Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Mamo, G. Sciberras, M. Licari (P. Pullicino), J. Alcorse, C. Brincat, R. Galabov, T. Templeman, D. Kokavessis (M. Deanov), E. Yanchev, R. Guerreiro (A. Effiong)

Sliema W: V. Szenteperi, J. Mifsud, S. Souare, M. Scerri, C. Failla (J. Briffa), C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Paris, A. Spiteri (M. Ciantar), J. Lima, O. Obifuele, B. Muscat

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap 4th official: G. Tonna

Yellow cards: M. Licari, J. Mifsud, E. Yanchev

Player of the match: James Paris (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Galabov 2. M. Scerri 3. R. Guerreiro

Attendance: 1,497

Marsaxlokk are the only side still to score a league goal after two matches as they were held to another goalless draw against Sliema Wanderers.

Scrappy football characterised this drab encounter, bereft of ideas, urgency and effort from both sides in equal measure.

Sliema, who at least preserved a clean sheet after the Birkirkara drubbing, were forced to substitute the suspended John Mintoff with James Paris as Adam Spiteri was given a start instead of Miguel Ciantar.

Marsaxlokk also opted to make some changes after their goalless draw with Tarxien in the first outing. Trevor Tepleman and Dylon Kokavessis were given the nod ahead of Martin Deanov and Peter Pullicino. Effiong again started on the bench.

But both teams showed very little improvement on their first outing in a mundane first half which produced no real scoring opportunities. In fact neither goalkeeper needed to be in attendance as the two teams stifled each other once they progressed past the halfway line.

Two early half chances from Marsaxlokk might have indicated a promising start. Guerreiro shot Alcorse’s cross wide and then a Kokavessis effort was blocked by keeper Szentpeteri.

But Sliema shut up shop after that and crowded their defence and midfield, leaving Obifuele as their only offensive source. On a couple of times he managed to run through the Marsaxlokk defence, he was foiled by the alert keeper Gauci.

Despite Kokavessis and Alcorse’s presence in attack, Marsaxlokk’s most pleasant moves and passes came from Guerreiro and Galabov. The former ran down the left flank three minutes into the second half and played a square pass to the unmarked Templeman who shot horrendously over.

Matters were further complicated for Sliema on 56 minutes when Failla was stretchered off and Julian Briffa made his debut for the Wanderers, replacing him in defence.

Marsaxlokk threatened towards the hour. Guerreiro’s direct free kick was saved by the keeper and then Licari shot narrowly over.

On 65 minutes, Scerri ran in well into the Marsaxlokk area on an Obifuele pass, but Mamo squeezed his shot into a corner.

On 70 minutes, Effiong went in for Guerreiro but by then the sterility was widespread.

The Sliema keeper Szentpeteri fumbled a Deanov well struck free kick into a corner, but even that failed to rouse any excitement.