Sliema W: M. Akanji, I. Azzopardi (C. Mattocks), E. Barbara, M. Bartolo (O.Anonam), R. Briffa, J. Chetcuti, I. Ciantar (R. Bajada), A. Madzar, N. Milovanovic, S. Pace, B. Said

Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, P. Sciriha, S. Grima (C.Spiteri), T. Farrugia, C. Brincat, A. Farrugia, K. Ebejer, D. Cachia, Andrew Spiteri (Adam Spiteri), L. Mizzi (G. Magri), R. Baldacchino

Referee: J. Attard Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: E. Barbara (2) 1pen, A. Madzar

Yellow cards: P. Sciriha, C. Mattocks

Player of the match: Nesko Milovanovic

TMI top three: 1. R. Briffa 2. J. Chetcuti 3 E. Barbara

Msida St Joseph were convincingly beaten by a Sliema side, eager to challenge for the league title this season. And the Wanderers have the strength in depth to succeed. Sliema’s starting line-up included various new faces, most of them already tested talented players. Their new foreigner, Nesko Milovanovic, also looks a good buy. Coach Farrugia could afford to leave the likes of Mattocks, Bajada, Anonam and Nwoko on the bench, besides having to do without the injured Woods.

On the contrary, Msida had only three new players, Brincat, Spiteri and Mizzi, and fielded no foreigner in their first eleven.

For most of the first 20 minutes they chased their opponents, and defended stoutly, putting nine or ten players behind the ball. For all their ample possession, Sliema could not find a way past the Msida keeper Bartolo and only in rare moments did the Wanderers look likely to score. The half’s best passes were propelled by midfielder Roderick Briffa, but he found little support in front of goal.

Midway through the half, Msida started to move out of their defensive shell, although they rarely had the necessary ideas.

The only highlight of an otherwise uneventful first half was the penalty award to Sliema in added time. Referee Attard, who was close to the action, judged Spiteri to have handled the ball inside the area when trying to block Milovanovic’s close range shot. Milovanovic’s shot also hit Spiteri in the face who needed some treatment while Etienne Barbara tucked away his first league goal for Sliema from the spot.

Ciantar remained in the dressing room for the second half, with Bajada coming in as a substitute. The latter’s immediate cross from the right was headed by Madzar but Adrian Farrugia cleared on the line.

On 50 minutes, Bajada ran down the right flank, and despite Msida’s claims for offside, the flag remained down, allowing Barbara to cross low, beating the keeper, for Aleksandar Madzar to tap the ball into an unattended goal.

Sliema did not loosen their grip on the match and remained the more dominant, although Msida did not allow them much comfort on the ball. On 70 minutes, a Bajada distant effort went wide and after Msida effected a double substitution, Barbara arrived fractionally late on Anonam’s perfect cross.

And with Msida failing to up the tempo, Sliema could control their lead with minimal difficulty, even forcing a series of corners, on which Said went close with his headed efforts.

With three minutes remaining, Msida wasted their best opportunity, as Adrian Farrugia shot wide with a clear view of goal and they paid the penalty as they conceded Sliema’s third on the stroke of time, courtesy of Etienne Barbara’s clinical finish on Chetcuti’s through pass. Sliema deserved to win after dominating the game for long stretches.