Valletta put an end on their three-match winless streak beating lowly St George’s in a game that was a cruise not a contest.

Without ever having to stir themselves, they scored two goals in each half and dominated from start to finish with their pace and power up front.

The returning Branco Nisevic and Sebastian Monesterolo, back from suspension, yesterday left their mark as they scored their side’s two goals in the first half to give them a comfortable two-goal cushion by the first 17 minutes.

Nisevic headed Valletta in front after four minutes, beating the Saints’ keeper Paris on an Agius cross from the right and past the quarter hour Sebastian Monesterolo beat Paris hands down with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.

The goals put Valletta in the driving seat as there was hardly any doubt about the final outcome.

Valletta, who kept faith in youngsters Grioli, Bezzina, Zarb and Magro, all included from the start, eased a bit after that although they still created a couple of scoring opportunities which would have given them a wider margin.

St George’s rearguard, already struggling without Conceicao, found itself increasingly troubled, particularly by Agius’ pleasingly accurate centres and whenever Monesterolo surged forward. They were at pains trying to keep their shape.Without the suspended Do Nascimento, the Saints also looked teethless up front.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first. Valletta scored their third three minutes from the restart. Agius provided the pass for the unmarked Monesterolo to beat the goalkeeper at the far post with a low diagonal drive.

The Argentine forward completed his hat-trick seven minutes later with some lethal finishing from near the bye-line after avoiding the keeper’s challenge inside the penalty area. Monesterolo took his personal tally to ten league goals already, having scored in every match he played for Valletta so far.

In between St George’s created their best chance but Spiteri concluded wide Suleiman’s testing cross from the left and the chance went to waste as Valletta keeper Darmanin would remain resolutely untested.

Valletta kept playing with training ground easiness, not quite disinterested, but without even touching full throttle, forcing Paris into a couple of difficult saves to avoid his side further derision.

There was some late consolation for St George’s however when, with two minutes remaining, substitute Larson Pace beat keeper Darmanin following a corner kick. But that served only for statistical purposes.

* * *

Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Grioli, B. Nisevic, D. Camilleri, S.

Bezzina, K. Magro (M. Grima), E. Uzeh, D. Zarb (D. Falzon), I. Zammit, G. Agius, S. Monesterolo (B. Bonnici)

St George’s: B. Paris, A. Bonello, C. Brincat, E. Sevasta, E. Degabriele, L. Grima, J. Spiteri, S. Sciberras, H. Schembri (S. Borda), B. Fenech (L. Mizzi), H. Suleiman (L. Pace)

Referee: S. Tanti Asst.refs: K. Borg, G. Barbara 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: B. Nisevic, S. Monesterolo (3), L. Pace

Yellow cards: E. Sevasta, D. Zarb, I. Zammit

Player of the match: Sebastian Monesterolo (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. S.Monesterolo 2. G. Agius 3. D. Zarb