Valletta-Marsaxlokk 0-0

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

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari, A. Spiteri, E. Yanchev, F. Raimy, G. Sciberras, P. Pullicino, R. Galabov, M. Deanov, T. Templeman (G. Caruana), A. Effiong (R. Darmanin)

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst. refs: K. Borg, P. Apap

4th official: G. Tonna

Yellow cards: O. Temile, T. Templaman, F. Raimy, R. Galabov, M. Deanov

Player of the match: R. Briffa (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Pace 2. P. Pullicino 3. R. Briffa

Attendance: 2,225

Leaders Valletta interrupted a positive run of six consecutive wins when they were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Marsaxlokk, who looked a transformed side after their FA Trophy defeat by Vittoriosa Stars in midweek.

Valletta, without skipper Gilbert Agius but with Andrew Hogg back in goal and Jamie Pace back in midfield, did not play as well as the previous matches but still created enough opportunities to win the match in the second half, after an inoccuous first.

Marsaxlokk deserve credit for their defensive organisation and sheer obduracy. They refused to buckle under Valletta’s late pressure and their back four hardly ever put a foot wrong. Andrew Spiteri twice blocked Valletta efforts on the goal line but Marsaxlokk could have even won the match in added time when an erroneous throw-in by Steve Borg presented substitute Ryan Darmanin with an open chance, only to be denied by the post.

Without the injured Clive Brincat, Marsaxlokk had to shift Galabov back in defence and lost some creativity in midfield, although Gareth Sciberras provided good service for the front runners Effiong and Deanov, although well subdued against the Premier league’s meanest defence.

But otherwise, Marsaxlokk were tactically disciplined with Pullicino and Raimy, in front of the defence, stifling all Valletta’s build-ups.

Valletta remained mostly in second gear during a first half which lacked cohesion and real goalmouth action. There was a half chance at each end. Towards the half hour, Scerri flicked Sammut’s cross into the hands of keeper Gauci.

And on 34 minutes Raimy headed the ball down inside the Valletta area but Effiong shot narrowly off target.

With halftime looming, Sammut lacked coordination in front of the Marsaxlokk goal and mishit horrendously Scerri’s cross from the right.

Things improved slightly in the second half, thanks to Valletta’s more aggressive approach. A Scerri low shot was saved by keeper Gauci and on 66 minutes Valletta went close with a Pace header on Borg’s free kick that had beaten Gauci but Denni arrived fractionally late.

The Marsaxlokk keeper again parried Briffa’s long range shot before Valletta were forced to make a tactical change on 72 minutes. In went Ramon Dos Santos for the injured Jamie Pace, with Briffa moving in midfield and Borg shifted wide as right back.

Valletta still held the initiative and the best chance fell on 83 minutes. Denni darted inside the Marsaxlokk area but his goalbound effort was blocked by Spiteri on the line, Denni’s second attempt on the rebound blocked providentially by the keeper before Spiteri again blocked Scerri’s effort on the line.

Valletta kept pressing and twice went close again through substitute Ian Zammit. His header went wide and his free kick was deflected into a corner by the Marsaxlokk wall.

But in added time, Marsaxlokk could have won the match. Borg’s throw in fell to substitute Darmanin who advanced, but his curling shot hit the upright to the relief of the Valletta fans.