After losing Section A honours by a protest, Sliema emerged worthy winners in this keenly contested final which was watched by a large crowd of spectators. It is a pity that after Sliema’s second goal we witnessed a free-for-all between most players of both sides.

The first actions came from Sliema. Ryan Borg put Valerio Mottola through, the latter crossed to John Nwoba who failed to apply the killer touch when well placed in the area and from a through ball by Jean P. Debono to Mottola, Pieta’ keeper Matthew Camilleri had to come out of his charge to foil him with a timely sortie.

Pieta’ reacted, and from a free-kick by Sheldon Grech, Sliema keeper Michael Incorvaja had to dive to save his shot and after Sheldon Grech was fouled, the free-kick shot by Karl Pulo finished over the bar. John Nwoba then fouled Glanville Goodlip, and Incorvaja saved the free-kick by Carl Camilleri.

Sliema opened the score on 17 minutes. John Nwoba, after beating a defender on the right flank executed a perfect cross and Miguel Ciantar capitalized on a defensive indecision and headed the ball past Camilleri. Pieta’s reaction was a through pass by Chris Mackay to Nathan Busuttil but he failed to control the ball on the edge of the area, and after Daniel Gatt was fouled, Busuttil headed out a free-kick by Sheldon Grech. The last action before the break came from Sliema when from a Nwoba cross from the right Ciantar and Mottola got into each other’s way and Mottola was injured when executing an overhead kick but resumed play after attention.

Pieta’ created the first actions after resumption. Carl Camilleri served Chris Mackay with a through ball but his cross from the left was cleared. Substitute Dylan Kokavessis put Karl Pulo through but Shawn Micallef foiled him with a timely intervention and Incorvaja saved on Daniel Gatt after a Nathan Busuttil through ball.

On 57 minutes Sliema doubled. Mottola served Nwoba with a through ball in the area, Goodlip pulled him down and Ryan Borg made no mistake from the resultant penalty. A free-for-all ensued after this goal between players of both sides. The assistant near Pieta’s half did not draw the attention of the referee as to who started the scuffle and no yellow cards were shown. Calm was restored after about two minutes with the intervention of Youth FA officials and the police.

Miguel Ciantar served Mottola with a through ball who in turn crossed from the left to Mark Scerri but he drove out from outside the area. Pieta’ reacted, Nathan Busuttil hit the bar from outside the area. Kokavessis headed the rebound which Incorvaja saved. In the 78th minute Sliema scored their third through Mottola who netted from inside the area after he was put through by Nwoba.

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo