Floriana canter past helpless St George's

St George's 0
Floriana 6

Floriana reached the second round of the FA Trophy in emphatic fashion following this comfortable victory over First Division outfit St George's.

This clash, between two of the most long-established clubs on our islands, was far from a classic as Floriana dominated proceedings from start to finish.

The tie was good as over inside the first 11 minutes when Nicolò Baldacchino and Christian Cassar gave the Greens a two-goal cushion that set them on their way to an easy passage to the next round. Trevor Cilia scored a second-half hat-trick to mark his contribution in the match.

On the other hand, nothing special was expected from a St George's side who were making their first appearance in the competition for some years now. Maybe they were hoping to exit the competition with a more respectable result than six years ago when they lost 5-0 to Tarxien in the first round. However, yesterday they were too weak to offer a decent challenge to their more illustrious opponents.

Floriana coach Willie Vassallo was forced to make do without Brazilian duo Andre Rocha Da Silva and Edoardo Do Nascimento in midfield and attack respectively.

Goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri was handed a rare start in place of regular Reuben Gauci. St George's were forced to play without striker Nazzareno Abela but they had Floriana old boy Jesmond Delia in their line-up.

The difference in class between the two teams was evident right from the word go. Floriana were off to a flier and inside the first 11 minutes they were already two goals up.

Their first strike arrived on three minutes when Manolito Micallef served Baldacchino and the Malta U-21 forward easily stabbed the ball past the onrushing Herman Mercieca.

In the 11th minute it was 2-0 when Floriana were awarded a free-kick from around 25 metres out. Cassar swerved the ball home via the crossbar with Mercieca well and truly beaten.

Cruising with a two-goal margin, the Greens were easily administering their advantage but had to wait until the 38th minute to carve out another scoring opportunity. The versatile Stephen Wellman, yesterday deployed on the right wing, fired in a fierce drive from the distance that finished just over.

Baldacchino was again on target five minutes from the break. Cilia sent in an inviting cross from the left and Baldacchino was first on the ball to head the home - 3-0.

The Saints' first shot at the Floriana goal arrived on 53 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick from a central position outside the box. Keith Darmanin's attempt was easily blocked by Camilleri.

Three minutes later Cilia made the score 4-0, the Greens midfielder hitting home past Mercieca after he was put through by Micallef's astute pass.

Floriana were again close on 62 minutes when Wellman's shot from an angle was pushed to a corner by Mercieca. The Greens' win was soon taking tennis proportions as four minutes later Cilia hit his second of the match with an exquisite strike from the left angle of the area that gave the St George's goalkeeper no chance.

Baldacchino should have made it 6-0 on 78 minutes but he fluffed the chance after Mercieca had partially blocked Cilia's shot.

But the sixth goal was only postponed by a few minutes because nine minutes from time Baldacchino's shot was blocked by a defender but Cilia was on hand to blast the rebound home and complete his hat-trick.

Substitute Kurt Formosa almost added his name to the scorers' list in time added on but his grounder was blocked to a corner by Mercieca.

That little matter though as Floriana were long home and dry.

St George's: H. Mercieca, G. Stivala, A. Bonello, C. Brincat, E. Degabriele, E. Sevasta, J. Spiteri ('83 M. Spiteri), J. Delia ('72 C. Schiavone), A. Ewurum, K. Darmanin, H. Schembri ('82 E. Amaira).

Floriana: M. Camilleri, R.M. Gango-Rtsa, I. Azzopardi, I. Ciantar ('87 G. Bencini), M. Caruana, C. Ciantar ('63 K. Formosa), T. Cilia, S. Wellman, N. Baldacchino, C. Cassar ('72 R. Darmanin), M. Micallef.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Baldacchino 3, 40; Bajada 11; Cilia 56, 66, 81.

Yellow Card: Degabriele.