FLORIANA-1, SLIEMA WANDERERS-4
Sliema Wanderers ended their season on a high note after beating Old Firm rivals Floriana 4-1 in today's opening game.
Danail Mitev scored a brace for the Blues to ensure a victorious send-off for Danilo Doncic in his last game as Sliema coach.
Sliema stormed ahead inside three minutes. Latching onto a long ball from midfield, Emiliano Lattes pulled clear of his marker before slotting past Patrick Jansen, the Floriana goalkeeper.
The Blues were all over the uneasy Greens in the early stages. Trevor Cilia sped through the middle before hitting a powerful shot that flashed past the near post.
Floriana improved as the first half gained pace. Onome Sodje had a shot blocked by Sliema defender Josef Mifsud who was providential again minutes later with a goal-line clearance after Darmanin had lobbed the on-rushing Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper.
Three minutes past the half-hour, Floriana equalised, Darmanin running clear before hitting past Bonello after being set free by Mano Micallef's excellent pass.
The Greens were now playing the better football but it was Sliema who regained the lead five minutes from half-time when Danail Mitev's fierce shot from the distance had the better of Jansen who got a touch to the ball but could not hold.
Three minutes into the second half, Mitev added to Sliema's lead. Receiving a pass from Beppe Muscat, Mitev cut in from the right before guiding a diagonal shot past Jansen.
Mitev was a thorn in the side of the Floriana defence. The Bulgarian winger made progress on the right but his swerving effort was off target.
Sliema soon made it 4-1, Alex Muscat beating Jansen with a low strike from an angle.
Andre Grabowski came close to reducing the deficit for Floriana but his shot from the distance was tipped away by Bonello.
On 63 minutes, Sliema again had Bonello to thank for keeping their three-goal lead intact as the lanky goalkeeper turned away Micallef's looping drive.
Floriana continued to push forward but Bonello denied them again with a point-blank save fromn Darmanin's header.
In stoppage time, Floriana were unlucky not to narrow the gap when Darmanin's half-volley crashed against the post.
Sliema winger Mitev was named BOV player of the match.