Mosta: J. Haber, M. Micallef, R. Grech, B. Agius (S. Bezzina), L. Dimech, F. Apap, O. Obiefule, F. Aboulezz, C. Campagnoli, O. Zongo (O. Chiemeka), D. Mitev

Qormi: M. Farrugia, K. Thackray, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, V. Pisani, J. Chetcuti (L. Grech), A. Bello-Osagie (L. Sciberras), M. Gauci, E. Bilbao Zarate (S. Sirito), G. Spiteri, J. Bondin

Referee: F. Bourgnon

Asst. refs: C. De Carolis, C. Pires

4th official: L. Kopriwa

Scorers: G. Spiteri 22, D. Mitev 36, A. Bello-Osagie 47 og, F. Aboulezz 52, K. Thackray 60, O. Zongo 80

Yellow cards: R. Grech

Player of the match: Danial Mitev (Mosta)

TMI top 3: 1. O. Obiefule 2. D. Mitev 3. K. Thackray

Attendance: 821

Mosta kept up their positive run with three wins on the trot that see them overcome Floriana and move into fourth place, three points adrift of Birkirkara and Valletta.

They almost put Qormi to the sword in the same ruthless way they disposed of Hamrun in the previous match, to suggest that they have shrugged off their sluggish start to the season.

They found the guile to recover from an early goal and draw level before halftime. Bolstered by two early goals after the restart, Mosta dominated the second half with spells of territorial dominance that they ably converted into goals. Mitev and Aboulezz were again on target, with Bello-Osagie scoring an own goal and Zongo helping himself to the fourth in the late stages.

Qormi faded out after a promising start and a good first half hour during which they took the lead. They appeared to run out of steam though after conceding two sloppy goals at the start of the second half, and although they pulled one back, they were never in contention, suffering Mosta’s fourth in the late stages.

Both teams were coming from wins in their previous outings. Mosta had convincingly beaten Hamrun Spartans 4-1 but yesterday were bereft of the injured Daniel Bogdanovic and gave a start to Ryan Grech, returning from suspension. Qormi kept the same starting eleven who beat Sliema Wanderers 2-1 with less panache but enough efficiency.

They looked to take the upperhand yesterday, after a quite initial quarter hour in which both teams failed to create any real goalmouth action.

With Zarate dictating the proceedings in midfield and Spiteri and Bello-Osagie combining to some telling effect up front, Qormi threatened first with Bello-Osagie dangerously inside the Mosta area, but Dimech blocked him well into a corner.

On 22 minutes Gaetan Spiteri took possession on a Zarate pass, resisted the challenge of two opponents before his squeezed goalbound effort went off Apap and Micallef to put keeper Haber off track.

On 35 minutes Bello-Osagie headed another Zarate cross inches wide.

Mosta found the guile to draw level a minute later. From a deep Agius cross from the left, Danail Mitev’s glancing header beat keeper Farrugia, perhaps distracted by the presence of Bondin and Obiefule in front of him.

Qormi were suddenly on the back foot in the second period as they collapsed to concede three more goals with their defence looking frail.

Mosta took a double lead within five minutes, courtesy of Qormi’s defensicve flaws. On 47 minutes a Mitev corner from the left fell straight at the far post and Bell-Osagie defelected the ball into his own goal.

Five minutes later, Obiefule’s cross from the byeline on the right, was pushed away by keeper Farrugia in the path of Firas Aboulezz who shot in from close range with minimal difficulty.

Mosta looked in command as jolted Qormi looked short of ideas. It was time for Leighton Grech to make a substitute appearance for Chetcuti and on the hour, Qormi reduced the deficit. Kris Thackray darted inside the Maosta area on a sailing Zarate free kick from half pitch to chest the ball and lob it over keeper Haber.

But Mosta were not to be denied. Their territorial dominance allowed their opponents few open spaces and ten minutes from time they again exposed Qormi’s vulnerability at the back with Obiefule again provider of a low cross from the right that cuaght the Qormi defence napping and Ousseni Zongo added their fourth with his strike from close range to complete Qormi’s night of misery.