Sliema W. 2
Hamrun S. 0
Sliema W.: E. Elezaj, A. Satariano (G. Barone 73'), K. Shaw, J. Pearson, J. Mintoff, C. Zappa (S. Miloskovic 78') , J. Cisotti (P. Xuereb 89'), R. Carvajal Diaz, E. Agius, S. Seydou, C. Pani
Hamrun S.: J.C.Debattista, T. Caruana, V. Alhinho, A. Soares, W. Domoraud, C. Failla, N. Leone, M. Criaco, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulus, M. Cinquini
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Asst refs: Roberto Vella, Luke Portelli
4th official: Alex Johnson
Scorers: Carvajal Diaz 29', Shaw 67'
Yellow cards: Micallef, Domoraud, Zappa, Seydou, Cinquini, Agius
BOV Player of the match: Juri Cisotti (Sliema W.)
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Cisotti 2. C. Zappa 3. R. Carvajal Diaz
Attendance: 438
Sliema Wanderers registered a morale boosting win when they defeated Hamrun Spartans by two goals to nil. It was a deserved win for the Blues who were by far the better team though there is still room for improvement.
Hamrun disappointed once again and recent results have seen them losing ground with the top teams.
Lying second from bottom on a poor five points, the Wanderers were desperate for a win and the maximum poinsst. Prior to this match they had just won one out of the nine matches played so far, the match being against basement side Tarxien Rainbows. Their last four matches resulted in defeats against Sirens, Senglea, Mosta and Hibernians.
Their opponents Hamrun, on the other hand, were unbeaten in their last three matches defeating in the process Hibernians and drawing against Birkirkara and Santa Lucia. For this match goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo was once again missing through injury.
The initial stages of the match were rather quiet with both teams lacking motivation. In fact play was restricted to the midfield sector with Sliema holding the upper hand.
Hamrun were dealt a double blow midway through the first half when they were forced to effect a double substitution in the space of a few minutes. First they lost Valdo Alhinho with Ryan Darmanin coming on. And subsequently Darren Borg came on instead of the injured Clayton Failla.
And it was Sliema who forged ahead just off the half hour mark when Colombian Robert Johan Carvajal Diaz fired a shot from just inside the area which beat goalkeeper Debattista all ends up.
The Wanderers were now holding the initiative and nine minutes from the end of the first half it was Claudio Pani's turn who tried his luck with a long distance shot which was tipped onto a corner in spectacular style by Jean Claude Debattista.
The beginning of the second half was identical to the initial stages of the match. Just past the hour Claudio Zappa was the most adventurous when he shot from outside the area but missed the target. But there was more to come from the Wanderers who doubled their lead on 67 minutes. A Zappa shot was partially blocked by the Hamrun defence with the ball falling into Kurt Shaw's path who from close range had the easiest of chances to tap home.
Hamrun were now out of the equation and were finding it extremely difficult to mount any form of reaction. Six minutes from the end Triston Caruana tried a teasing shot which was blocked by the Wanderers goalkeeper Elezaj. From the rebound a well placed Ryan Darmanin blasted over the bar.
The final whistle was welcomed by Sliema Wanderers who had registered their last win way back in September.