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

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

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: J. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: J. Alcorse (2)

Yellow cards: C. Magro, R. Conceicao

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. C. Frendo 2. P. Pullicino 3. J. Alcorse

Marsaxlokk should have won this by a landslide so evident was their dominance yesterday against bottom side Mqabba.

Yet they were unable to profit from a welter of possession and a hatful of chances, although they were never really in difficulty against a poor Mqabba , unable to lift the gloom which has settled in the side lately.

In the end it was a good 2-0 win that leaves them only one point adrift of leaders Valletta.

The champions’ attacking intent kept them always in the driving seat. With all his superlative play, Cleaven Frendo often foraged down the flank and worried the Mqabba rearguard with a string of accurate cross-field passes and searching crosses. On several occasions he left defenders chasing shadows.

However the champions were themselves guilty of some excessive profligacy, even though they were twice denied by the woodwork as well.

Mqabba made four changes, two forced ones, to their side. Italo Nogueira and Claudio Calleja were suspended but they dropped keeper Kris Calleja and John Mintoff for yesterday’s match.

As expected Mqabba had no option but to defend in numbers as Marsaxlokk were off like an express train, hurtling forward en masse.

In the early stages they squandered chances galore, Alcorse contriving to miss contact on Frendo’s low cross and then shooting wide when faced by goalkeeper Psaila.

On 21 minutes the Argentine forward, who posed an aerial threat to the Mqabba defence, headed Frendo’s cross against the bar.

Marsaxlokk continued to fluff more scoring opportunities as they laid siege on the Mqabba fort. Past the half hour the Mqabba defence failed to clear a Frendo free kick. The ball fell to Licari who shot wide in front of goal.

Earlier, Mqabba had threatened on a rare break when Pereira played the ball wide to the advancing Muscat, who shot against the side netting.

The match was 39 minutes old when Marsaxlokk finally made the breakthrough. Licari, inside the Mqabba area with his back to goal, steered the ball in Frendo’s path for him to cross and Julio Alcorse head in from close range.

Four minutes later, Barbara played the ball forward to Alcorse who shot low past Psaila. In between, the Mqabba shot stopper denied Alcorse with a one-handed save off his low drive.

Marsaxlokk introduced their recent signing from Sliema, Aleksandar Madzar, at the start of the second half but continued to show profligacy in front of the Mqabba goal.

They carved several openings in Mqabba’s flimsy defence but looked careless in their finishing. On 68 minutes Madzar headed Frendo’s cross over and on 73 minutes Frendo took the ball in his stride from the right, and waltzed between his opponents with alarming only to hoist the final shot.

Three minutes from time, Marsaxlokk were again denied by the woodwork as Madzar thumped his free kick against the bar to spare Mqabba further derision.