ST. ANDREWS 1
Farrugia 77
SLIEMA WANDERERS 6
Mifsud 2, 15, 36, 43pen, Bianciardi 52, Hendry 88
Michael Mifsud scored four goals in 43 minutes as Sliema Wanderers crushed St Andrews with a glittering performance. Once he had put his team in front after just 69 seconds, victory seemed inevitable for Sliema.
Sliema Wanderers wasted no time in going in front taking just two minutes to do so. Aidan Friggieri sliced open the Saints defence with a perfect ball to Michael Mifsud who kept his composure to fire the ball past Dorian Bugeja, the St. Andrews goalkeeper.
And shortly afterwards, Bugeja’s goal was breached again. Johann Bezzina’s driven ball over the defence found Mifsud who converted from short range.
St Andrew’s abject misery deepened when Mifsud completed his hat-trick. Friggieri and Mifsud once again split the defence and from the midfielder’s final invitation, the nippy striker in front of goal dribbled the goalkeeper and placed the ball into the net with aplomb.
Four minutes from half-time, Eloyedu Nkene made a late tackle on Friggieri when the midfielder was through on goal and referee Sandro Spiteri pointed to the spot. Dorian Bugeja saved the spot kick but the referee ordered it to be retaken and Mifsud scored at the second attempt.
Sixth minutes into the second half, Sliema struck their fifth. Gary Muir’s inswinging cross from corner was pushed away by Bugeja in the path of Stefano Bianciardi who buried the ball behind the goalkeeper via the bar.
Sliema continued to create openings. Alex Muscat dragged his wide from few metres and Mark Scerri should have extended his side’s tally but blasted wide after 65 minutes.
St. Andrews rallied as the match wore on and Joseph Farrugia scored a tidy consolation. Dale Camilleri swung in a deep cross from the wide on the right flank to Michael Johnson who intelligently headed into the way of the advancing Farrugia who volleyed home. The Saints did not survive long as substitute Kyle Hendry ran onto an inch-perfect through ball from Rafael Ledesma , to slide in from the left flank to score from a tight angle.