Valletta FC 6 Tourè 3,69 ; Mifsud 22, 44; Vandelannoite 34; Dimech 56;

Ħamrun Spartans 0

Michael Mifsud inflicted a nightmare on Ħamrun Spartans as the nippy striker’s devastating first-half brace and strikes by Jason Vandelannoite and Demba Tourè helped the Champions with another comfortable win, and left the Spartans digest another heavy defeat.

Valletta’s dominance was total, as Stefan Sultana’s promising youngsters once again found themselves outplayed and outclassed, with Mifsud, Tourè and Vandelannoite in particular ripping their fragile defence apart, turning their monopoly of possession into goals.

Valletta stunned the Spartans when taking the lead inside the opening two minutes. Vandelannoite was the catalyst as his powerful incursion down the right to meet William Barbosa’s free-kick unnerved the Ħamrundefence. As usual the Brazilian delivered an inch-perfect cross to the Belgian defender who having eluded his marker, headed goalwards and Demba Tourè took advantage of a distraction by goalkeeper Andrea Cassar when he raced in and tapping the ball into the net off a deflection on Roderick Fenech’s quad muscle.

Four minutes later, Ryan Fenech’s looping shot from more than 25metres was dropped by Ħamrun goalkeeper Cassar and Mifsud was on hand to take possession but fired the ball over the bar.

The Spartans were let off the hook but not for long. Their early toils came to the fore when Barbosa unleashed another swerving free-kick sailed across the Spartans box, finding Mifsud at the far post, to shoot behind Cassar.

The Lilywhites supporters cried “We want more” and their pleas were answered 12 minutes later. After a shaky start, Cassar produced a magnificent save as he leapt to the left to touch away Tourè’s point-blank header, but the ball dropped into Vandelannoite’s feet who buried the ball into the net.

There was no reprieve for the confused Spartans as Mifsud made it 4-0 and what a goal that was! Tourè and Mifsud combined well just outside the Ħamrun box. The nippy striker cut in from the right flank before arrowing a curling drive that sailed into the far corner of the net.Eleven minutes into the second half, Valletta struck their fifth goal as Fenech’s corner soared towards the far side of the Ħamrun’s box and Luke Dimech scored with a glancing header in the corner.

Tourè showed his predatory skills on 69 minutes when he glancing in a flying header from an inviting Vandelannoite’s centre.

Valletta, limited Ħamrun to few chances, and by far the best of them fell to Vella at death when the striker’s grounder hit the foot of the post after a well-worked move.