Lightning never strikes twice. Sliema Wanderers cruised to an easy victory over bottom placed Mqabba yesterday to atone for the first round defeat against the same opponents.

This time Mqabba stood very little chance of repeating another upset as there was never any doubt about the final outcome. Some inept defending lead to their downfall as Sliema exploited the gaps, thanks mainly to the pace of Woods and Barbara, although they themselves were guilty of some profligacy which denied them a bigger win.

The Wanderers were bereft of their midfielder Andre Da Silva. However, as expected, they made the early running with Mqabba seeking safety in numbers, pulling nine men behind the ball.

After only four minutes Briffa thumped his shot from outside the area against the post. Then a Bartolo shot was saved by keeper Calleja on the ground.

Past the quarter hour Sliema forged ahead when Ivan Woods advanced on Briffa’s pass, shrugged off Psaila’s challenge and as the keeper rushed out to block, he turned and shot the ball into an unattended goal.

Galvanised by an early lead, Sliema held on the initiative as Mqabba remained camped inside their own half.

Midway through the half a Bajada free kick was blocked into a corner and then Said arrived fractionally late on Muscat’s deep cross.

Shortly before the break Sliema fluffed two good opportunities after Bajada lofted Woods’ cross and then Barbara shot wastefully wide after good work by Bajada.

At the start of the second half, Mqabba substituted Silva and Nogueira with Marlon Briffa and debutant Roderick Briffa, their latest recruit from Hibernians.

Sliema also put in Sharlon Pace for Bajada.

A defensive blunder allowed Sliema to double the score seven minutes after the restart. Challenged by Woods, Mqabba’s defender Mauro Bonnici headed a back pass into his own net after a misunderstanding with his goalkeeper who was off his line.

The issue was practically sealed on the hour as Etienne Barbara ran into open space, chasing Woods’ pass to easily beat the onrushing keeper.

With the points virtually secured and both teams having effected all three substitutions, Sliema sat back in the closing changes.

But there was still time for them to add another goal with a quarter hour remaining. Barbara persisted inside the Mqabba area, despite being blocked by a defender, the loose ball fell to substitute Noel Turner who beat Calleja with the outstep.

Outclassed, but also outfought, Mqabba were made to surrender to a more efficient Sliema side.

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Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said (I. Azzopardi), B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, R. Bajada (S. Pace), M. Bartolo (N. Turner), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, R. Briffa, E. Barbara

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, I. Nogueira (R. Briffa), M.A. Psaila, F. Silva (M. Briffa), M. Pereira, C. Calleja, M. Cocks, C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Mintoff, D. Zarb (A. Busuttil)

Referee: S. Tanti asst.refs: A. Camilleri, M. Mercieca 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: I. Woods, M. Bonnici og, E. Barbara, N. Turner

Yellow cards: I. Nogueira, C. Calleja

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. I. Woods 2. R. Briffa 3. M. Scerri