Sliema -Marsa 2-0

Sliema W: W: M. Akanji, S. Pace, B. Said, J. Chetcuti, I. Ciantar, C. Ciantar (O. Anonam), A. Muscat (D. Carabott), Z. Svoboda (C. Mattocks), R. Bajada, S. Giglio, I. Woods

Marsa: I. Casha, E. Yanchev, G. Bencini, K. Scerri, E. Mbong, A. Ewurun, A. Zammit Tabona (S. Cutajar), V. Bellia, N. Fasinelli, J.P. Zammit (D. Cucciardi), A. Scerri (W. Chircop)

Referee: J. Attard, Ass. referees: J. Rapa, E. Spiteri 4th official: Ms. E. Farrugia

Scorers: A. Muscat, I. Woods

Yellow cards: A. Scerri, V. Bellia

Player of the match: Ivan Casha (Marsa)

TMI best three: 1. I. Casha, 2. A. Muscat, 3. E. Mbong

It took Sliema much sweat to beat Marsa’s stubborn challenge yesterday although, in the overall analysis, they emerged worthy winners. Two late goals, scored in the final 20 minutes gave the Wanderers victory after they contrived to miss a first half penalty and were denied four times by the woodwork, besides some quality goalkeeping by Ivan Casha, in what most probably was his last appearance in the Premier League before emigrating.

It was some time before Sliema exerted their dominance and only after Anonam’s inclusion, early in the second half, did the Wanderers up the tempo to good effect.

For their perseverance and bravery, Marsa deserved a draw. They were generally composed and resolute in defence but not much deadly in attack as they were left to rue two good scoring opportunities, one in each half, which Ewurun both squandered.

Marsa showed their spirit. Sliema kept their nerve.

Sliema fielded the same starting eleven who played against Floriana the previous week, which meant that Mattocks and Turner sat on the bench. There was no place either for Dilello, returning from suspension.

Marsa had Zammit Tabona and Jean Paul Zammit replacing Vassallo and Vella.

As expected, the Wanderers made the better start. Ian Ciantar’s long ball fell to Bajada, who squeezed it towards Giglio, but the latter shot wide.

Soon after Bajada tested keeper Casha with a low shot before Woods created space for himself but his shot on the run was off target.

On 18 minutes Sliema were awarded a penalty, in what looked a very harsh decision by the referee, after Woods came into contact with Bencini inside the area. Keeper Casha denied the same Woods from the spot, spreading himself to his right to hold out his low shot.

Midway through the half Casha again distinguished himself with a top-notch save on Svoboda’s ferocious free-kick and the Marsa custodian repeated the feat past the half hour, holding out another Svoboda free-kick as Marsa were conceding too many fouls outside their penalty area.

Marsa’s best chance fell shortly after. Mbong lobbed the ball to clear Ewurun inside the Sliema area but he shot feebly in Akanji’s hands.

Sliema were unlucky shortly before the break when a Svoboda effort thumped against the bar and a Giglio goal bound effort was saved on the line by Casha as the Marsa keeper’s first half vigilance kept the score goalless.

Sliema put in Orosco Anonam, five minutes after the restart in a bid to break the deadlock. They nearly did three minutes later when his diving header on Muscat’s sailing cross hit the foot of the post with Casha beaten. Then Anonam laid the ball to Giglio on the edge of the 18-yard box but his shot was deflected into a corner.

The woodwork again denied the Wanderers towards the hour. Muscat’s surging run on the right ended with his shot clipping the far post.

Marsa reacted well on 66 minutes. Ewurun received the ball from Mbong with his back towards goal but turned well off Pace’s marking only to balloon the ball over the bar.

Marsa paid the penalty for that miss. Three minutes later, Alex Muscat hooked Clifton Ciantar’s cross from the right and beat Casha to finally break the deadlock.

That goal brought relief to Sliema who kept their grip on the match, even after Mattock’s inclusion. They threatened further when Giglio missed the target on Anonam’s pass before Ivan Woods netted his fourth consecutive league goal for Sliema, six minutes from the end, to put their minds at rest. The win might have been bigger. Woods hit the bar with a well placed shot and Casha foiled Bajada, saving his shot into a corner.