MARSA 1

MARSAXLOKK 5

Marsa: J. Debono, G. Bencini, D. Vella, E. Yanchev (R. Micallef), S. Cutajar, N. Fasinelli, C. Achokwa (K. Scerri), J.P. Zammit, V. Bellia, I. Umoru, A. Scerri

Marsaxlokk: J. Haber, L. Dimech, S. Wellman, C. Mamo (K. Mamo), K. Sammut, J. Pace, G. Sciberras, C. Frendo (U. Nwoko), D. Bogdanovic (A. Schembri), H. Doda, M. Licari

Referee: I. Miller Asst.refs: J. Rapa, E. Spiteri 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: A. Scerri, H. Doda, G. Sciberras (2), M. Licari, J. Pace

Yellow card : C. Frendo

Player of the match : Malcolm Licari (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. G. Sciberras 2. M. Licari 3. J. Debono

Another routine win for Marsaxlokk, against Marsa, leaves them comfortably at the top of the table with a healthy lead after the second round, even when their points are now halved.

Marsaxlokk were still locked to a one-all draw at halftime but after the interval they turned their dominance more ruthlessly into goals, cruising to an easy win.

Inspired by some good wing play by Licari, sending in numerous crosses into the Marsa area, Marsaxlokk blasted ahead with two well taken goals by Gareth Sciberras in the second period, his first this season, as two more goals in the late stages enabled casual Marsaxlokk to stroll past sorry Marsa.

Marsa again fell to another heavy defeat, ironically after taking the lead, conceding an embarrassing 19 goals in their last four matches, as they were unable to counter Marsaxlokk’s primacy. They competed in their gutsy and athletical way for the first half but ultimately the difference in class told. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table, winless after two rounds.

Marsaxlokk enjoyed a welter of possession in the first 45 minutes but struggled to make it count in the face of a disciplined Marsa defence, despite the absence of the suspended Kevin Cassar.

Like against Valletta the previous week, Marsa took the lead.after five minutes play. Andrew Scerri foiled keeper Haber as he rushed out to cut Umoru’s cross, to flick the ball into an unattended goal.

That goal sparked an immediate response from Marsaxlokk who almost drew level four minutes later but Doda’s headed goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Bogdanovic headed Sammut’s cross narrowly wide and on 22 minutes Marsaxlokk restored equilibrium. Frendo played a through ball to the unmarked Haruna Doda to shoot low past the helpless keeper Debono.

Marsaxlokk kept up the initiative but failed to score further goals. Equally significant was the supreme goalkeeping of Debono, who frustrated the South seasiders time after time.

The Marsa custodian turned Doda’s header, on Licari’s cross, into a corner and Debono again held out Bogdanovic’s goal bound headed effort on another Licari cross. Before half time, he again denied Doda, blocking his shot.

Marsaxlokk showed more urgency after the restart, substituting Frendo with Nwoko. The latter immediately missed the target by a whisker, as Marsa were forced to absorb their opponents’ mounting pressure.

Marsaxlokk went ahead on the hour. Nwoko played the ball in open space for Gareth Sciberras to fire the ball past Debono.

Seven minutes later, Marsaxlokk increased their lead. Pace played the ball to Gareth Sciberras who turned before blasting another unstoppable shot.

Marsa feared another goal deluge as Sammut’s shot rebounded off the upright before Marsaxlokk scored two more goals in the last ten minutes.

On 79 minutes, Vella and Scerri failed to clear Malcolm Licari’s long ball, ending behind keeper Debono.

And with four minutes remaining, Sammut’s deep cross from the left fell to Jamie Pace who shot in from close range to complete his side’s route.