The Blues consolidated the top spot and are now on 34 points from 13 games. They were the better outfit throughout the game and fully deserved the verdict. After a balanced first period the second half was rather dull with very few actions worthy of note.

The Stripes created the first action as Clint Zammit crossed from the left to Rowen Muscat but Sliema keeper Michael Incorvaja neutralized the ball.

Sliema reacted with three actions in succession.

After four minutes Sliema forged ahead. Simeon Yordanov set Valerio Mottola on the left flank who crossed to Mark Scerri who scored from inside the area. Minutes later Ciantar served Azzopardi on the left flank and from his cross Stripes keeper Christian Francica neutralized the ball.

At the other end, Keith Fenech served Diansant Brincat on the right flank and his cross was cleared to a corner.

On 22 minutes Andreas Galea was booked for arguing the referee’s decision.Four minutes later, Shawn Micallef was also shown the yellow card for pulling Keith Fenech from his shirt.

After a Mottola well-taken flagkick the ball was cleared on the line after a header by Stephen Azzopardi.

In the third minute of added time in the first period Sliema doubled the score as Mark Scerri won a loose ball in Birkirkara’s half he put Mottola through in the area who scored with a low shot.

Few were the actions worthy of note in the second period. Sammut served Fenech with a through ball in the area and Incorvaja had to come out of his charge to kick the ball out of play. David Muscat served Miguel Ciantar through in the area but his shot missed the Stripes upright.

On 57 minutes the score became 3-0. Scerri served Mottola with a through ball in the area who are beating a defender netted with a low shot. In a stripes rare attack, Sammut served Fenech in the area and again Incorvaja had to come out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.

Six minutes before the end Birkirkara scored a consolation goal through Andreas Galea who scored with a hard grounder from the edge of the area after a cross from the right by Diansand Brincat.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Player of the match: Mark Scerri (Sliema W)

* * *

Floriana 1

Paola Hibs 1

A depleted Floriana side with five of their regulars missing through injury were easy prey to a stronger Paola H who dominated the game. Floriana managed only two shots at goal and also left many gaps in midfield and were also very erratic in their passing.

The Paolites applied the early pressure. Sammy Piscopo crossed from the left to Triston Caruana but Greens keeper Kyle Gerada saved his shot from outside the area and Daniel Zahra served Matthew Gauci from a throw-in but the latter’s cross from the right found no takers in the Greens area.

At the other end, Dylan Balzia served Patrick Grech from a throw-in who crossed from the left to Franridge Schembri but Hibs keeper neutralized the ball with a timely sortie.

In the 19th minute Hibs deservedly took the lead. Jonathan Xerri won a loose ball in Floriana’s half and served Gauci with a through ball in the area who scored after beating a defender. Floriana tried hard for an equalizer, Schembri served Mauro Grioli in the area, Paola keeper Daniel Balzan partially saved his shot and also the rebound shot by the same player. Patrick Grech served Grioli with a through ball on the left flank and the latter’s cross was headed away by a Hibs defender.

Seven minutes before the break Paola Hibs doubled the score through Sammut who scored with a fine rising shot from outside the area on a Caruana cross from the right.

Apart from the three goals scored by Hibs, few were the actions worthy of note in the second half.

Caruana served Piscopo with a through ball in the area but his shot missed the upright. Floriana reduced the gap on 44 minutes. Grioli crossed to Neville Mifsud who scored with a strong rising shot from 30 metres with the ball landing behind the fatal line in-off the under-part of the bar. Hibs kept trying to increase their lead. Elkien Cauchi crossed from the left to Caruana whose shot missed the upright and Piscopo served Sammut in the area but Gerada saved his shot.

On 55 minutes the score became 3-1 from a header by Cauchi after a Caruana flagkick. Caruana made 4-1 on 64 minutes after a cross from the left by Cauchi and in the 71st minute the same player scored number five after a Piscopo through ball.

Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann

Player of the match: Matthew Gauci (Paola H)