Qormi-Valletta 0-4

Qormi: M. Farrugia (M. Camilleri), S. Giglio, M. Bartolo, K. Fenech, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, B. Camilleri, G. Mallia, J. Bondin, C. Frendo (S. Agius), M. Borg Olivier (G. Buttigieg)

Coach: S. Azzopardi

Valletta: A. Hogg (N. Vella), R. Briffa, J. Caruana, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi, G. Agius, K. Sammut (E. Agius), O. Temile (D. Falzon), T. Scerri, I. Zammit, J. Pace

Coach: J. Zerafa

Referee: C. Pisani, Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, T. Debono, 4th official: M. Apap

Scorers: T. Scerri 11, 37, G. Agius 35, K. Sammut 50

Player of the match: T.Scerri (Valletta)

TMi top 3: 1. J. Pace 2. T. Scerri 3. G. Agius

Valletta won with plenty to spare against a pallid Qormi side, without a clue about how to arrest the leaders’ fiery form.

Valletta were already three goals to the good by halftime and added a fourth shortly after the restart to rubberstamp their superiority and increase their lead at the top to ten points over Birkirkara and Tarxien Rainbows. The latter have a game in hand.

Injuries and suspensions have taken their toll on Qormi who succumbed to yet another heavy defeat, against superior opponents, as they took the field bereft of several regulars.

Ominously for their opponents, Valletta were at full strength, with Gilbert Agius back in midfield instead of Edmond Agius. Denni Dos Santos though was only named as a substitute.

The match was never a contest and Qormi, who were largely bystanders excluded from the festivities, were on the back foot by the time Valletta made the breakthrough after only 11 minutes.

Zammit played the ball forward for Pace to cross low. In went Terence Scerri who connected to flick the ball past the helpless keeper Farrugia.

On 22 minutes Valletta, dominating possession, crafted a good move, with the irrepressible Pace setting the ball in motion, involving Scerri and Zammit. But when the ball fell to the unmarked Temile, he shot wastefully wide.

But Valletta scored two more goals before the half was over.

On 35 minutes, Gilbert Agius made it 2-0 with an exquisite curling free kick from the left at the far top corner.

Two minutes later Terence Scerri took possession inside the Qormi eight-yard box on a Sammut low cross from the right and, shrugging off Borg Olivier’s challenge, he beat the keeper with a shot on the turn.

Matthew Farrugia saved his side from further derision when he repelled Agius’ drilling shot.

But Valletta soon made them four, within five minutes of the second period. Temile foraged unchallenged down the left. Qormi’s short clearance on his cross fell to Kevin Sammut who shot in low, the ball hitting the innerside of the post.

Qormi’s best chance came on 73 minutes. Camilleri put Chetcuti clear, but, with all the time at his disposal, he shot over the post.

Even after effecting all their three substitutions, including the goalkeeper, Valletta remained superior. They went close with an Edmond Agius long range shot and a Gilbert Agius free kick and towards the end, Pace missed the target as he went for goal himself despite his mates’ better position inside the Qormi area.