Tough assignments for Floriana and Sirens in 9th round
●Floriana take on the ever improving Mosta ●Sirens face toughest test against champions Valletta ●Gzira aiming to earn 5th consecutive win ●Birkirkara take on Gudja and try to move away from relegation zone
The Bank of Valletta Premier League is offering local football enthusiasts with some interesting matches every weekend, and this weekend’s ninth round of matches will be no exception.
The programme starts today with two matches –Tarxien-Gzira and Hamrun-Santa Lucia.
Another two matches will be played tomorrow – SengleaBalzan and Mosta-Floriana. Two others are scheduled for Sunday – Sirens-Valletta and HiberniansSliema. The programme concludes on Monday with the match between Birkirkara and Gudja.
All the matches are to be played at the Centenary Stadium with the exception of the Sunday matches which are scheduled for the Hibernians Stadium.
TOP MATCHES
It should be another interesting weekend with two of the top three teams facing tough opposition.
Leaders Floriana will be meeting the ever improving Mosta side coached by Mark Miller, while joint second placed Sirens are to face defending champions Valletta. The other joint second placed side, Gzira, face bottom club Tarxien Rainbows.
Floriana and Gzira are the only two unbeaten sides so far. Floriana lead on 20 points, while Gzira and Sirens are joint second on 16 points.
The Greens are aware that it will not be an easy job to dispose of Mosta, despite the fact that they are still unbeaten and delivering the goods in a most convincing manner.
I consider the Floriana side to be the best ever in the last 10 to 15 years. With a compact defence and a midfield sector replete with hard-working players, together with strikers who are proving their worth, the team is one of the most balanced in the competition. No wonder they are still unbeaten and are occupying the top perch with a healthy four-point lead.
But Mosta have proved to be a big stumbling block to many teams so far. They held Birkirkara to a draw and have won their last three successive matches against Hamrun, Santa Lucia and Sliema.
I am sure both coaches Mark Miller (Mosta) and Vincenzo Potenza (Floriana) have prepared their players for this encounter which promises to be keenly contested.
The revelation side of the season, newly promoted Sirens, must have surprised themselves at how they have maintained their good start to the season culminating with last Sunday’s splendid 4-2 win against Balzan.
Their success is certainly no fluke and coach Steve D’Amato must be commended for the way he has turned this side into a title challenging side (at least so far).
Their primary aim is to remain among the elite after a first ever season in the top division, but if they continue playing the way they have done so far, there should be no room for concern.
On Sunday, they will be facing defending champions Valletta who have now registered two successive wins after that disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Gzira United.
The citizens are aware that Sirens could prove to be a tough hurdle, but should still be considered favourites to bag all the three points.
Gzira seem to have the easiest task this weekend.
Their encounter against bottom club Tarxien seems to be a foregone conclusion as the Maroons have more than enough guns to outsmart the Rainbows.
Tarxien, in fact, have the worst record in almost all sectors. They are the bottom club, have lost all their matches and have suffered the biggest number of goals – 23. Their main aim will be to try and avoid a ninth consecutive defeat.
OTHER MATCHES
Fourth placed Hamrun should return to winning form after being held to a goalless draw by Birkirkara last weekend.
The Spartans disappointed their numerous followers in a match which could have easily gone the Stripes’ way had it not been for two splendid saves by goalkeeper Bartolo in the second half.
This evening, they will be facing Santa Lucia who lost to Hibernians last Monday.
But despite their defeat, these Premier newcomers did not figure badly in their first derby against their Paola neighbours. Perhaps their lack of experience was their downfall in that game.
Hibernians should maintain their winning form as they face the struggling Sliema side.
The third from bottom Blues have lost five matches from the eight played and have collected five points from one win and two draws.
The Paolites will again be battling for the three points to at least remain within reach of the leaders. At present they are seven points behind Floriana.
The Senglea-Balzan clash is a game between two mid-table placed clubs.
Both teams lost their last match the past weekend, Senglea suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Floriana and Balzan losing 4-2 against Sirens.
They will both be aiming to return to winning form.
In the final game on the programme on Monday, Birkirkara will be facing last from bottom Gudja.
The Stripes will certainly be trying to win all the three points. So far they have won just one match from eight and are occupying a lowly 11th place in the standings with just seven points.
On their part, Gudja will be aiming to go positive again after suffering four consecutive defeats, after having drawn their opening four matches. 1pm Raiders-Kirkop
1pm Mosta-Swieqi
2.30pm Mtarfa-Mgarr
2.30pm Birkirkara-Zebbug R.
Sunday
Bank of Valletta Premier League - Hibernians Stadium 2pm Sirens-Valletta
4pm Hibernians-Sliema W.
Bank of Valletta first division - Victor Tedesco Stadium 11am Zebbug R.-Qrendi 1.15pm Naxxar L.-Pembroke 3.30pm Zejtun C.-Lija Ath.
Bank of Valletta second division - Centenary Stadium 11am Mgarr-Marsaxlokk 1.15pm Kalkara-Marsa 3.30pm Mellieha-B’Buga SC
Bank of Valletta third division - Sirens Stadium
2pm Msida SJ-Dingli S. 4.15pm Mtarfa-Attard
IASC first division
Santa Lucia Ground
8.30am Mgarr F.-Msida RS 9.45am Zejtun RS-B’Buga T. 11am Senglea Y.-Hamrun L.
Monday
Bank of Valletta Premier League - Centenary Stadium
7pm Birkirkara-Gudja
Bank of Valletta second division - Victor Tedesco Stadium
7pm Zurrieq-San Gwann