Marsaxlokk 5
Msida St Joseph 0
Marsaxlokk maintained their challenge for a place in the Championship Pool after they disposed of Msida St Joseph at the Centenary Stadium yesterday evening.
Following their slender 1-0 victory over Pietà Hotspurs in their previous outing, the champions took to the field in a more sprightly fashion and an early lead paved the way for a second consecutive victory and, perhaps equally important, another clean sheet.
Msida are slowly losing touch with the Championship Pool contenders. Patrick Curmi's team is struggling against fast and skilful squads. Yesterday, the Saints were missing the three players who were red carded in the previous encounter against Sliema Wanderers, namely, Doding Priso, Dino Cachia and Stefano Grima. Keeper Manuel Bartolo was also suspended for this encounter and this compounded the selection problems for the Msida coach.
Patrick Borg and Clive Brincat were assigned the delicate task of marshalling the central defence as the Saints sought to contain the surging runs of Mark Barbara and Andre Rocha Da Silva.
Up front, Pedro and Gilberto Dos Santos found the going tough and rarely had a sniff at goal.
Pedro Dos Santos even had to endure the anguish of missing a penalty which would have enabled Msida to reduce the arrears when trailing 0-3 but his spot-kick was neutralised by Reuben Gauci.
Marsaxlokk could not have hoped for a better start as they forged into the lead on 12 minutes, courtesy of a stinging low shot from the edge of the penalty area by Malta international Jamie Pace. Goalkeeper Jonathan Vella never stood a chance.
Midway through the first half, Peter Pullicino did well to float a dangerous cross across the goalmouth but no yellow-shirted player was in the ball's flight to hit inside an attempt Msida goal.
The Saints managed a fast break just after the half hour which nearly drew them level. Gilberto Dos Santos whipped a powerful shot which was repelled by Gauci who had rushed out of his goal to stop the attempt.
Adrian Farrugia was on the goal-line to clear Barbara's effort after a menacing corner from the right flank on 36 minutes but there was little that he could have done from preventing Marsaxlokk's second goal eight minutes from half time.
Midfielder Pullicino's cross shot created havoc in the penalty area and with Pace running towards the ball, central defender Borg skewed the effort into the net with the faintest of deflections for an own goal.
On the stroke of half-time, Talbot's lads practically wrapped up the three points at stake as young Barbara soared high in the air to meet Sammut's corner and head into the net.
On 50 minutes, Msida should have bridged the gap after they were awarded a penalty following a late tackle by Tellus on Baldacchino.
Pedro Dos Santos calmly stepped up for the kick but goalkeeper Gauci was equally up to the task as he dived to his right to parry the attempt and Marsaxlokk escaped unscathed.
Marsaxlokk's fourth goal was in the offing though and Barbara notched his brace with a terrific shot from the edge of the penalty area on 64 minutes after Rocha Da Silva had slipped an inviting pass to his young team-mate.
A fifth goal was only averted by the woodwork as Wellman calibrated a free-kick from the edge of the box which thundered off the post midway through the second half.
Substitute Licari then got his name on the scoresheet with a slick move as he sped inside the penalty area from the left flank and beat the Msida keeper with a timely intervention that had the ball rolling into the net.
In added time, Msida's Spiteri was red carded for dissent to compound a miserable evening for Curmi's side.
Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-7, C. Mamo-6.5, S. Wellman-6.5, S. Tellus-6.5, G. Sciberras-6 ('50 M. Licari-6.5), P. Pullicino-7, J. Pace-7, A. Rocha Da Silva-7, T. Templeman 6.5 ('86 D. Sciberras), K. Sammut-6.5 ('72 W. Gomes), M. Barbara-7.5.
Msida: J. Vella-5, P. Sciriha-5.5, C. Brincat-5.5, P. Borg-5.5, A. Spiteri, L. Micallef-5.5, T. Farrugia-5.5 ('72 S. Vella), A. Farrugia-6, R. Baldacchino-5.5 ('69 C. Spiteri-5), P. Dos Santos Calcado-5, G. Dos Santos-6.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Scorers: Pace 12, Borg 37 og, Barbara 45, 64, Licari 77.
Yellow cards: Borg, Templeman, Sammut, T. Farrugia, Tellus, Wellman, Micallef.
Red card: A. Spiteri (MSJ) 90.
Missed penalty: Pedro Dos Santos (MSJ) 50.
BoV player of the match: Mark Barbara (Marsaxlokk).