Mifsud Triganza floors Ħamrun

Sliema Wanderers 5
Mifsud Triganza 9, 58, 84; Bartolo 47; Failla 56
Ħamrun Spartans 0

Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza struck a brilliant hat-trick yesterday as Sliema Wanderers demolished Ħamrun Spartans.

The former Birkirkara striker gave the Blues an early lead when he stroked in Clayton Failla's through pass. Matthew Bartolo produced a wonderful piece of magic on the right just after the interval and Failla was next to find the target before Mifsud Triganza completed his hat-trick with another two goals.

The fact that all three of his strikers found the net will give Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi some measure of satisfaction in the wake of the criticism that followed the shock upsets to Qormi and Tarxien.

With three defeats in their first four matches, Sliema's title credentials were already being called into question.

Now, the emphatic win that Azzopardi needed to really kick-start his side's season following their unconvincing early form arrived.

However, the final scoreline should not mask Sliema's earlier lack of concentration as a better team than Ħamrun would have punished them severely.

Unhappy with Sliema's performance in the 3-1 defeat to Tarxien, Azzopardi opted for Lucien Dronca in the unusual position of holding midfielder.

Aged 36, the Romanian defender showed more strength of character than his younger team-mates as he has effectively taken over the midfield reins but whether he is more mobile remains to be seen.

The Wanderers, adopting an aggressive 4-2-3-1 formation with Mifsud Triganza the more advanced striker, poured forward and grabbed the opener after just nine minutes.

A throughball by Failla found Mifsud Triganza free on the right. He weaved around the on-rushing Ivan Casha before slotting home.

Ħamrun, although still without a point, denied their opponents the time and space to flaunt the passing game that is their preferred modus operandi. With 17 minutes gone, Gaetan Spiteri hit the post, curling a shot beyond keeper Simon Agius who was relieved to see the ball bouncing off the woodwork.

Five minutes later, the quick reaction of Agius prevented the Spartans from equalising when Spiteri raced past a defender only to see his point-blank shot stopped by the Sliema goalkeeper.

On 34 minutes, Ħamrun survived a scare when Ryan Fenech's corner flashed across the face of goal and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino arrived late to latch on to the cross, managing a feeble shot which went wide.

Sliema soon found more space just after the break as Bartolo made a devastating run down the right and outpaced Clyde Camoin to drive home with a right-foot shot after 47 minutes.

From that point onwards it was one-way traffic.

Ryan Fenech did well to get his feet in between his brother Roderick - for the first time the Fenech duo were pitched against each other - and Casha but the defender cleared the danger.

After Agius made another impressive save to stop Spiteri's close-range shot, the Wanderers scored two goals in quick succession to put the issue beyond doubt.

On 56 minutes, Failla met Bartolo's delivery with a flying header at the back post that gave Casha no chance. Two minutes later, Mifsud Triganza latched on to a pass from Ian Azzopardi and drilled a shot behind the goalkeeper.

Ħamrun, understandably, were shell-shocked and never looked like finding a way back into the match and all that remained to be seen was whether Mifsud Triganza could grab his first hat-trick of the season.

He duly obliged six minutes from time as he ran on to Ciantar's precise cross to glance a header past Casha.

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius-7 (75' J. Alden), I. Azzopardi-6 (82' L. Martinelli), J. Mifsud 6, R. Fenech-5, M. Scerri-6 (61' M. Ciantar-5), J. Mifsud Triganza-8, M. Bartolo-8, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, L. Dronca-6, I. Ciantar-6, C. Failla-7.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-5, A. Attard-5, R. Mangion-6, R. Fenech-6, D. Cucciardi-5, M. Mifsud-5 (79' Busuttil), L.J. Agius-5 (76' Cacciatolo), G. Spiteri-6.5, M. Hrusba-6, T. Fleri Soler-5 (67' D. Caruana), C. Camoin-5.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow card: Rupert Mangion.

BoV player of the match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Sliema Wanderers).