Sliema W 1

Birkirkara 4

Understrength Birkirkara carried too much ammunition for poor Sliema Wanderers and hit them with two goals in each half to confirm their dominance on the game and move again above Floriana into third place.

Although this win was more than Birkirkara deserved, there is no denying the inferior quality of the opposition. With a flimsy defence, an unimaginative midfield and a non-existent attack, the general level of this Sliema side is a worry, having failed to win any of their nine matches played in the Championship Pool so far.

Birkirkara’s network of passes continually cut Sliema apart and after taking an early two- goal lead, Sliema pulled one back towards the half hour. But Bikirkara’s implicit superiority showed in the second half as they added two more goals, with Alan Tabone scoring a brace and Ryan Camenzuli twice denied by the woodwork.

Birkirkara were a depleted side, bereft of their five suspended players Rodrigo Perreira, Nikola Vukanac, Angus Buhagiar, Rowen Muscat and Shaun Bajada. Jorge Silva only went in for the last 23 minutes.

Their makeshift defence yesterday had Sciberras and Zerafa as centre backs, and Ryan Scicluna and Ryan Camenzuli wide backs.

Paul Fenech was their most experienced player in midfield as Alan Tabone was handed a rare start, with Shola Shodiya, Mifsud Triganza and Moises Avila all included in attack.

By contrast, Sliema were again without a natural striker in their line-up and Trevor Cilia was their most advanced player. Emiliano Lattes again did not feature in their squad but Daniel Mitev started the match as Steve Bezzina, Cleaven Frendo and Ryan Grech were exiled to the bench.

The Stripes made the more assertive start, with the new national coach Pietro Ghedin present in the stands. Camenzuli’s left footer thumped against the bar as early as the third minute and soon Moises Avila headed a Tabone free kick narrowly wide.

Not surprisingly, Birkirkara broke the deadlock short of the quarter hour. Caligari and keeper Curmi blocked Mifsud Triganza from the byeline, but the latter’s cross from the rebound fell invitingly to the unmarked Moises Avila to finish off.

Birkirkara doubled their lead hardly four minutes later. The provider this time was Moises Avila for the unmolested Alan Tabone to flick the ball in from close range.

On 20 minutes, the Sliema keeper was forced to turn Moises Avila’s drive into a corner.

Sliema were still nowhere into the game but were handed a lifeline on 26 minutes as the Birkirkara defence was caught napping. Bogdanovic played the ball wide to Beppe Muscat whose cross from the right fell to the unmarked Trevor Cilia to shoot low past keeper Gauci from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Wanderers summoned more efforts and regrouped. On 34 minutes, Cilia’s cross shot from the left clipped the Birkirkara goal and then Bogdanovic’s lob missed the target.

Towards the end of the half, Birkirkara were again denied by the woodwork. Camenzuli’s left-foot shot was blocked but struck the rebound with the right against the foot of the post and when Moises Avila hit in, the goal was ruled out for offside.

But Birkirkara returned the more potent after the interval. Within five minutes they scored their third and assuring goal with a stunning strike by Alan Tabone from outside the area.

Three minutes later, Mifsud Triganza’s cross from the right was cleared in the path of Tabone, his shot was blocked again, but Shodiya lofted the loose ball.

Birkirkara’s fourth goal on 63 minutes again unearthed Sliema’s vulnerability at the back. Debutant Fabian Zammit played a long ball forward from inside his own half for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to chase through the middle and beat keeper Curmi with a low drive.

The match had nothing more to offer except for a missed chance by Mifsud Triganza, before being substituted, and a Frendo shot for Sliema which keeper Gauci saved with little difficulty.

Sliema were already dead and buried.

Sliema W A. Curmi, A. Muscat, R. Fenech, M. Bogdanovic, J. Mifsud, M. Scerri (R. Grech), D. Mitev, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia (C. Frendo), A. Caligari (S. Bezzina), B. Muscat

Coach D. Doncic

Birkirkara R. Gauci, R. Camenzuli, J. Zerafa, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (M. Camilleri), G. Sciberras, F. Zammit, S. Shola, P. Fenech, R. Scicluna, A. Tabone (I. Schembri), M. Avila-Perez (J. Silva)

Coach P. Zammit

Referee A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs D. Sultana, R. Vella

4th official T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers A. Moises 14, A. Tabone 18, 50, T. Cilia 26, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 63

Yellow cards F. Zammit, N. Bogdanovic, M. Avila-Perez, J. Mifsud, J. Zerafa, M. Camilleri

Player of the match A. Tabone (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3 1. R. Camenzuli 2. A. Tabone 3. P. Fenech

Attendance 444