. He served Spiteri with a through ball on the right flank but Zarb neutralised the ball from his cross and from a Spiteri corner kick Zarb saved a header by Kurt Dimech.

On 69 minutes the score became 2-0. Sammut served MacKay in the area who scored with a low shot past a helpless Gerada. A corner kick by substitute Cardona was headed away by a Greens defender and a corner by Sammut was cleared to another

corner.

In the second minute of added time, Matthew Caruana pounced on a faulty pass by a defender, entered the area and after dribbling past a defender he scored from a very acute angle.

A minute later Floriana were awarded a penalty as Cardona was tripped in the area, but Zarb managed to save from the spot the shot by the same player.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Player of the match: Bydasser Sammut (Valletta)

APS Under 16 Section B

Rabat 1

Zebbug R 1

This keen game between two newly promoted sides was controlled by two officials because one of the assistant referees failed to turn up. Zebbug played the second period with 10 men, but with a gallant display they managed to salvage a point.

The first period was dominated by Rabat as they created more occasions than Zebbug. Christian Incorvaja served Kurt Azzopardi from a long throw-in from the left flank but he drove over the bar from inside the area and after a free-kick by Kurt Azzopardi, Roderick Vassallo missed the upright from inside the area.

Rabat opened the score in the eleventh minute with a choral move, which involved four players. Neil Farrugia, from a free-kick on the left flank served Keith Gauci, who headed the ball towards Roderick Vassallo in the area who in turn passed the ball to Christian Vassallo and placed the ball past Zebbug keeper Brandon Bartolo.

Encouraged by this early lead Rabat kept insisting. David Azzopardi served Francesco Azzopardi with a through ball in the area but he was foiled from concluding with a timely sortie by Bartolo.

Zebbug reacted through Jonathan Bugeja who after beating a defender crossed the ball from the right and founding no takers in Rabat's area. Bartolo then saved on Gauci after he was put through in the area by David Azzopardi and also saved again a shot by the same player after a cross from the left by Christian Vassallo. and on 50 minutes the cross bar denied Zebbug the equalizer from a Rababah shot.

But a minute later Zebbug were rewarded for their gallant efforts. After a well-taken flagkick by Rababah a header by Magri was cleared to another corner by Rabat keeper Darryl Vella, which was taken again by Rababah and Jonathan Bugeja unmarked in the area headed the ball home.

Referee: Glenn Tonna

Player of the match: Jonathan Bugeja (Zebbug R)