SLIEMA WANDERERS 3

Marzouk 27, 87

Shaw 35

MOSTA 1

Rafael 90

Sliema Wanderers have served further notice of their intentions to book for a European football berth next season after beating Mosta.

The victory consolidates Sliema’s fourth place in the Premier League table, ahead of Birkirkara and Ħamrun Spartans.

Sliema were aware that Mosta were not to be taken lightly. Their recent victories over the Spartans and Pieta’ legitimated their fears.

However, Sliema took their opponents by the scruff of the neck to send them reeling to a comprehensive 3-1 defeat which went some way towards earning their new coach Stefano Maccoppi the plaudits after keeping his pristine start to his Sliema adventure with his third win in as many matches.

The time was showing less than five minutes when John Mintoff was stopped by onrushing Mosta goalkeeper Andreas Galea when he was about to pull the trigger.

But Sliema’s reward was not long in the coming. That came after 27 minutes when a cavalry run by Ryan Fenech was followed by Younes Marzouk and his eventual cross had the French striker putting a headed touch to the ball on its way behind Galea.

Mosta’s hopes of recovery dipped by the 35th minute when a cross by Marzouk was nicely presented to Kurt Shaw via a deflection by a Mosta defender as his clinical touch into the net put the cherry on the cake.

The post came to Mosta’s rescue just before half on a header from the tireless Ignacio Varela but the Wanderers were completely masters by now.

Faced with a make-or-break scenario after the interval, the Blues stepped up a gear. Gianluca Cuomo’a shot was too central and Jake Galea was able to block.

Yet the Wanderers’ supremacy was beyond question and their football was more than adequate to keep their opponents at bay despite taking their foot off the pedal. Mosta could not get going. Their only effort towards came from Cuomo whose header just missed the target.

With nine minutes remaining, Fenech made way for Alex Muscat who was making his first appearance this season after a long lay-off.

There had always been one team in the picture. The Wanderers kept moving forward with nonchalance and Marzouk controlled the ball well before hitting a rising shot past the helpless Vella.

Mosta scored a late consolation goal through Rafael who netted beautifully from

free-kick.

Sliema Wanderers' Younes Marzouk was named BOV Player of the Match.