Sliema W. 1

Valletta 4

Sliema W: V. Szentpeteri, J. Mifsud, M. Scerri, S. Bezzina (N. Turner), C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Lima, O. Obiefule, C. Lachkheim, R. Bajada (M. Ciantar), B. Muscat, C. Failla (J.P. Mifsud Triganza)

Coach: M. Marlow

Valletta: A. Hogg, R. Briffa, I. Azzopardi, J. Caruana, S. Borg, E. Agius, R. Dos Santos, K. Sammut (G. Agius), R. Fenech (K. Magro), D. Dos Santos (I. Zammit), T. Scerri

Coach: J. Zerafa

Referee: K. Azzopardi, Asst refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono, 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: T. Scerri 11, 90+,R. Fenech 30, 64, J. Lima 45 pen

Yellow cards: M. Scerri, J. Lima, O. Obiefule, R. Briffa

Red card: J. Lima

Player of the match: R. Fenech (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Fenech 2. T. Scerri 3. R. Briffa

Attendance: 2,557

Sliema Wanderers, down to ten men for the last half hour, were put to the sword by rampant Valletta, back to their best after dropping two points against Marsaxlokk the previous week.

By popular consent, Valletta remain head and shoulders above their Premier League rivals in the art of playing a pleasing passing game. Yesterday, although missing the injured Jamie Pace and the suspended Temile, and with Gilbert Agius making only a late substitute appearance, they were helped in no small way by the inspirational play of Ryan Fenech, their new signing from Hamrun Spartans during the week. He was given a wide role in midfield, switching flanks, but mostly operating from the left. Fenech marked his Valletta debut with two well taken goals and was prominently involved in the first, demonstrating his enduring brilliance.

Valletta’s build-up play was exhilarating best and Sliema, with a static defence, inept to close the gaps, were simply outclassed as Terence Scerri again proved why he is the league’s best scorer with two clinical finishes, especially his second in added time.

While the Wanderers kept the same starting eleven who drew with Tarxien, Valletta reshuffled their midfield, with Edmond Agius and Roderick Briffa in front of the defence. Ramon Dos Santos started as centre back and Steve Borg moved as right back.

Still Valletta were good enough to take a healthy two-goal lead by the half hour.

After 11 minutes, Fenech provided the cross, after a surging run from the right, for Terence Scerri to rise behind Gatt Baldacchino and head Valletta in front.

On the half hour, Briffa’s cross cut the entire Sliema defence. With nobody able to clear, the ball fell to the unmarked Ryan Fenech to blast in with a powerful left foot drive.

Eight minutes later, Valletta scored their third but Scerri’s flick in on a Fenech back-heeled pass was disallowed for a millimetric offside position.

Sliema, who were being outplayed and outfought in almost every department, could have gone in front themselves after only three minutes but Failla missed the target with a free header on Lachkhem’s cross. On 40 minutes Valletta’s keeper Hogg failed to hold a Gatt Baldacchino shot from outside the area but Obiefule was unable to knock in the loose ball.

But the Wanderers were handed a lifeline on the stroke of halftime. Lachkhem was bundled by Azzopardi inside the Valletta area on a Bajada cross to win a penalty which Jackson Lima converted.

Valletta opened the second half in aggressive mood and created three good chances in as many minutes. Sammut arrived fractionally late on a Fenech cross from the byeline. Denni ran through the slow Sliema defence but shot tantalisingly wide and then Fenech headed Denni’s cross over.

Sliema put in Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza for Failla on 56 minutes but Valletta were still the more potent going forward. Agius went close with his effort on a Sammut pass before Sliema were reduced to ten men on the hour. Jackson Lima was shown the yellow card for a foul on Denni but as he clapped towards the referee, he received his marching orders.

Valletta soon capitalized on their numerical superiority. Four minutes later, on a Sammut pass, Ryan Fenech hit the target with exquisite shot that completely surprised keeper Szentpeteri.

Sliema looked dead and buried even though they put in Noel Turner for Bezzina.

On 78 minutes Gilbert Agius, who had just gone in for Sammut, forced Szentpeteri into a superb save with his firm header on a Fenech cross. From the resultant corner and another Fenech cross, Briffa headed the ball towards Scerri. His flick was blocked by the keeper and when Denni got the final touch, the goal was ruled out for an offside.

Szentpeteri saved his side from further derision in the dying minutes, producing a point blank save on Gilbert Agius close effort.

There was still time for Valletta to score their fourth, deep into four minutes of added time when Terence Scerri turned on the edge of the area, steaded himself and beat the keeper with a rasping shot in the roof of the net.

Valletta’s hero on the day, Ryan Fenech had already been substituted amid a standing ovation. He had won his spurs and he seems to have become the Valletta fans’ darling sooner than expected!