Tarxien Rainbows 1

Sliema Wanderers 1

A resurgent Tarxien Rainbows managed to gain a point from a tight encounter against Sliema Wanderers who finished up with ten men after Josef Mifsud received his marching orders midway through the second half.

In the first match of the evening, relegation troubled Tarxien Rainbows faced off against Sliema Wanderers with both sides hoping to gain some precious points.

Both sides started with reduced formations with Sliema only fielding four substitutes, all coming from the youth ranks. Tarxien had stalwarts Bueno and Steve Sadowski injured although they had Costa back in their ranks while Sliema welcomed Trevor Cilia and Daniel Bogdanovic to the starting line-up.

Sliema started on a high and took the lead after just four minutes when Cleaven Frendo slammed a free kick from 30 yards into the net. Tarxien reacted on 17 minutes when from a corner, Pulo had a fine low header which was saved by keeper Bonello. And in fact Tarxien managed to equalize on 31 minutes when a shot by Costa was deflected by Bonello with Pulo slamming in the rebound. Tarxien continued threatening and on 37 minutes, Nzinga saw his shot end up just over the bar.

Sliema had a good shot by Frendo which went just over on 40 minutes.

This was followed by another effort by Ani which was tipped over by Vella for a corner.

The second half began with a fine effort by Anji which went just wide on 46 minutes. Sliema replied on 57 minutes with a fine effort by Lattes which went just wide. Sliema received a body blow on 66 minutes when Josef Mifsud received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Tarxien pressed forward and on 69 minutes Pulo had a great shot which was brilliantly saved by Bonello. The Rainbows continued pressing forward with Sliema restricted to breakaways. Deep in stoppage time Lattes could have won it for Sliema but he steered his shot wide from a fine position.

Tarxien R: N G. Vella, C. Mamo, M. Caruana (M. Tanti), E. A Pereira, A. Carabott, R. Costa, J. Nzinga Mayasi, K. Pulo (W. Zerafa), O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, J. Grioli

Sliema W.: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, N Bogdanovic, J. Mifsud, C .Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia, R. Fenech, R. Galabov, J. Ani ( R. Dalli), E. Lattes, C. Frendo (Vukovic)

Referee: F. Zammit

Scorers: C. Frendo 4, K. Pulo 31

Yellow cards: Mifsud, Nzinga, Gatt Baldacchino, Anonam, Mintoff R

Red card: J. Mifsud

Player of the match: Karl Pulo (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. K.Pulo 2. J. Nzinga 3. N.Bogdanovic