This was another routine win for Floriana who remain unbeaten in seven matches, and move just one point adrift of second placed Hibernians.

This fourth consecutive defeat leaves flimsy Marsaxlokk alone at the bottom of the standings, two points behind Mosta and Tarxien above them, as the struggle for survival now becomes intensifying.

Floriana were bereft of their two suspended players Christian Caruana and Pablo Doffo but that had no impact on the team’s performance yesterday, especially with the return from suspension of their playmaker Christian Cassar. With Sodje and Grabowski combining in attack to telling effect, Marsaxlokk were always on the back foot.

The Southseasiders, who had Trevor Templeman back in the side and wearing the captain’s armband after settling his differences with the club, fell behind after only two minutes. Sodje crossed from the right for the advancing Andre Grabowski who kept his cool to beat the onrushing keeper Cassar.

That put Floriana firmly in control and before the quarter hour they nearly doubled their lead when Sodje, put through by Cassar, thumped his shot against the upright.

Grabowski squandered two good chances before the half hour as he was twice foiled by the Marsaxlokk keeper Cassar. The latter blocked the Floriana forward after he had capitalized on a short back pass by Brincat and then again Grabowski chased a Woods’ through pass but shot straight on the keeper.

Floriana were denied a second time by the woodwork past the half hour, holding out Micallef’s shot from outside the area.

Five minutes before the break, Marsaxlokk suffered a double setback. Their centre back Clive Brincat was forced out injured as they conceded the second goal. Grabowski’s cross was headed by Sodje in the path of Manolito Micallef who applied the finishing touch.

Floriana eased off in the second half although they still remained the more potent going forward. Soon after the restart, Sodje robbed Xerri of the ball on the edge of the area, ran towards goal but kicked the ball a bit too long and Xerri recovered to block his goal bound effort.

Sodje injured his wrist as he fell to the ground and was later substituted.

On 64 minutes, Floriana scored their third. John Mintoff chased a long ball by Woods inside the area, flicked it past the onrushing keeper and deposited it into an unattended net.

Woods shot wide on Jospeh Borg’s pass as Floriana put in their new signing and former Marsaxlokk player Malcolm Licari for the final 20 minutes. He missed the target from close range as Mintoff also shot against the side netting on Cassar’s pass.

Marsaxlokk conceded a penalty three minutes from time for Farrugia’s handling inside the area and Ivan Woods tucked it away to complete Floriana’s rout.

Marsaxlokk C. Cassar, M. Valeriani, C. Brincat (S. Cutajar), P. Borg, J. Xerri, T. Templeman, S. Eboh (M. Caruana), J.P. Farrugia, G. Caruana, D. Grech (C. Debattista), S. Borg

Coach A. Cremona

Floriana M. Bartolo, O. Bugeja, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, E. Akoto, C. Cassar, A. Grabowski (M. Licari), T. Paris (J. Borg), O. Sodje (J. Borg), I. Woods, J. Mintoff

Coach M. Woods

Referee M. Spiteri

Asst.refs K. Borg, D. Sultana

4th official P. Caruana

Scorers A. Grabowski 2, M. Micallef 40, J. Mintoff 64, I. Woods 87 pen

Yellow cards P. Borg, O. Sodje

Player of the match Christian Cassar (Floriana)

TMI top 3 1. C. Cassar 2. O. Sodje 3. M. Micallef