Wanderers cruise past Sta Lucia

SLIEMA WANDERERS 3

Milesi 22, Holla 31, Gilmar 90

SANTA LUCIA 1

Camilleri 68

Sliema Wanderers kept their unbeaten record intact with a 3-1 win over Sta Lucia.

Andrea Pisanu’s side dominated proceedings in the first half and looked set for an easy win as Alessandro Milesi and Danny Hoola put them 2-0 up.

A Michael Camilleri goal gave Sta Lucia hope but a late strike by Gilmar sealed Sliema’s win.

Sliema opened in fluent fashion, and it was no surprise when they went ahead after 22 minutes when an untidy goalmouth scramble in front of goalkeeper Andreas Vella, ended with Milesi pushing the ball over the line.

Sta Lucia had barely posed a threat but shy the half hour mark, Alan da Silva Souza picked up sudden acceleration, went on a mazy run past a couple of opponents before being stopped by Jake Galea.

Any hopes Sta Lucia harboured of a quick riposte were dented immediately when Danny Holla picked let fly a scorcher with the ball hitting the back of the net.

On 50 minutes, the Saints had an escape when Jean Paul Farrugia got in front of Kevin Correia to meet Myles Beerman’s cross but headed wide with an open goal at his mercy.

Sta Lucia  were almost gifted a lifeline moments later when substitute Edmond Agius’s attempted clearance from Kevin Ante Rosero, hit the Colombian striker but the midfielder outmuscled his opponent in the Sliema box to clear the danger.

Correia rescued a below-par personal display when he cleared off the line from John Mintoff.

It was game on with 22 minutes left when Michael Camilleri charged forward before firing an unstoppable low shot past Galea.

An athletic save from Vella prevented substitute Sylvano Comvalius’s volley.

Sta Lucia laid siege to Sliema’s goal but it was it the Blues who added a third through Gilmar in stoppage time to seal the three points.