Floriana disposed of Pieta Hotspurs with three second half goals to keep up the title chase with leaders Valletta and second placed Marsaxlokk.

Meanwhile, problems keep piling up for struggling Pieta, without a point in six matches.

The Hotspurs held out for an entire lifeless first half during which Floriana’s play lacked the invention, pace and penetration to break down Pieta’s dogged defence. But they improved enough in the second to secure their win.

Pieta had Deanov returning to the side as Montfort took his place in goal.

Floriana were also boosted by the return of Krsteski in defence and Cilia in midfield. The latter was his side’s best player as he propelled the better moves on a sunny afternoon at Victor Tedesco Stadium. Their new signing Sunday Eboh sat on the bench and only went in as a late substitute five minutes from time.

The first half was utterly devoid of excitement and real goalmouth action, producing only two shots at goal, one on each side.

On the half hour, on one of a couple of corners won by Floriana and shot by Cilia, a Bolasie goal bound effort was blocked by Mifsud on the line.

Eight minutes later, Refalo ran clear on the right flank but keeper Agius turned the ball over the bar into a corner.

Floriana started the second half in more lively fashion and after only two minutes a Ciantar cross shot was tipped over the bar by keeper Montfort, who later fumbled a Brincat weighted free kick, perhaps hampered by the sunlight.

Gradually Floriana began to increase the pace to put the Pieta defence under pressure. They deservingly broke deadlock on 55 minutes. Cilia was floored inside the area but the referee applied the advantage and Christian Cassar took possession of the loose ball to beat keeper Montfort with a low diagonal drive.

On the hour, Montfort produced a top rate save off Micallef’s drilling shot.

On 67 minutes, Ryan Darmanin headed in Floriana’s second goal, connecting well on Brincat’s cross from the left.

Pieta’s reaction was flaccid as Kondev shot Mifsud’s pass over the bar.

On 77 minutes, Floriana cemented the issue with a third goal after a prolonged action. Cilia’s effort was held out by Montfort, with the aid of the post and then again the keeper parried Darmanin’s effort for Yala Bolasie to head in the ball from close range.

Hardly two minutes later, Pieta pulled one back, to end their goal drought, when Edward Herrera picked Kondev’s pass and after avoiding an opponent beat keeper Agius with a low drive.

That was Pieta’s first league goal in six matches, since Deliminkov scored his side’s winner against Sliema Wanderers in November.

But it was too little too late and Floriana could have even scored another in the dying minutes as Montfort held out Cilia’s effort but Darmanin failed to finish off with only the goal at his mercy.

* * *

Pieta H: M. Montfort, C. Cassar, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo (R. Camilleri), C. Pulo, C. Sammut, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Galabov

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

Referee: A. Casha asst.refs: E. Spiteri, C. Micallef 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: C. Cassar, R. Darmanin, Y. Bolasie, E. Herrera

Yellow cards: Y. Bolasie, C. Caruana, R. Galabov, S. Kondev

Player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. T. Cilia 2. M. Brincat 3. D. Mifsud