Valletta’s long wait is over. After seven barren seasons, the team from the capital was declared this year’s local football champions on Saturday, even before kicking the ball against neighbours Floriana yesterday. But that is hardly surprising, as things turned out this season. In fact the colourful Valletta fans turned up in good numbers to celebrate at Ta’ Qali, on a hot and sunny afternoon, worthy of the occasion. They gave their players and committee members, including president Victor Sciriha, a rousing acknowledgement with a blowing concerto of cheers and applause before the match and there were even commemorative photos taken before kick-off. But otherwise, not for the first time this season, they indulged in offensive and lewd chants towards all and sundry.

Although the present squad, with captain Gilbert Agius the only player still in their ranks, bears no resemblance in quality to that 2001 winning side of Jeffrey Chetcuti, Darren Debono, Nicky Saliba, Ivan Zammit, Oretan, Pavel Mraz or Dvorak, nobody can argue that overall, however, Valletta looked far and away the best of the Premier League this season. They have unquestionably played consistently the best and most offensive football, conceding little in the process.

Yesterday Valletta revelled in defeating ‘derby’ rivals Floriana with a goal in each half, even though playing the entire second half with ten men, as their unbeaten run of 20 league matches, stretched over a seven-month period, continues. Hard as they tried, Floriana failed to spoil the Citizens’ party, and profit from the Valletta players’ celebration mood.

It was Ian Zammit’s turn to sit on the bench, making way for Monesterolo in Valletta’s otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

By contrast, their opponents fielded an understrength team, bereft of keeper Agius, the suspended Christian Cassar and the injured Christian Caruana and Trevor Cilia, the latter only named among substitutes.

Showing the usual assertiveness in the opening minutes, Valletta took an early lead after 11 minutes. Agius played an accurate ball forward for Frank Temile to hook inside the Floriana area and lob over the onrushing goalkeeper.

The goal apart, the other highlight of this half was Temile’s dismissal shortly before the break after the Valletta forward, who had been the target of some hard tackles throughout, blatantly retaliated on Brincat after conceding another foul.

Valletta could have also scored their second past the half hour when Monesterolo’s deep cross from the right fell to Mifsud, who centred low for Giglio, only for the grounded keeper Micallef to hold out with difficulty the close range effort.

Twice in the space of five minutes, Floriana spurned opportunities to claim an equaliser. Darmanin scuffed his shot over the bar on Micallef’s pass and then Micallef went close with his shot on Borg’s corner. But the Greens needed a more cohesive approach to break Valletta down.

In fact Valletta continued to knock the ball to and fro, almost with training ground easiness, in the second half as Floriana were made to chase the game. Keeper Micallef blocked Monesterolo near the byeline and on the hour, the Valletta forward arrived fractionally late on Agius’ cross from right.

Valletta made a double substitution on 63 minutes, with Monesterolo and Giglio making way for Zammit and Falzon, as Floriana increased their efforts.

Brincat came up with a routine pot shot for Floriana, missing the target. But after 71 minutes, his insidious free kick was tipped over the bar by Hogg. Then Darmanin tested the Valletta keeper with a blistering shot, blocked into a corner. That heralded Floriana’s best spell. As they tried to exploit their numerical superiority.

And when Hogg lost the ball on Pisani’s free kick, Scicluna blocked Bolasie’s effort to save his side from derision.

But Valletta remained menacing going forward. In the last five minutes, Gilbert Agius came close but was thwarted by Micallef, only to beat the Floriana keeper, catching him off his line one minute from time, with a long range shot from some 40 metres out, to put the cherry on the cake and give a gem of a gift to his celebrating hometown fans.

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Floriana: J. Micallef, J. Briffa, M. Sevasta, S. Eboh, C. Ciantar, M. Brincat, M. Micallef, Y. Bolasie, R. Darmanin, J. Borg (D. Pisani), Z. Levniac

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

Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official : C. Pisani

Scorers: F. Temile

Yellow cards: J. Briffa, S. Giglio, J. Mifsud, Z. Levniac, H. Backhaus, M. Sevasta

Red card: F. Temile

Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. G. Agius 2. M. Brincat 3. A. Hogg