Denilson (left) hits a cross against Senglea Athletic. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
SLIEMA WANDERERS 3
Satariano 38, 54, 68
SENGLEA ATHLETIC 1
Gnindokponou 33
Sliema Wanderers
J. Galea-6, M. Sansone-6 (78 J. Barbosa), A. Satariano-8 (85 J. Engerer), K. Shaw6-, A. Milesi-6, J.Cisotti-6, Denilson-5 (78 G. Aquilina), E. Agius-6.5, R. Kisil-6 (70 R.Kakinuma), M. Beerman-6 (85 D. Holla), D. Vukovic-6.
Senglea Athletic
M. Farrugia-5, S. Uyi-5, Z. Cassar-5, A. Abela-5, F. Gnindokponou-6 (46 J. Tanti-4), S. Buhagiar-5, I. Misan-5 (87 R. Song), D. Fava-5, J. Dibola-6, D. Kukic-5, D. Xuereb-5 (61 Wilkerson).
Referee: Darryl Agius.
Yellow cards: Vukovic, Uyi.
BOV player of the match: Alex Satariano (Sliema Wanderers).
Sliema finally received some respite from their troubles as Alex Satariano scored his first hat-trick to provide the Blues a morale boost and go back to fourth place.
Beset by the absence of striker Jean Paul Farrugia, Andrea Pisanu put Satariano in a makeshift forward’s role and the switch worked a treat as this move gave his side fresh impetus with the striker scoring four goals in two matches.
The teams had contrasting build-up to the match. This week, Senglea earned a first win under Clive Mizzi after beating Nadur Youngsters in the FA Trophy while administrative woes came to bare with the resignation of Sliema Wanderers president Jeffrey Farrugia.
Senglea opened at a pace designed to disrupt the rhythm of Sliema and it almost worked as they created an early opening.
On 28 minutes, Senglea livewire Junior Dibola burst clean through to put himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Jake Galea but shot wide.
The game was brought to life in an explosive six-minute spell around the half hour mark.
Igor Misan swung in a free-kick from the right onto Dibola who hit the foot of the post with a hard drive, Fred Gnindokponou ran in to convert the rebound despite Galea’s frantic efforts to stop the shot.
But Sliema hit back immediately as Edmond Agius found space on the right flank and immediately delivered a cross and Sergio Uyi innocuously headed the ball into the box in the direction of Satariano, who buried the ball into the net.
The Blues were first out of the blocks again in the second half, and Myles Beerman squared for Ruslan Kisil who hit the woodwork.
That move sparked Sliema into life as Agius played in Satariano and even though Matthew Farrugia got a hand to his finish, the ball rolled in.
Satariano completed his hat-trick in 68 minutes. Allowed to turn inside the area, the Sliema striker made Senglea pay a heavy price by curling a low and precise finish beyond Farrugia.
