Umpires: Reno Cremona; Manwel Imbroll

Both teams knew that only a win was good enough to enable them to stay within contention for the honours.

Rabat immediately went on the offensive and were one up within two minutes. From a somewhat clumsily defended short corner, the Floriana back four allowed the ball to run loose and Kevin Micallef was at the right spot to flick the ball home.

This did not deter Floriana, and by the 8 equalised through the poaching skills of Ivan Magro Dingli; Silvano Vassallo winning the ball on the right flank, dribbled his way past Kenneth Debattista and on entering the D pushed the ball past the out rushing Azzopardi and Magro Dingli was at hand to tap the ball over the line.

On the 15th minute Floriana forged ahead when a flick at goal by David Evans beat Azzopardi only for the ball to be stopped illegitimately on the fatal line by Matthew Buhagiar.

The same Evans took the eventual penalty stroke to make it two one. Rabat once again went on the attack and on the 16th forced a series of short corners, from which a badly cleared ball by the Floriana defence allowed Branko Radjovic to beat Mizzi with a high flick from an acute angle.

Rabat kept up the pressure and won another short corner on the 19th. Again the Floriana defenders were found lacking, this time Branko Radjovic hit the ball hard across the Floriana goal and with a neat deflection Josef Antonelli put Rabat ahead for a second time.

On the 26th Floriana’s Joseph Dalli put a ball through to Christian Bonello but the latter failed to capitalise from an ideal position.

On the change of ends it was Rabat again who were showing the finer touches with Kevin Micallef supremely controlling the midfield.

On the 42nd Rabat were awarded a free hit from just outside the D, from which Kevin Micallef passed the ball to the unmarked Josef Antonelli who with a first time hit from the edge of the D beat goalkeeper Mizzi all ends up.

Floriana once more surged forward and won a number of short corners, however these were all neutralised by the Rabat defence. But on the 53rd Floriana did manage to pull one back through Christian Bonello after being set up by Waylin Abdilla.

Floriana kept on insisting but their erratic passing and confused moves proved to be their downfall and slowly, slowly faded away allowing Rabat to take full control of proceedings and had it not been for two distinguishing saves by Mizzi the score would have been much clearer.

Rabat are now for the first time this season in pole position with one more match to go, and this against White Hart, a team which on paper, should not be too difficult to beat. On the other hand Qormi have to win their two remaining matches against Floriana and Sliema to force a dicider.