BALZAN 0

SLIEMA WANDERERS 4

Woods 18; Ohawuchi 41; Vladavic 76, 88

Sliema Wanderers dismantled ten-man Balzan as Alfonso Greco’s troops ran out 4-0 winners to temporarily dislodge Hibernians in the third spot of the premiere league.

Sliema’s first move of genuine quality produced an opener on 18 minutes as Stanley Ohawuchi embarrassed Steve Bezzina as the Nigerian breezed past the tame challenge of the Malta defender as he drifted into the box from the right. His initial cross was partially blocked by makeshift central defender Kurt Magro who stumbled with the ball rolling kindly to Woods who hammered past Emmanuel Bartolo.

A goal up early in the match, Sliema were expected to put on pressure on Balzan in search for a second, instead it was Balzan who regained the initiative when Edison Zarate Bilbao tested Bonello with a low drive.

Yet the dismissal of Dylan Grima after just 35 minutes for simulation – a second bookable offence – interrupted Balzan’s momentum.

The Blues soon made their superiority count as Ohawuchi made it 2-0, six minutes later when the striker rose high to deftly head home a Admir Vladavic’s corner at the far post.

The gulf in class between the two teams was evident after 76 minutes when Ohawuchi demostrated some excellent footwork before serving Vladavic who beat Bartolo with a crisp shot from the D.

Two minutes from time, Sliema rounded the scoring, when Luke Sciberras gave away possession cheaply as Paltemio Barbetti darted towards the box before supplying a square pass for Ohawuchi who showed a great deal of altruism to pass the ball to Vladavic, smashing in the fourth goal.