Sliema Wanderers’ winning streak of late continued with another assured victory over Floriana. The Wanderers won a rather drab affair simply because they were the more motivated team, catching up with Birkirkara in second place to end a disappointing season with some scant consolation. Floriana might have ended their league commitments, but are still involved in the U*BET FA Trophy and that makes yesterday’s lack of conviction quite understandable.

This ‘Old Firm’ clash was no edge of the seat stuff between two Premier sides with proud histories and heavy burdens of expectation. The game was ill-timed too.

Floriana played with most of their regulars, including the return of Krsteski in defence, to warm up for their coming FA Trophy semi-final against Hamrun Spartans, although they left Levniac, Bolasie and Darmanin on the bench. Eboh was missing through suspension.

Sliema’s usual line-up also showed some changes, without the injured Akanji and Said, as Woods was relegated to the bench.

There was a slow start to the match and for the first 20 minutes both goalkeepers remained mostly inoperative. Then, Ciantar headed Bajada’s free kick in Agius’ safe hands and towards the half hour, the Sliema keeper Bonello stretched himself to block a Krsteski free kick on the ground.

On the other end, Muscat failed to put enough power to his header on Barbara’s cross and Muscat’s ensuing shot on target, was saved by Agius.

Both sides took advantage of the referee’s benignly tolerant mood to indulge in some spoiling tactics. Floriana’s Borg was the first player to go into Mr Borg’s notebook after 33 minutes.

A slow burner was showing signs of combustion. All it needed was a goal. That came Sliema’s way after 36 minutes as the Wanderers began to have more possession. Roderick Briffa picked his spot from outside area in the middle and steadied himself before unleashing an unstoppable shot at the top corner. A stupendous goal indeed.

A quick response from Floriana nearly brought an equaliser. Gauci was unlucky as he blasted his shot against the bar after beating Sliema’s offside trap.

Just before the break, Barbara’s cross from the right left the Greens’ defence almost helpless but Agius saved well Bajada’s effort to avoid further derision.

But play in the second half fell to a tedium with high-speed sterility being the greatest feature. Sliema looked satisfied with a win. Floriana did not want to exert themselves too much. Muscat hit the ball wide. Cilia shot Gauci’s cross first team but missed the target completely. Briffa arrived fractionally late on Barbara’s through pass as Agius rushed off his line to smother the danger.

An assortment of players continued to dart hither and thither with little precision and for long periods it looked unlikely that the pieces would make some sort of pattern. Only some individual move could have changed the mood.

On 70 minutes Pisani’s individual effort was superbly saved by Bonello. Five minutes later, Briffa drilled his shot against the post and when Barbara netted the rebound, the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Sliema’s substitutes Anonam and Da Silva might have given the Wanderers a fresh lease of life. Eight minutes from time, Orosco Anonam headed in Bajada’s sailing free kick from the right to put the issue beyond doubt.

* * *

Floriana: S. Agius, D. Pisani, M. Sevasta, D. Krsteski, C. Ciantar, C. Cassar (P. Grech), M. Brincat, J. Borg, (J. Brincat) T. Cilia, M. Gauci, M. Micallef (O. Bugeja)

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat (O. Anonam), I. Azzopardi, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri (N. Turner), R. Bajada, M. Bartolo ( A. Da Silva), J. Chetcuti, I. Ciantar, R. Briffa, E. Barbara

Referee: M. Borg asst.refs: C. Micallef, E. Spiteri 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: R. Briffa, O. Anonam

Yellow cards:J. Borg, R. Bajada, J. Brincat, C. Cassar, M. Scerri

Player of the match: Roderick Briffa (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Briffa 2. C. Cassar 3. M. Brincat