Sliema W.:  J. Galea, M. Mucciardi, M. Scerri, J. De Assis, R. Fenech, M. Sansone, S. Cassar (F. Temile 62’), C. Pani, G. Adamovic ( K. Shaw 46’ ), S. Biancardi, Y. Marzouk

Hibernians:   A. Hogg, D. Vella, N. Radojevic, J. Mbong, M. Dias, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen. T. Marcolino (F. Costa Tenorio 72’ ) , C. Zammit, A. Agius, T. Fonseca ( J. Bezzina 67’ )

Referee:  Philip Farrugia

Asst refs:  Duncan Sultana, William Debattista

4th official: Stefan Pace

Scorers:  Taylon Marcolino 53’

Yellow cards:  S. Cassar, T. Fonseca, B. Kristensen

This was a must win for both sides whose aspirations are to continue pressing the top teams. The Blues had won five from their seven matches played to date with their latest triumph being a 2-1 victory over Mosta.

Hibernians after a rather bumpy start to the season  were on a run of three wins on the trot beating St. Andrew’s, neighbours Tarxien and Hamrun Spartans.

The first half saw both teams failing to live up to expectations. The more time passed it became evidenti that both teams would remain locked in their respective areas. Both sets of defenders closed the gaps effectively giving little or no space to the opposing attackers. Clear opening were not the order of the day

In fact the first chance of the match fell Sliema’s way when five minutes from the end of the first half Marzouk set Pani and with only Hogg to beat he fired a blank.  Hibernians replied three minutes later through a Dunstan Vella shot from the edge of the area which missed the target by a few inches.

Hibernians started the more clinical in the second half with Degabriele trying his luck with a rising shot which ended over the bar. In the 52nd minute off a Vella corner Radojevic rose high but headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

But only a minute later and the Paolites took the lead.  Following a defensive blunder by Cassar in came Mbong who controlled the ball and ventured into the box with his cross from the right finding Taylon  Marcolino who had the easiest of chances to tap in.

The Wanderers tried to react but were finding the going tough. John Buttigieg drafted in Frank Temile instead of Stefan Cassar. This started to prove dividends as in the 70th minute off a Fenech corner a Temile header hit the upright.