Valletta-Pieta H. 3-0

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Grioli, K.Scicluna, J. Mifsud (C. Mattocks), S. Bezzina, I. Zammit (J. Bondin), D. Camilleri, H. Backhaus, D. Falzon (G. Agius), S. Giglio, F. Temile

Pieta H: M. Montfort, C. Cassar, P. Deliminkov, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi, Q. Refalo (M. Vella), D. Gatt, S. Grech (C. Sammut), G. Goodlip (C. Pulo), R. Galabov

Referee: S. Tanti Asst. refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: A. Casha

Scorers: H. Backhaus, F. Temile, G. Agius

Yellow cards: S. Grech, S. Ciscaldi, S. Bezzina, C. Sammut, F. Temile

Player of the match: Frank Temile (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. R. Galabov 2. S. Bezzina 3. M. Montfort

Despite the final scoreline, which flattered them, Valletta yesterday chalked up their third win on the trot to go top of the Premier League this morning.

Although widely expected to beat Pieta Hotspurs, Valletta yesterday hardly played like true championship contenders. The fluidity of their dominating display against Floriana a week before, was lacking as the team remained in second gear.

For long periods Valletta looked unlikely to break the deadlock against a composed Pieta side, let alone score three times.

Gilbert Agius' inclusion as a substitute on the hour left its mark on Valletta as the player paved the way for his side's two minute burst which produced two goals in quick succession and also scored his side's third goal from a set piece with seven minutes remaining.

Pieta were bereft of Aquilina and Mifsud. Pulo was relegated to the bench and made only a substitute appearance while Kondev was serving a one-match ban. Montfort was back in goal while Galabov returned to the team after missing the previous match against Marsaxlokk.

Valletta made one forced substitution with Dyson Falzon starting the match instead of the suspended Monesterolo.

As expected, Pieta elected for caution against a team that had put 11 goals past Marsaxlokk and Floriana in their last two matches. The Hotspurs were forced to absorb much of Valletta's pressure in the first 45 minutes, although the Citizens showed precious little by way of the originality and imagination needed to unlock the Pieta defence.

The first quarter hour was totally barren and immediately after that we were treated to only the nearest hint of quality.

Valletta fluffed a couple of half chances when Falzon put his glancing header, on Zammit's cross, just wide and Temile accelerated past two opponents before serving Zammit who failed to conclude when harassed by a Pieta defender.

The deadlock looked unlikely to be broken in the second half as the match remained much on the same pattern. Pieta, defending diligently, allowed Valletta little comfort on the ball and for all their ample possession, the Citizens remained devoid of penetration.

But on the hour mark, Gilbert Agius made his return to the Valletta side after almost a three-month absence.

Valletta started to find some rhythm of their own, even perhaps because Pieta's three substitutions within a short period of 12 minutes might have unsettled the team's set up.

A two-minute burst saw Valletta suddenly take a two-goal lead. On 75 minutes, Temile's low cross from the bye line fell to the unmarked Heiner Backhus who beat Montfort with a low shot on the turn. Hardly two minutes later, Frank Temile himself progressed from half pitch through the middle and shot low past the helpless Montfort.

With the points virtually secured, Valletta sealed the issue seven minutes from time. Gilbert Agius' low free kick beat the Pieta wall and keeper Montfort.