SLIEMA WANDERERS-3, BALZAN-0
Sliema Wanderers ended a run of two matches without a win after beating Balzan 3-0.
Stanley Ohawuchi was instrumental for Sliema as the prolific Nigerian forward scored a hat-trick inside the opening 50 minutes to give his team a timely boost.
Sliema stormed into Balzan from the start, taking the lead after just three minutes. Trevor Cilia was the provider as his cross from the right flew towards Ohawuchi whose powerful header gave Balzan goalkeeper Guilhermo Lorenziu no chance.
Balzan threatened to equalise when Dylan Grima's shot from outside the box was deflected by Sliema defender Stefano Bianciardi with the ball ending just wide of a post.
The Reds should have equalised when, from the ensuing corner, Jose Luis Amario Negrin passed to Lydon Micallef but his grounder from a great position rolled past the far post.
Reprieved, Sliema almost doubled their lead when Ohawuchi outpaced the hesitant Rodrigo Pereira before cutting the ball back for Mark Scerri who fired his shot over the bar.
The Blues increased their advantage on the half-hour. Balzzan stopped for offside as Ivan Woods slipped a through-ball to Ohawuchi who advanced before prodding past Lorenzi, the Balzan goalkeeper.
Sliema threatened again when Matias Muchardi laid the ball back for Cilia but the winger's drive came off a Balzan defender.
The one-sided nature of the game continued. Sliema captain Alex Muscat headed just wide from Cilia's free-kick.
Balzan needed a goal to resurrect their hopes. They should have narrowed the deficit when Fabio Vignaroli's cross from a right-wing free-kick soared towards Pereira but the Brazilian defender's header was too tame to trouble Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Ohawuchi should have completed his hat-trick but hit wide with only Lorenzi to beat after receiving from Cilia.
Any hopes Balzan might have had of producing a fightback were ended five minutes into the second half as Sliema moved three goals ahead. Balzan were again found wanting at the back as Woods darted into the box before passomg to the unmarked Ohawuchi who drove the ball past the on-rushing Lorenzi.
That was Ohawuchi's last meaningful intervention as, 12 minutes into the second half, the Nigerian was withdrawn by Alfonso Greco. He was replaced by Pape Gueye.
In a rare attacking forway, Balzan played the ball towards Ryan Darmanin but his low strike from outside the box was blocked by Bonello.
Balzan's improved endeavours yielded another chance on 64 minutes. Fabio Vignaroli's cross from a free-kick dfrifted into the box and Andrew Scicluna's header was pushed away by Bonello.
Seven minutes from time, Sliema nearly made it 4-0 but Gueye's fierce drive finished wide of the far post.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Gueye wasted a golden chance to put his name on the scoresheet, hitting wide with only Lorenzi to beat after getting on the end of a perfect pass from Cilia.
Ohawuchi was voted BOV player of the match.