Wanderers turn on the style

Hamrun Spartans 0
Sliema Wanderers 5

Sliema Wanderers are the benchmark for excellence in Maltese football at present. The Premier League leaders yesterday relied on their vintage technical abilities to make light work of Hamrun Spartans to the tune of 5-0, in the process extending their lead at the summit of the Premier League to seven points over their nearest rivals, Birkirkara and Valletta.

Officials of the City club will have been left in doubt as to the difficulty of the task awaiting their team on Tuesday, such was Sliema's supremacy yesterday. More worrying for Valletta and other title aspirants is the Wanderers' strength in depth.

Against Hamrun, Edward Aquilina had some of the Premier League's most high-profile players among his substitutes, such as David Camilleri, Rupert Mangion and Orosco Anonam.

Nigerian midfielder-cum-striker Anonam was re-signed by the Blues only hours after the January transfer window opened on Wednesday, at the expense of Brazilian Bizu who was released.

Seven minutes into the game, Nenad Veselji whipped in a teasing cross which was headed goalwards by Noel Turner but Daniel Dengaky, the Hamrun goalkeeper, saved in two attempts. Sammut then rifled a rising shot that sailed over the bar.

Aquilina, the Sliema coach, kept faith with the two-pronged attack of Danilo Doncic and Nenad Veselji, despite the availability of Anonam, who may lack match fitness after three months away from competitive football.

Veselji and Doncic needed just 18 minutes to repay Aquilina's faith. A darting run through the middle by the agile Veselji took him into the box where he was tackled by Hamrun skipper Charlò Magro. Referee Chris Lautier pointed to the spot and Doncic hit the ball hard and high past Dengaky to break the stalemate.

Hamrun Spartans were penned in their own half for most of the half-hour but in one isolated attack, they came close to an equaliser. Wayne Attard lofted a cross towards Stefan Sultana who rose to head the ball only for his effort to finish over the bar.

Joe Brincat, yesterday gunning against one of his former teams that also happen to have his nephew, Mauro Brincat, in their ranks, threatened to double his team's lead but his low attempt ended just wide of the far post.

Brincat was at the centre of attention again 12 minutes from the break. Timing his run into the Hamrun box to perfection, the international midfielder received a pass from Doncic but he was dispossessed by Paiber as he was closing in on goal. Sliema wanted a penalty but referee Chris Lautier would have none of that.

That mattered little, however, as in their next raid, Sliema made it 2-0. Doncic headed the ball towards the far post where Sammut got a touch to the ball despite Dengaky's intervention, the ball rolling agonisingly into the unguarded net.

There was only one team on the pitch now as Hamrun were unable to stem the tide that was threatening to sweep them off their feet. Doncic was presented with a golden opportunity to widen the margin but he blasted his shot high.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first as Sliema's fluent football, embodied by the powerful runs of Carlo Mamo down the left channel, the vision of Brincat and the elegant movement of Veselji could not be matched by the subdued Spartans.

With their showdown against title rivals Valletta only two days away, Aquilina could even afford the luxury of hauling off a defender, Jeffrey Chetcuti, to give Anonam some much-needed playing time.

Ivan Casha, a half-time replacement for Dengaky, pulled off three excellent saves in two minutes to deny, turn by turn, Doncic, Anonam and Massimo Grima. Brincat also had a scorching drive brushing the crossbar before Casha's save on an angled Grima shot on 62 minutes.

The inevitable third goal was only delayed for the 70th minute when Brincat had his first attempt again repelled by the solid Casha but the former Hamrun and Birkirkara stalwart hit the jackpot with his second shot.

Six minutes later, Brincat turned provider, cutting the ball back towards Doncic, who flicked home from close range. Seconds later, Sliema could have made it 5-0 but for the post which, in the space of a few seconds, denied Doncic and Anonam after a cross from Rupert Mangion, who had replaced Veselji.

Hamrun were reprieved but only temporarily for Sliema's fifth goal came 12 minutes from time courtesy of Grima who beat Casha with a low shot after a fine personal move.

Five goals to good, the confident Blues refused to ease off and only a deflection by Aaron Attard on a point-blank Turner effort denied them a sixth goal.

Akanji was rarely troubled during the game but he did effect one good save late on, blocking a diagonal Gaetan Spiteri shot.

Hamrun: D. Dengaky (I. Casha), J. Debattista (A. Attard), N. Galea, C. Magro, C. Paiber, W. Attard, K. Borg, R. Bajada, G. Spiteri, M. Brincat (R. Fenech), S. Sultana.

Sliema: M. Akanji, B. Said, I. Ciantar, J. Chetcuti (O. Anonam), N. Turner, M. Grima, J. Brincat, C. Mamo (D. Camilleri), K. Sammut, D. Doncic, N. Veselji (R. Mangion).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Doncic 19 pen., 76th; Sammut 36th; Brincat 69th; Grima 78th.

Yellow Card: Paiber.

Player Of The Match: Joe Brincat (Sliema W.)