The Blues are joint second with St Andrew on 16 points from seven games but the latter have a game in hand. They were the better outfit during the whole 80 minutes. The Amateurs are in seventh place having eight points from seven games.

Sliema applied the early pressure and after Miguel Ciantar was fouled just outside the area, from the free-kick by the same player the ball sailed over the bar.Karl Paris served Luke Micallef from a free-kick but he failed to connect as Blues keeper Michael Incorvaja came out of his charge and clutched the ball.

The Blues soon reacted and Simeon Yordanov served Valerio Mottola with a through and Melita keeper Andrew Vella, who saved his side from a heavier defeat, partially saved on Mottola and the ball was cleared. Vella again came to Melita’s rescue when he foiled Ciantar with a timely sortie after a Mottola through pass in the area.

Melita reacted with three actions in succession. Bartolo served Ian Vella with a through pass but the latter’s shot was cleared to a corner, a cross from the right by Luke Micallef was partially cleared and Bartolo drove the rebound over the bar and a Micallef free-kick missed the bar by inches.

At the other end, Ciantar, after dribbling past a defender, served Yordanov just outside the area but from his shot the ball sailed over the bar. Sliema took the lead on the half hour with a choral move which involved three players; David Muscat served Yordanov in the area, the latter square-passed to Ciantar who made no mistake with a grounder.The last two actions before the break also came from Sliema. Ciantar served Mottola with a through ball in the area but Vella denied Mottola with a fine dining save and Yordanov put Mottola through, the latter passed to Ciantar but again Vella saved the latter’s shot.

Sliema enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges after restart with Melita creating only two occasions.

Sliema resumed with their pressure up to the final whistle adding two more goals to their tally in the process.The score became 2-0 on 58 minutes when Gove served Mottola with a through ball who scored on entering the area and hardly two minutes later Ciantar scored a third goal for his side, obtaining a personal brace after being put through by David Muscat.

Before the end, Stephen Azzopardi put Ciantar through but from the latter’s cross Martinelli headed out and Ciantar served Azzopardi from a free-kick but he drove out when well placed in the area.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Player of match: Andrew Vella (Melita)

* * *

Pieta H 2 vs Paola Hibs 1

Pieta consolidated top spot with 20 points from eight games closely followed by newly promoted St Andrews with 16 points with the latter having two games in hand, The Hotspurs were the better outfit throughout the whole 80 minutes. Referee Andrea Sciriha had good control of the proceedings and is improving game after game.

The first action came from Pieta when Randell Refalo served Ivan Alexandrov with a through ball but the latter’s cross from the right found no takers in Paola’s area. Hibs reacted by creating two chances in succession. Leighton Grech was put through in the area but Pieta keeper Kersten Vella saved his grounder. Bromwen Bugeja put Grech through who was fouled on the left flank and a Piscopo free-kick was cleared by a Pieta defender.

Pieta soon regained the initiative and on 14 minutes they were denied by the woodwork as the ball hit the base of the upright from a free-kick by Sheldon Grech after Melchior Vella was fouled outside the area.

Two minutes before the break Hibs nearly forged ahead as Cauchi crossed from the left to Triston Caruana and the latter’s shot missed the upright by inches and hardly a minute later Pieta opened the score. Melchior Vella was put through and was fouled just outside the area and Sheldon Grech netted with a rising shot from the resultant free-kick

The second period was a balanced affair in which two goals were scored.Pieta nearly doubled on 55 minutes when a Melchior Vella shot missed the bar by inches after a Musu through pass, but they did score a second goal hardly a minute later through Aleksandrov after a perfect cross from the left by Vella. Hibs went all out in search of a goal. Substitute Jonathan Xerri served Grech with a through ball but was foiled by a timely intervention by the hard-working McKay who excelled in midfield with timely interventions and also with accurate passing to his colleagues.

Jonathan Xerri missed a great opportunity when he drove out when well placed in Pieta’s area on 66 minutes but he made amends five minutes later. Ebejer put Yan Cauchi through, the latter’s cross caused panic in Pieta’s area, and after Xerri followed the ball he scored from inside the area.

Referee:Andrea Sciriha

Player of match: Christopher McKay (Pieta H)