Gzira United were held by Floriana in a 1-1 draw in the first match played yesterday at the National Stadium. Thus the Greens brought to a halt four consecutive wins by the Maroons.

In the end it was a fair result with Hamrun gaining most from this since if they beat Birkirkara they will extend the lead at the summit of the Premier League.

After a lively first minutes the match failed to live up to expectations especially in the second half.

Floriana took the lead after just five minutes when after a mistake by Gabriel Bohrer there was Kemar Reid who took possession and after making his way into the opposing area the Floriana striker rifled the ball home.

But Gzira’s reaction was an immediate one and six minutes later they drew level.  Toni  Kolega sent a cross in the Greens area and Nikolai Muscat played the ball towards Jefferson De Assis and the top scorer of the Premier League tapped in from close range.

Six minutes from the end of the first half Jefferson De Assis saw his shot following a good run saved by Cutajar. And in the dying seconds of the first half Floriana responded when Reid played a perfect pass towards Veselji but his shot failed to reap dividends.

The second half started on a slow pace and it was only on 69 minutes that Gzira went near when Jefferson De Assis found Maxwell Maia but his acute shot was partially saved by Cutajar with the ball falling into Muscat’s path but his close range conclusion ended in the arms of the Floriana goalkeeper.

And ten minutes from the end of the match De Grazia tried to lob from the edge of the area only for the ball to end on the roof of the net.

In added time Floriana went near with Reid  supplying the cross from the left flank finding Jan Busuttil but the latters headed hit the side netting.