Balzan 0
Sliema Wanderers 4
Woods 18; Ohawuchi 41; Vladavic 76, 88;
Sliema Wanderers dismantled ten-man Balzan as Alfonso Greco’s Blues ran out 4-0 winners to dislodge Hibernians from the third place.
The dismissal of Dylan Grima proved too much to overcome for Balzan.
The midfielder was sent off on 35 minutes for simulation with Sliema already in the lead.
The decision was technically correct by the referee with Grima showing immaturity to fall down easily in the box when he had already been booked earlier on.
Grima’s dismissal inevitably changed the game completely as Sliema turned on the style with Stanley Ohawuchi doubling the lead, then laying on assists for Admir Vladavic to seal the issue.
The same players in the same formation will deliver the same goods, Greco must have thought as he deployed an almost unchanged first XI following the 1-1 draw with Valletta in the previous match.
Ivan Woods, who inspired the stirring fightback against the Lilywhites, was promoted to the starting formation with Kane Farrugia stepping into the boots of the injured Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
The only changes in Balzan’s line-up had been enforced upon coach Jesmond Zerafa by the suspension to Ramon and Pedrinho. They were replaced by Kurt Magro and Luke Sciberras.
A quick Balzan breakaway caught their opponents unawares after eight minutes as Justin Grioli outpaced Alex Muscat on the right flank before switching the ball to the unmarked Lydon Micallef who headed over.
Five minutes later, Josè Luis Negrin’s effort drew a fine save from Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper, after two attempts by the Spaniard had caused confusion inside the Sliema box.
Yet, Sliema’s first move of genuine quality produced an opener on 18 minutes as Ohawuchi breezed past defender Steve Bezzina as he drifted into the box from the right. His initial cross was partially blocked by Magro who stumbled and the ball rolled kindly towards Woods who hammered home past Manwel Bartolo.
A goal up early in the match, Sliema were expected to apply more pressure on Balzan but instead it was Zerafa’s team who regained the initiative and Edison Zarate Bilbao tested Bonello with a low drive.
However, Grima’s dismissal then interrupted Balzan’s momentum.
And the Wanderers soon made their superiority count as six minutes later Ohawuchi made it 2-0 when the striker rose high to head home from a Vladavic corner at the far post.
The second half was only two minutes old when Sliema threatened to increase their lead.
Vladavic made headway on the left and flicked a perfect pass to Ohawuchi who held off Andrew Scicluna’s challenge but his shot finished just off the far post.
Midway through the second half, Muscat’s first-time volley, following a short clearance by Scicluna, sailed wide over the bar.
The gulf in class between the two teams was evident now and on 76 minutes Ohawuchi demonstrated some excellent footwork before serving Vladavic who beat Bartolo with a crisp shot from the D.
Two minutes from time, Sliema rounded the scoring.
Luke Sciberras gave away possession cheaply as Paltemio Barbetti darted towards the box before supplying a square pass for Ohawuchi. The Nigerian showed a great deal of altruism to release Vladavic who smashed in the fourth goal.
Balzan
E. Bartolo-5, J. Grioli-6 (72 F. Aboulezz), K. Magro-5, S. Bezzina-6, A. Scicluna-5, F. Vignaroli-5, D. Grima, L. Sciberras-4, L. Micallef-5 (79 R. Darmanin), E. Zarate Bilbao-6.5, J. L. Armario Negrin-5.
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6.5, A. Muscat-6, J. Mintoff-6 (65 J. Borg-6), M. Scerri-6.5 (75 B. Muscat), S. Ohawuchi-8, K. Farrugia-6, I. Woods-6.5 (82 A. Xuereb), P. Barbetti-6.5, M. Muchardi-6, S. Bianciardi-6, A. Vladavic-7.5.
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow cards: Grima, Scerri, Barbetti, Vladavic.
Red card: Grima (Balzan) 35.
BOV Player of the match: Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers).