The Blues achieved another positive result in their quest to win section honours. They were the better outfit throughout the whole game and fully deserved the verdict. The control of referee Malcolm Cutajar left much to be desired as he was on many occasions not up with play and also turned a Nelson’s eye to some fouls which could have easily been noticed.

Sliema started straight on the offensive. Valerio Mottola was fouled outside the area, and from the resultant freekick taken by Mark Scerri the Hamrun keeper Dillon Spiteri partially saved the ball and was cleared to a corner which was taken by Miguel Ciantar and Mottola’s header was cleared to another corner. At the other end, Gylmour Micallef served Mauro Busuttil with a through ball in the area but Sliema keeper Michael Incorvaja foiled him with a timely sortie.

The Blues immediately reacted and Mark Scerri, after beating two defenders on the left flank, executed a perfect cross which found no takers and the ball was cleared.

Sliema forged ahead on 12 minutes when from a flagkick by Ryan Borg the ball was partially cleared and Miguel Ciantar was on hand to blast in the rebound from close range. Resuming their pressure, Sliema won two corner kicks in as much as many minutes. From the first one by Ryan Borg, a header by John Nwoba missed the upright, and from the second by the same player Kurt Lepre headed well over the bar.

On 30 minutes the woodwork denied Sliema a second goal. Miguel Ciantar after beating a defender tried his luck from outside the area with Dillon Spiteri partially saving his shot. John Nwoba followed the ball and hit the crossbar with his shot, and just before half-time Ryan served Mottola with a through ball, the latter crossed to Nwoba who headed out from inside the area.

The first action after restart came from Hamrun. Gylmour Micallef served Chris Cacciatolo with a through ball and the latter’s cross was cleared to a corner.

Mottola then pounced on a defensive indecision but hit the side netting and a while later the Sliema keeper saved a cross shot by Gylmour Micallef after he was put through by Cacciatolo.

It became 2-0 on 54 minutes. Nathan Caruana won a loose ball in Hamrun’s half, and Spiteri was beaten from what looked an easy grounder as he fumbled the ball which finished behind the fatal line from underneath his body, and Sliema put the issue beyond any doubt in the 62nd minute. John Nwoba, after beating a defender on the right flank crossed to Miguel Ciantar who headed in a beauty from inside the area.

In a rare Hamrun attack, Chris Cacciatolo served Gylmour Micallef with a through ball but he lobbed the ball well off target with Sliema substitute keeper Jeremy Alden out of his charge.

Referee: Malcolm Cutajar

Player of the match: Miguel Ciantar (Sliema W)

* * *

APS Bank U/16 Section B

St Andrew’s 1

Msida 1

In the initial stages, this game was somewhat yawn-laden, but after the goals were scored there was more life during the first period, but actions worthy of note after resumption were very scarce.

St Andrew’s created the first two actions. Timothy Martin served Mark Grech with a through ball but he failed to control the ball in the area. Mark Grech then put Andrew Camilleri Kamsky through, the latter returned the compliment to Simon Psaila but Msida keeper saved his feeble shot. At the other end, Daniel Mizzi served Dexter Vassallo with a through ball and St Andrew’s keeper Alexei Cauchi saved his strong rising shot.

On 24 minutes St Andrew’s opened the score. Timothy Martin was put through on the left flank and was fouled by Wayne Galea near the edge of the area and Michael Calleja scored from the resultant freekick with a curling shot. However their joy was short lived as hardly two minutes later Msida equalised. Kurt Hili, after a run down the right flank, crossed to Dexter Vassallo who headed in from inside the area.

There were few actions worthy of note during the second period. as the Msida keeper kept out St Andrew’s assaults.

The last chance again fell to St Andrew’s when Mark Grech was fouled by Ronald Mangion and Timothy Martin’s well-taken freekick was cleared by an Msida defender.

Referee: Josef Bartolo

Player of the match:Timothy Martin (St Andrew’s)