Injuries to a host of key players failed to halt Sliema Wanderers' flying start as the champions collected their eighth league victory at the expense of a luckless Pietà Hotspurs at the Centenary Stadium yesterday evening.
A first-half goal by man-of-the-match Orosco Anonam was enough for the champions to end their first round commitments as the undisputed leaders of Maltese football.
Coach Edward Aquilina, having to do without the likes of midfielder Stefan Giglio and strikers Adrian Mifsud and Danilo Doncic - the Serbian was named among the substitutes - instructed the versatile Anonam to lead his side's attack.
The Nigerian, scorer of the Wanderers' first goal in their 3-2 victory over Hibernians, did not let him down with another powerful display.
Sliema skipper Noel Turner was deployed as a wing-back where he was aided by Darren Debono while Rupert Mangion was given a free role to link midfield with the forward line.
Joseph Farrugia, Claude Mattocks and Joe Brincat staffed Sliema's midfield sector but these players, known for their fine technique, were finding it hard to sway the ball around on the artificial pitch.
Pietà, who conceded two late goals in their 3-2 defeat to Floriana, weren't at full strength.
Malta international goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin was preferred to Andrew Hogg but Kurt Farrugia was suspended.
Pierre Aquilina and Chris Okoh were left out of the first team as coach Georgi Deanov made five changes from the team that lost to Floriana.
Now enjoying a seven-point lead at the top of the league, champions Sliema have put more pressure on the chasing duo of Valletta and Birkirkara, both of whom play their last first round games this afternoon.
For the Hotspurs, this defeat leaves them third from bottom in the standings with only eight points from nine matches.
Sliema went on the offensive from the start of yesterday's game.
After just one minute, a Turner corner was headed by Mangion and, with the ball dipping behind the Pietà custodian, Darmanin somehow extended his arm to clear.
Six minutes later, Debono was lucky not to have been booked for holding back Ivan Woods after the Malta striker outpaced him.
But Sliema remained the better team.
In the 16th minute, Anonam launched another attack, passing the ball for Mangion in the area. The former Hamrun midfielder got past the Pietà rearguard before finding Turner who shot high from an ideal position.
A minute later, Pietà responded when a Woods pass found Cleaven Frendo in space but the young Pietà striker drove his effort just over.
Just past the half hour, Sliema were dangerous again as Anonam dribbled past defenders David Camenzuli and Branko Nisevic but his final attempt missed the target by a whisker.
Six minutes from half-time, a free-kick by Brincat finished just wide but a minute later the Wanderers deservedly broke the stalemate.
Farrugia turned round Camenzuli, played the ball on to the right from where the rushing Anonam slotted a right-foot shot home from just inside the penalty area.
Sliema continued to push forward, missing a fine opportunity to double their lead on 43 minutes when Mattocks hit just wide after another fine move.
In the dying moments of the first half, a good Frendo move set up Woods who failed to find the target.
Murphy Akanji, the Sliema goalkeeper, produced a brilliant save in first-half added time to stop a volley from Bernard Sciberras.
The champions seemed content to control the game in a largely uneventful second half.
Woods had a good drive on 51 minutes which Akanji saved and two minutes later, a Frendo free-kick was headed just over by Nisevic.
On the hour, Akanji showed his mettle again when he blocked a Frendo free-kick.
Still, it was Sliema who could have sealed the issue when, from a Turner cross on the right flank, Brian Said rose above his marker to head goalwards but Darmanin was alert.
Pietà had the best chance to equalise 12 minutes from time.
Another teasing Frendo free-kick hit the Sliema wall, the ball came into the path of substitute Stefan Zahra but his strike was well kept out by Akanji who ensured that the Blues' bid for a third consecutive championship remains firmly on track.