Sliema W. 2

Floriana 1

Sliema W: M. Camilleri, A. Muscat, B. Said, D. Debono, N. Turner, C. Mattocks, D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti (K. Laferla), I. Woods, O. Anonam (J. Brincat), S. Giglio

Floriana: R. Gauci, J. Briffa (K. Formosa), I. Azzopardi, M. Caruana, R. Gango-Rtsa, A. Da Silva (M. Gauci), T. Cilia, C. Cassar, A. Evi Parker, R. Darmanin (C. Ciantar), M. Brincat

Referee: M. Borg. Asst refs: A. Camilleri, J. Rapa 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: O. Anonam, I. Azzopardi

Yellow cards: B. Said, J. Briffa, S. Giglio, I. Azzopardi, M. Camilleri, D. Debono

Player of match: A. Da Silva (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. I. Azzopardi 2. A. Da Silva 3. D. Debono

Leaders Sliema Wanderers kept up their momentum and despite all the controversies on the eve of the match, switched to the Hibs ground, they still beat Floriana’s stern challenge in the keenly contested opening match of the Championship Pool.

But it was not all that rosy for the Wanderers who, after a good first half and an early lead, had to absorb much of Floriana’s pressure after the change of ends. A Woods goal midway through the second half proved to be the winner for Sliema, who also contrived to miss a penalty soon after, as Woods was denied by the Floriana keeper’s spectacular save.

The Greens, despite finishing on the losing end once more within a week, improved considerably after the interval and even managed to obtain a temporary equaliser. Unfortunately they were again left with nothing to show for their efforts.

Sliema trimmed their line-up with the inclusion of Turner and Anonam from the start as well as the return of Debono after suspension. Pernis was relegated to the bench as Laferla came on as a second half substitute for Chetcuti.

Floriana were forced to effect only one change, with defender Gango-Rtsa replacing the suspended Wellman.

Unlike the previous encounter the week before, the leaders went about their work with renewed belief, looking aggressive from the very start.

A diagonal Muscat shot tested the Floriana keeper Gauci, producing a one-handed save into a corner. Shortly after, the Sliema defender, with his forays on the flank, shot just over.

And on the quarter hour, Sliema forged ahead. Muscat’s corner from the right was headed by Debono towards the middle for Orosco Anonam to flick the ball home.

Floriana hinted to a reaction but play remained high on energy but low on real goalscoring chances as Sliema tried to exploit their opponents’ frailties with the marauding runs of Woods and Giglio to little effect.

It was left to their defenders, in particular Muscat, to carve openings from behind. Past the half hour Muscat’s left-foot drive was turned into a corner by the outstretched Gauci.

But whenever Floriana could funnel one of their breaks, there was danger for Sliema. On 34 minutes, Camilleri, in the Sliema goal, passed through the first real test, stretching himself in full flight to turn Azzopardi’s testing cross-shot from the left into a corner.

With four minutes remaining, Mattocks played the ball forward and following Floriana’s clearance, it took an awkward bounce, falling clear to the unmarked Anonam but his diagonal drive narrowly missed the target.

Floriana were a transformed side after the interval and raked a number of crosses inside the Wanderers area. The tightly marked Floriana strikers failed to conclude any.

For most of the time play continued in scrappy fashion with both sides showing little purpose but as Sliema started to lose their composure, Floriana took the bit between their teeth by the hour. Cilia was through and the onrushing keeper Camilleri managed to deflect the ball, although he could not hold, only for Laferla to clear the danger at the back.

On 63 minutes Floriana earned a corner by Brincat from the right and their towering defender Ian Azzopardi headed in from close range to restore equilibrium.

Five minutes later, substitute Ciantar was through on the left on Da Silva’s pass but Camilleri saved his rising shot.

On 69 minutes Sliema put in Joe Brincat for Anonam and on 75 minutes restored the lead as Ivan Woods connected well to a Mattocks cross from the left, steadied himself on the edge of the area and beat Gauci with an exquisite shot at the top corner.

Woods missed the chance to beat Gauci again hardly four minutes later when Sliema were awarded a penalty. A Doncic cross fell to Giglio whose shot was blocked by the grounded Gauci and the referee judged that the Sliema player was fouled in the process. But the plucky Gauci dusted himself, diving to his right to hold out Woods’ penalty kick and keep Floriana in the game.

With time running out and Sliema closing down at the back Floriana gathered up enough courage to move valiantly forward, albeit exposing themselves at the back. Doncic nearly capitalised with two minutes remaining as he ran through but Gauci rushed out off his line to smother the danger.

And in added time, a Mauro Brincat free-kick for Floriana sailed dangerously across the Sliema goal only for Evi Parker to balloon the ball and the Greens’ last chance evaporated in thin air.