Referee Matthew De Gabriele had a very difficult game to control, which he did with flying colours, especially after resumption as some players lost their temper and also came to blows.

Both teams must improve in their performance to retain Section A status for next season as they both lie in the bottom rungs of the table; Sliema are fourth from bottom on six points from five games and Qormi are a placing lower with only one point also from five games.

Qormi created the first action when Clint Barbara was fouled outside the area and Sliema keeper Michael Cluett, nephew of the famous and late David, saved the free kick by Keith Zammit in two attempts.

In a Qormi counter-attack, Barbara served Shawn Attard on the left flank who then served Gilmour Fenech in the area and a defender cleared the ball to a corner. 

In the 24th minute Sliema opened the score when from a well-taken flag kick by Muscat, Dane Micallef rose above friend and foe and headed the ball past Qormi keeper Neil Smart. 

Sliema mounted another attack as Glenn Chircop dribbled past a defender on the right flank, crossed the ball in the area but there were no takers. 

Four minutes before the break Qormi equalised when Shawn Attard was fouled on the left flank and after Leon Gauci floated a high ball in the area from the free kick Dylan Attard scored with a header. 

Sliema created the first action after the restart as Glenn Chircop served Gabriel Aquilina with a cross from the right and Smart was forced to dive and save his close-range shot.

Smart came to his side’s rescue once again when he effected a diving save on a close-range shot by Paola Dandolo after a Glenn Chircop cross from the right flank.

In the 51st minute Sliema re-established their slender lead. Aaron Chircop served Aquilina with a through ball in the area and he scored with a low shot.

In the 55th minute Qormi were reduced to ten men when Joshua Barbara was shown the red card after a second booking.

The score became 3-1 in the 73rd minute after a choral move between three players. Aquilina served Glenn chircop with a through ball, the latter returned the compliment to Dandolo in the area who scored with a hard grounder.

Sliema scored their fourth goal in the 77th minute after another choral move. Aquilina served Muscat with a through ball on the left flank who crossed the ball in the area and Dandolo scored with another hard grounder. During his rejoicing, he made indecent gestures towards his opponents and was shown the red card.

In the fourth minute of added time Sliema were reduced to nine men as substitute Karl Aquilina was also shown the red card for retaliation.

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Player of the match: Gabriel Aquilina (Sliema W)