Marsaxlokk-Sliema W. 0-0

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari, C. Mamo, R. Conceicao, C. Magro, G. Sciberras, P. Pullicino, J. Pace (A. Madzar), K. Sammut, C. Frendo, J. Alcorse

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

Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: I. Spiteri, A. Spiteri 4th official: A. Casha

Yellow cards: M. Licari, C. Mamo, A. Da Silva, M. Scerri, E. Barbara

Red cards: J. Alcorse, A. Da Silva

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Conceicao 2. I. Woods 3. I. Azzopardi

Marsaxlokk and Sliema Wanderers played a goalless draw between them which might suit leaders Valletta best.

Marsaxlokk join Valletta at the top as Sliema close the gap to three points but Valletta have a game in hand.

Second against third in the standings might have promised a grippling game. Five bookings and two sending offs might suggest this was real fire and brimstone affair, but as hard competitive games go, this was never that dramatic.

Both sides were fairly evenly matched with Sliema perhaps slightly the more dangerous in the first half. The Wanderers were often slick in their play and with Woods and Da Silva striding forward with menace, they created one or two useful openings. Yet they failed to break down the resolute champions?defence, ably marshalled by Conceicao, Magro and Mamo, even when playing with ten men for almost 20 minutes in the second half after Alcorse’s dismissal.

Sliema also had Da Silva in some good form yesterday only to be dismissed for two bookable offences in the last quarter hour.

The game was lamentably lacking on meaningful goalmouth action as both defences prevailed.

Both teams had several players back from duty with the National team. Marsaxlokk coach left Wellman, Madzar and Mark Barbara on the bench. Sliema, ominously for their opponents, were at full strength, enjoying the luxury of having Anonam, Barbara, Ciantar, Pace, Vella and Turner on the bench. Matthew Bartolo and the injured Ventura were missing from their squad.

The return of Andre Da Silva, playing wide in support of Ivan Woods, gave Sliema coach Azzopardi another attacking option. The Wanderers surely carved in the better chances in a sterile first half, devoid of real excitement, as they had much the more enterprising part but never really threatened to capitalise on Marsaxlokk’s laid back approach for the first half hour.

Da Silva posed some aerial threat as his header from a corner was cleared with some difficulty. On 10 minutes, he started the movement from midfield towards Woods, playing the ball wide for the advancing Azzopradi, whose deep cross was headed into a corner by Mamo.

After Scerri shot a Marsaxlokk clearance over the bar, Da Silva guided the ball in Muscat’s path, only to shoot horrendously off target.

Marsaxlokk put in Madzar for Pace after 38 minutes and until half time came up with a threat of their own but Sammut, Alcorse and Madzar all spurned half chances, putting their efforts off target.

Nine minutes into the second half, Marsaxlokk were down to ten men after Alcorse was dismissed for a rude gesture towards the assistant Spiteri for interrupting play.

Sliema immediately tried to exploit their numerical superiority and Da Silva missed the target by a hairline from close range. Woods twice went close before the Wanderers put in Etienne Barbara for Nisevic on 66 minutes.

Numerical parity was restored on 75 minutes as Da Silva marred a good performance with his handling on Barbara’s cross, earning a second caution and eventual dismissal.

Sliema were finding it desperately hard to make real progress and their early enthusiasm fizzled out in the last quarter hour, despite the inclusion of Anonam.

Barbara’s teasing cross found nobody to connect to and on the other end a Sammut shot was blocked into a corner by substitute Ciantar.

That elusive goal failed to come and at the end the stalemate prevailed.