Both teams took the field with some of the regulars missing through injury and suspension. The Blues deserved the verdict as they were the side with better ideas and also were very sharp and aggresive in their approaches. The Greens lacked co-ordination in midfield and also lacked punch upfront. Sliema are in second place on 37 points from 19 games while Floriana are in thrird position on 34 points from 20 games.
The Blues won a free kick outside the area after Klinsmann Grech was fouled and from the free kick shot by the same player the ball sailed over the bar, at the other end, Greg Marney served Warren Cardona in the area but he was foiled from making any progress thanks to a timely interception by Dorian Sammut.
The woodwork denied Sliema after 17 minutes as the ball was partially cleared from a cross from the right by Grech, came in the path of Amadeo Mercieca who thumped it against the bar. From a Mark Spiteri free kick the ball was deflected to a corner, the same player was shown the yellow card for arguing with the referee.
Sliema opened the score in the 20th minute, after a run down the left flank by Grech he served Andrew Caligari with a cross pass and as the Greens defenders failed to clear the ball he scored from inside the area. The last two actions before the break came from Floriana. Cardona served Marney in the area but he headed out and after Marney was fouled outside the area Blues keeper Nikki Azzopardi saved the free kick shot by Mark Spiteri.
In the second half Azzopardi saved to a corner a shot by Cardona after he was put through in the area by Buhagiar and in Sliema's next attack in the 64th minute they doubled the score as Grech, after beating a defender, served Tonna in the area and shot past a helpless Kyle Gerada.
Floriana tried to get back into the game but the Blues rearguard proved to be a very hard nut to crack. After Marney was fouled outside the area the ball was cleared to a corner from the free kick shot by Buhagiar and after Marney served Spiteri with a cross-pass in the area the latter drove over the bar.
Referee: Pierre Saliba
Player of the match: Klinsmann Grech (Sliema W)
* * *
APS Bank U-16 Section B
Msida 0
Rabat D 3
Rabat won three important points against Msida and are now topping the table on 37 points from 18 games, two more than St Patrick but the latter have a game in hand. Msida are fifth on 28 points from same number of games.
The Magpies were the better side showing better ideas in their movements and their precise passing was a delight to watch, they were also faster on the ball. Msida lacked punch upfront and were erratic in their passing.
The first half was evenly balanced with both teams creating some chances
When Msida’s Degabriele was fouled outside the area, Ryan Xuereb served Phiram with a short pass and Rabat keeper Darryl Vella saved his shot from outside the area.
Rabat also created two actions in succession. Ryan Micallef served Keith Gauci in the area but Mulholland saved his shot and Micallef again served Incorvaja with a cross from the right and from the latter's cross the ball was cleared to a corner.
Rabat keeper Darryl Vella neutralized the ball following a cross from the right by Ryan Xuereb.
Nine minutes into the second half Rabat opened the score as Shawn Gauci won a loose ball in Msida's half and floated a high ball in the area and Jonathan Attard foolishly handled the ball. David Azzopardi made no mistake from the penalty spot by sending Mulholland the wrong way. The score became 2-0 in the 64th minute when from a cross from the right by Incorvaja, Ryan Micallef netted from inside the area. Rabat kept pressing and trying to increase their lead and they managed to do so six minutes before the end when Azzopardi served Ryan Micallef with a through ball in the area and he scored with a lobbed ball.
Referee: Andrew J Sammut
Player of the match: Keith Gauci (Rabat D)
Congratulations to Marsa on achieving promotion to Section B next season. They won Section C 2 on maximum points from 12 games, scoring 59 goals and suffering only five.
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