St George’s: B. Paris (A. Gatt), A. Bonello, C. Brincat, E. Sevasta, R. Conceciao, J. Spiteri, L. Grima, S. Sciberras, H. Schembri (E.Degabriele), L. Pace (C. Grech), E. Do Nascimento

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Mamo (K.Mamo), S. Wellman, L. Dimech, D. Bogdanovic, J. Pace, K. Sammut, C. Frendo (H. Doda), A. Schembri, A. Da Silva (M. Licari), G. Sciberras

Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs: P.Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: K. Sammut (2), E. Do Nascimento (pen), A. Schembri, D. Bogdanovic (2)

Yellow cards: R. Gauci, H. Schembri, C. Mamo

Player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. K. Sammut 2. J. Pace 3. S. Sciberras

Marsaxlokk were devoid of motivation yesterday and showed too much complacency, especially in defence, against lowly St George’s, but were still good enough to chalk a flattering win, with three second half goals, which puts them again at the top of the standings, joint leaders with Hibernians, who won their match on Friday.

St George’s succumbed to their biggest league defeat so far and might be the perennial occupants of relegation trouble, but they are a team with some good individuals and only some profligate finishing denied them a better result after exchanging punches with their more quoted opponents for the first 40 minutes.

While Marsaxlokk were an unchanged side from the one which beat Msida the previous week, St George’s welcomed the return of their Brazilians, Conceicao and Do Nascimento after suspension, with Fenech and Soleiman making way.

After their drubbing by Valletta, St George’s defended in numbers, keeping seven and eight men behind the ball, thus managing to strangle the life out of Marsaxlokk’s attacking options, with Bogdanovic and Frendo peripheral figures in the first half.

When Kevin Sammut found an opening and beat keeper Paris with a long range drive from outside the area after seven minutes, many thought that we were in for a goal deluge.

But that failed to materialise.

On the contrary, with ten minutes play, Do Nascimento was floored by keeper Gauci when chasing a long ball inside the area. St George’s were awarded a penalty which ‘Bizu’ Do Nascimento himself failed to convert, thumping the ball against the crossbar.

The Brazilian atoned for that miss a minute later as he again beat Marsaxlokk’s defence on a Sciberras long ball forward and lobbed it over the onrushing keeper to draw level.

Marsaxlokk struggled to make their ample possession count in the face of an organised defence as scoring opportunities remained at a premium.

Pace went close with a blistering shot until St George’s were forced to substitute the injured Pace on the half hour.

As Marsaxlokk went for broke, they left gaps in defence that St George’s nearly exploited on 35 minutes, when Grima was through on the right, after playing one-two with Schembri, sent a low cross which was missed by Grech at the far end.

Marsaxlokk needed a more cohesive approach to break the Saints down, but Andre Schembri capitalised on a well taken Frendo free-kick to head his side in front five minutes from the break.

Shortly after, Do Nascimento’s cross from the right beat the entire Marsaxlokk backline and, as Grech passed the ball to Grima, the latter shot wide from an ideal position.

Marsaxlokk substituted Da Silva with Licari for the second half and increased their lead after three minutes when Schembri’s accurate pass fell to Daniel Bogdanovic who neatly stepped past one challenge before sliding the ball past the grounded keeper.

With St George’s unable to go out of their defensive shell, Marsaxlokk kept possession and for long stretches played with training ground easiness. They brought in all three of their substitutes but by then the gap between the two teams was apparent as the game was clearly won and lost.

Not that St George’s ever gave up, but their efforts seemed increasingly laborious. There was still time however for a dispirited and increasingly weary St George’s to concede two more goals in the late stages.

Kevin Sammut, by far Marsaxlokk’s liveliest player, crowned a good performance with his second goal on 84 minutes, collecting substitute Doda’s pass to beat reserve keeper Gatt who had replaced Paris past the hour. And three minutes from time, Daniel Bogdanovic completed the formalities, also scoring a brace, as he shot in the loose ball after Doda’s effort had rebounded off the foot of the post.