Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, I. Azzopardi (J. Chetcuti), B. Said, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, R. Bajada, I. Woods, O. Anonam (A. Da Silva), R. Briffa (A. Madzar), E. Barbara

Floriana: S. Agius, O. Bugeja, J. Briffa, D. Krsteski, M. Sevasta (C. Ciantar), Z. Levniac (C. Caruana), M. Brincat, M. Micallef, T. Cilia (D. Pisani), Y. Bolasie, R. Darmanin

Reeree: C. Pisani asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: R. Darmanin

Yellow cards: I. Woods, J. Briffa, Z. Levniac, R. Briffa, A. Muscat, B. Nisevic, Y. Bolasie, M. Scerri, R. Bajada, B. Said

Player of the match: Branco Nisevic (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. T. Cilia 2. J. Briffa 3. R. Bajada

Floriana left it late to start the New Year on a high. A Ryan Darmanin goal with five minutes remaining, earned Floriana an important win against eternal rivals Sliema in the ‘Old Firm?clash, with no less than ten players booked.

With Valletta winning in midweek and opening a four-point lead at the top, the pressure turned on the two nearest challengers, who could not afford to drop points. But it was a disappointing game, between the two most successful clubs in local football, which only offered some excitement in the second half as half chances on both ends could have given either side victory.

Finally Floriana prevailed to temporarily put aside some evident deficiencies in their side.

Meanwhile Sliema’s crisis of form continues. The Wanderers are still struggling to find their best team and best form and yesterday they failed again to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players. For the second consecutive time, a penalty miss proved costly as they now slip to fifth place in the standings.

Sliema’s starting line-up showed a rift of changes compared to the previous league outing against Birkirkara. Muscat, Azzopardi and Bajada returned to the side and Branco Nisevic played in defence for the first time this season. There was also a surprise start for Mark Scerri as Turner, Chetcuti, Ian Ciantar and Madzar were all relegated to the bench. New signing Andre Da Silva was among the substitutes while Matthew Bartolo did not even feature in the Sliema squad.

Floriana, buoyed by the previous win against Mqabba, were boosted by the return of Krsteski and Julian Briffa in defence. Owen Bugeja retained his place in the starting line-up, moving to right back as Mano Micallef was moved in midfield, in the absence of the suspended Christian Cassar.

Both teams struggled to build anything in a tepid first half as scoring ideas were often stifled once either side progressed past the halfway line.

Floriana, with Darmanin left to plough a lone furrow up front, were unable to trouble the Sliema rearguard and only Cilia’s crosses from the right, albeit scarce and far between could cause the Wanderers?some anxious moments.

Sliema turned on the pressure without creating clear openings, although they went closer to scoring. Past the quarter hour, Woods?glancing header, on a Barbara free kick from the right, was deflected into a corner.

On 21 minutes the Wanderers were awarded a highly debatable penalty after assistant Spiteri flagged an infringement, probably on Barbara, he had noticed inside the Floriana area. But Barbara himself lofted the ball over from the spot kick and the chance went to waste.

Shortly after, Floriana were forced to substitute the injured Levniac with Christian Caruana as Barbara hit another powerful drive off target.

With half time looming, captain Cilia roused the Floriana supporters with his fine solo effort, creating space after beating his opponent on the right flank but his curling rising shot at the top corner missed the target by a whisker.

The second half produced more scoring opportunities and both sides could have grabbed a win. Sliema, who had substituted Azzopardi with Chetcuti, were the first to threaten. Barbara’s cross from the right fell to Bajada who played the ball forward to Woods but Briffa blocked him into a corner.

Three minutes later, Floriana should have taken the lead. Cilia sent a low cross from the right to the unmarked Darmanin, who stumbled on the ball and fluffed the easiest of chances.

But the Floriana striker atoned for that five minutes from time when he took Micallef’s pass into his stride, shrugged off Nisevic’s challenge and beat the onrushing Akanji from a close angle to dismantle a dejected Sliema side who failed to win for the the third time on the trot.