SILVIO VELLA

A resurgent Marsaxlokk side put Floriana to the sword with the same high quality efficiency with which they disposed of Birkirkara last week, moving into second place, within three points of leaders Valletta.

Both teams had gone into this game with some vein of good form but Floriana were convincingly beaten, having to play for almost a whole 80 minutes with ten men.

Floriana, who had a disastrous first half hour, produced their best in the late stages of the first half, reducing the deficit to a 2-1 score by halftime. They improved considerably after the restart and went close to drawing level, until collapsing to concede two further goals, but their finishing let them down.

With the driving energy of Sammut and the illusive movement of Frendo, Marsaxlokk always had the ascendancy. Equally significant to their success was the supreme goalkeeping of Rueben Debono who frustrated Floriana time and again.

Despite Marsaxlokk's good showing against Birkirkara, coach Talbot still saw fit to make two changes. He gave starts to Magro and Alcorse, dropping Licari back in defence as Mamo and Templeman were relegated to the bench. Jamie Pace again was among the substitutes.

Floriana were on the back foot by the time they conceded the first goal after only five minutes. Julio Alcorse put his aerial threat to use, heading in firmly Frendo's corner from the right.

On eight minutes Mauro Brincat limped off injured and was substituted by Briffa, taking his place in central defence as Levniac moved up in midfield.

With their defence already struggling in the absence of the suspended Krsteski, Floriana's woes increased when after 12 minutes, defender Owen Bugeja was sent off for a tackle from behind on Alcorse who was accelerating, almost unhindered, towards goal through the centre.

Marsaxlokk tried to exploit their numerical superiority. Towards the quarter hour Magro picked a Floriana clearance from outside the area and drilled a powerful shot against the bar at top corner. His effort surely deserved a better fate.

On 17 minutes Marsaxlokk doubled their lead. Sammut's cross from the edge of the area on the right was headed in by the unmolested Mark Bugeja.

There was the danger that Floriana would buckle under Marsaxlokk's sustained pressure. Keeper Agius turned Sammut's shot into a corner.

It took a while for Floriana to recover but in the last 15 minutes of the half, they clawed their way back into the game.

On the half hour, Caruana tested keeper Debono with Floriana's first shot on goal. Then Bolasie beat his opponent but shot off target. On 42 minutes the Greens reduced the arrears. Keeper Debono held out Caruana's shot but Ryan Darmanin shot in the loose ball, hitting the inner side of the post.

Bolasie could have even levelled matters with halftime looming when he went past Conceicao but keeper Debono saved his shot single handedly.

Marsaxlokk put in Pace and Templeman at the start of the second half. The latter played in defence as Licari was moved upfield, supporting Alcorse in attack.

But for a whole 20 minutes Floriana carved out the better chances as they sustained a more direct approach on the resumption. Bolasie sent a low cross from the left which fell to Caruana who played the ball back to Micallef whose shot was blocked by the keeper.

On 65 minutes Cassar's cross from the left was headed by Micallef and footed out providentially by Debono. Floriana kept probing hard for an equaliser, and on 67 minutes Ciantar cleared the ball upfield to Caruana who crossed low but the unmarked Briffa shot feebly in the keeper's hands.

Almost immediately, on Marsaxlokk's break, Malcolm Licari knocked in Sammut's cross from the left to make it 3-1.

Keeper Debono kept his side into the match repelling a Darmanin goalbound effort on 70 minutes, only for the champions to score their fourth two minutes later. Sammut was again the provider with his low cross from the right and Gareth Sciberras connected well to beat the hesitant keeper Agius from close range and dismantle Floriana.

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Floriana: S. Agius, O. Bugeja, E. Sevasta, M. Micallef, C. Ciantar, M. Brincat (J. Briffa), C. Cassar, Z. Levniac, C. Caruana (M. Gauci), Y. Bolasie, R. Darmanin

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, S. Wellman (C. Mamo), M. Licari, C. Magro, R. Conceicao, C. Frendo, K. Sammut, M. Barbara (T. Templeman), P. Pullicino (J. Pace), G. Sciberras, J. Alcorse

Referee: P. Caruana Asst.refs: M. Debono, J. Spiteri 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: J. Alcorse, M. Barbara, R. Darmanin, M. Licari, G. Sciberras

Yellow cards: P. Pullicino, J. Alcorse, S. Wellman, J. Briffa, C. Ciantar

Red card: O. Bugeja

Player of the match: Rueben Debono (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. K. Sammut 2. R. Debono 3. M. Micallef