Reigning champions Marsaxlokk were off to a good start yesterday, beating Pieta Hotspurs handsomely in their bid to defend the title they won last season.

A polished performance in the first half, cut their work easily as they cruised to a three-goal lead long before halftime. Pieta, who did not change much from the young look of last season, were rather poor in the first half, but improvd somehow after the interval and even pulled a goal back.

With only 15 players in their squad, Marsaxlokk gave a start to striker Wendell Gomes, who was making his first appearance for the champions this season, to give some required impetus to their attack. His combined efforts with Frendo had a telling effect, enabling Marsaxlokk to take a three-goal lead by halftime.

Despite the absence of Gareth Sciberras and Carlo Mamo, Marsaxlokk still carried too much ammunition for their opponents in the early stages.

Pieta gave a debut to Bulgarian central defender Deliminkov. Camped in their own half, they were on the backfoot from the time Marsaxlokk took the lead after seven minutes.

Licari, who five minutes earlier had thumped a shot against the Pieta upright, laid the ball for Wendell Gomes to beat Pieta’s new keeper Montfort with a drilling shot from outside the area.

Three minutes later Frendo sent the ball towards the middle, with an overhead kick from the byeline, for Kevin Sammut to beat Montfort again with an unchallenged header.

Worse for the Hotspurs, their midfield mentor Kondev was injured midway through the half and forced to be substituted.

On 35 minutes, Marsaxlokk added their third goal. Gomes played the ball forward to Cleaven Frendo to beat Montfort with a low drive.

Marsaxlokk could idle in the second half.

Pieta however surprised them with an improved performance after the break, and even reduced the arrears within three minutes of the restart. Pieta won a corner when keeper Debono blocked Pulo’s effort and from the resultant flag kick Edward Herrera shot in the loose ball which the Marsaxlokk defence failed to clear.

Marsaxlokk put in Da Silva for Gomes after 67 minutes as they seemed to have run out of ideas.

On 72 minutes Frendo’s cross took a wicked deflection off Ciscaldi but Montfort palmed out the ball before Da Silva could connect.

Then a Frendo free-kick just missed the target, as Pieta were risking heavily. Luckily, Marsaxlokk had a Pace goal disallowed after Licari made contact with the ball when standing in an offside position. And keeper Montfort denied Sammut, blocking his shot on the ground.

But the champions had done enough to deserve their first win, although a different test against Msida SJ awaits them next Saturday.

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Magro, M. Licari, R. Conceicao, W. Camenzuli, S. Wellman, J. Pace, P. Pullicino, C. Frendo (T. Templeman), K.Sammut, W. Gomes (A. Da Silva)

Pieta H: M. Montfort, P. Deliminkov, C. Pulo (Q. Refalo), D. Gatt (P. Aquilina), C. Sammut, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev (S. Ciscaldi), D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Galabov

Referee: A. Casha asst.refs: K. Borg, C. Micallef 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: W. Gomes, K. Sammut, C. Frendo, E. Herrera

Yellow cards: E. Herrera, S. Ciscaldi, Q. Refalo

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. C. Frendo 2 M. Licari 3. E. Herrera