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

Hamrun S.: S. Sullivan, MA Bonnici, P. Monye, S. Meilak, R. Fenech, J. Debattista (C. Cacciattolo), R. Mangion, N. Galea (A. Attard), B. Timotic, G. Spiteri, A. Effiong (S. Sultana).

Referee: C. Lautier. asst refs: K. Borg, I. Spiteri, 4th official: K. Azzopardi.

Scorers: A. Effiong, F. Temile 2, S. Monesterolo, J. Mifsud,

Yellow cards: MA Bonnici,

Player of the match: F. Temile (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. F. Temile 2. G. Agius 3. S. Monesterolo

Valletta roared back into top place yesterday evening after an easy victory 4-1 over Hamrun Spartans.

They now have 21 points, one ahead of second placed Marsaxlokk and four ahead of third placed Birkirkara, now on 17 points..

This was by far one of the best performances by the citizens this season as they recovered from an early setback to outplay the Spartans for most of the time.

The first half was a nail-biting affair, especially the opening stages.

The Spartans stunned the citizens taking an early lead, but it proved to be a false alarm as Valletta hit back strongly, first to equalise, then have a goal disallowed and finally taking a merited lead which they kept till the interval..

In Monesterolo and Temile, Valletta had two key elements who proved to be too much for the Spartans defence but Gilbert Agius and David Camilleri were also outstandings in midfield as they kept spraying passes to their forwards, especially the former.

Hamrun concentrated more on defence but Valletta proved to be more than a handful despite some encouraging forays into the City area, especially in the final moments when Effiong missed a good chance for an equaliser.

In the second half, with Valletta scoring a third goal early and with Hamrun failing to provide a decent reaction, the match had no further story.

The citizens, in fact, controlled with ease Hamrun’s feeble attacks and even found time to score two further goals, one at the start and another near the end to confirm their dominance.

Hamrun could not have started the match on a better note. In fact, after just three minutes, they had already taken the lead. From a Bonnici corner, Effiong rose to head the ball past Hogg and into the net.

But their joy was shortlived as Valletta equalised six minutes later when after a defensive lapse by the Spartans, Temile ran through to plant the ball past Sullivan.

Soon after, Monesterolo again had the ball in the net, but the referee’s whistle had already gone for a previous infringement.

Valletta were the better side but they had to wait till the 26th minute to turn their superiority into another goal. And what a goal it was! Temile received the ball on the left flank. He crossed perfectly into the area and Monesterolo was on the far side to hit home a fine first timer which gave Sullivan no chance.

A few minutes later, Gilbert Agius almost scored a third but his fine freekick just missed the target.

On the 30th minute, Agius set Monesterolo intelligently, but the Argentine striker saw the onrushing Sullivan blocking his effort.

In added time, Hamrun could have equalised when Gaetan Spiteri set Effiong, but the latter shot weakly and straight onto Hogg, rushing desperately out of goal, thus missing a good chance for his side.

Valletta took the Spartans by surprise in the opening stages of the second half as they scored a third goal. A perfect cross from Agius found Josef Mifsud heading the ball into the net to make it 3-1.

Hamrun replied with a good Mangion, Effiong, Spiteri move but the latter’s feeble effort went wide.

On 65 minutes, Agius went close with a fine dipper while moments later, Sullivan had to dive at Temile’s feet to avoid an awkward situation for the Spartans.

Valletta struck again on 78 minutes. In a fast counter-attack, Falzon advanced on the left and crossed low for Monesterolo to see his shot blocked by Sullivan, but Temile was on hand to push the ball into the untenanted net.

With just two minutes to go, a complete black-out hit the Stadium due to a power failure. There was complete darkness for about five minutes before the match could be resumed.

Luckily there were no incidents.