Qormi-Floriana 2-1    

Qormi: M. Farrugia, G. Da Silva, L. Grech, A. Effiong, O. Bugeja, E. Vella, D. Pisani, S. Quintieri, G. Gianola, J. Bondin, T. Caruana.

Floriana: D. Hanford, A. Scicluna, I. Edet, S. Pisani, C. Caruana, I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro de Sousa, J. Xerri, C. Borg,

J. Borg, G. Muir.

Referee:  P. Caruana

Asst refs:  P. Apap, S. Attard

4th official: S. Spiteri

Scorers: G. Da Silva, C. Caruana, L. Grech

Yellow cards: S. Quintieri, I.Edet, O. Bugeja, G. Da Silva,

Red cards:

Player of the match:

A Leighton Grech goal on 72 minutes enabled Qormi to beat Floriana yesterday to move a step closer to safety in their battle against relegation.

The victory means that Qormi have now moved on to 20 points, the same as Naxxar, and five points away from Vittoriosa Stars, who have become firm favourites to join Rabat to next year’s First Division.

The match never reached great heights, but it was evident that Qormi showed more determination than their opponents who are still in a comfortable position, six points above the Stars with four matches remaining.

Qormi had Jorge da Silva missing through suspension, but Owen Bugeja returned to the side. Floriana made use of the same formation that beat Rabat 5-0 last week.

The match had a miserable start with neither team being able to penetrate each other’s defensive wall.

But when Qormi took the lead, the game came to life as Floriana pushed forward in search of an equaliser, even if they rarely appeared dangerous.

In fact, even when they scored their equaliser, it had to be a misunderstanding by the Qormi defence that allowed Christian Caruana to find the Qormi net.

In the second half, it was almost a Qormi domination as they searched for the goal that would lift them to a comfortable position in the standings.

After Grech’s winning goal, they remained in command despite Floriana’s late efforts to try and save a point.

The match had a quiet start with both sides sizing up each other.

But in their first real attack, in the 12th minute, Qormi took the lead when Gabriel da Silva beat Hanford from the edge of the area following a solo action.

Floriana reacted but they only came near to scoring in the 29th minute when from a Muir freekick, the ball hit the upright before going dead.

The Greens insisted on attack and in the 31st minute, they equalised. A loose ball in the Qormi area saw a misunderstanding between goalie Matthew Farrugia and Duncan Pisani. Christian Caruana took advantage of this lapse to hit home from a few metres.

In this action, Farrugia was injured and was replaced by Steve Sultana.

Qormi replied with a rising shot from Triston Caruana that sailed harmlessly over the bar.

In the 42nd minute, the Greens went close to taking the lead when from a Steve Pisani cross, Coronado’s fine flick just missed the left post.

In the second half, it was evident that Qormi went out searching for a win and Hanford had to block an Alfred Effiong incursion on the hour.

In the 67th minute, Hanford had to tip a Gabriel effort over the bar.

A Qormi goal appeared to be in the offing and it arrived on 72 minutes when Caruana and Grech exchanged the ball for the latter to advance into the Greens area before beating Hanford with a low shot.

Floriana made an effort to try and save a point, but Qormi closed all the gaps, although on 87 minutes, a Luca Casha pass to Steve Pisani was intercepted by goalie Sultana who thus assured Qormi of all the three points.