Sliema Wanderers 1

Hamrun Spartans 1

Stefan Sultana’s coaching debut in the Premier League brought Hamrun Spartans a point against Sliema Wanderers. This came as some relief for the Spartans after two heavy defeats, although they remain winless in six league matches.

The new coach fielded an unchanged side, with the same starting eleven who went down to Mqabba the previous week and brought about Jesmond Zammit’s resignation from the club’s coaching duties.

An unremarkable first half, which had Hamrun taking the lead, was followed by a slightly more enterprising second, in which Sliema Wanderers scored the equaliser.

Sliema, who have now played three consecutive draws and 11 from 20 league matches, were yesterday bereft of their two suspended defenders Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Josef Mifsud. Midfielder Mitev was serving his last of a three-match ban. They gave a debut start to their new Cameroon striker Anicet Eyenga, often left too isolated up front.

A barren first quarter hour did not produce a decent shot on target. After that, Hamrun were awarded a free kick outside the Sliema area. Massimo Grima blasted the ball past the Sliema wall beyond keeper Bonello’s reach to break the deadlock.

It looked a good start for the Spartans, especially because the Wanderers were unable to make a decent reaction, looking too predictable in their build-ups.

They showed up with Scerri’s pot shot on 21 minutes, which was easily saved by keeper Borg.

Both teams remained disjointed, leaving huge gaps in midfield as the ball was kicked from one box to another with little purpose.

Sliema threatened with half time looming as Cilia’s shot, on Lattes’ cross, went narrowly over and then Fenech mishit horrendously Eyenga’s cross in front of the Hamrun goal.

But it took the Wanderers only eight minutes in the second half to draw level.

Defender Alex Muscat was allowed to advance inside the Hamrun area on the right, put Gauci off balance and beat keeper Borg with a low diagonal drive.

Sliema took heart and towards the hour fluffed another chance, following good work by Cilia down the left. Lattes however messed it all up with his rising shot.

Hamrun also had their moments. On 63 minutes Spiteri played a short pass to Shields but keeper Bonello denied the Scotsman with a reflex save from close range. Then, Spiteri’s cross from the right fell behind Shields who lofted his shot on the turn.

As the action switched from one side to the other, a Fenech corner from the right caused some embarrassing moments in the Hamrun defence and on 77 minutes, Lattes ran down the left past Grima but keeper Borg saved his grounder.

Hamrun put in David Camilleri and Rupert Mangion in the last part of the match and Sliema substituted Eyenga with Jeri Ani.

Both teams went close to taking full points in the dying minutes. Grima tested keeper Bonello with another fierce free kick and on the other side, Ani picked Cilia’s pass but his diagonal low drive ended narrowly wide.

In the final analysis, a draw was just right.

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, N. Bogdanovic, M. Scerri (R. Dalli), A. Eyenga (J. Ani), S. Bezzina, T. Cilia, R. Fenech, R. Galabov, E. Lattes, B. Muscat

Coach: D. Doncic

Hamrun S: O. Borg, S. Bonnici (D. Zerafa), G. Calabretta, R. Hartwig, M. Gauci, M. Grima, L. Agius (D. Camilleri), K. Sammut, A. Ribeiro, D. Shields, G. Spiteri (R. Mangion)

Coach: S. Sultana

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: M. Scerri, S. Attard

4th official: E. Azzopardi

Scorers: M. Grima 17, A. Muscat 53

Yellow cards: M. Grima, R. Fenech, M. Gauci

Player of the match: Alex Muscat (Sliema W)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Muscat 2. R. Hartwig 3. N. Bogdanovic

Attendance: 1,017