Hamrun S: A. Curmi, R. Fenech (L. Grech), E. Lattes, A. Borg, C. Catalan (A. Micallef)), R. Spiteri , T. Vella, B. Guga, G. Favero (G. Debattista), M. Grima, D. Camilleri
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, L. Martinelli, P. Barbetti, M. Scerri, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Zammit, I. Woods (A. Faccini), S. Bajada, M. Muchardi, J. Mifsud
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, R. Vella
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Muchardi 38, 82
Yellow cards: J. Mifsud, I. Woods, , C. Gatt Baldacchino, A. Borg, M. Scerri
Player of the match: M. Muchardi (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Muscat 2. M. Muchardi 3. A. Curmi
A goal in each half by midfielder Matias Muchardi was enough for Sliema Wanderers to win this game against a Hamrun Spartans side in crisis and secure the remaining spot in the Championship Pool for the second phase of the season.
Ruggiero was still suspended for the Wanderers, who also had central defender Stefano Biancardi missing for the same reason. Josef Mifsud was drafted in instead.
Sliema's chief flaw was perhaps the lack of speed in their build-ups, aggravated by the absence of Faccini or Laudisi in their starting line-up, although the former went in as a late substitute. But for all that they conjured the better shots on goal during the entire 90 minutes.
These are grim times for Hamrun that must leave their supporters wondering whether their season could get any worse.
With the most porous defence in the league, the Spartans can also draw some consolation for conceding only twice yesterday after leaking 12 goals in the previous two matches.
They replaced Andrea Cassar with Anthony Curmi in goal and gave debut starts to their new midfielders, Italian Giacomo Favero and Spaniard Cesar Catalan. The latter played only in the first half and was substituted by Ayrton Micallef. Forward Lumbilla skipped the game because of personal reasons.
As expected, Sliema made the early running and had a Muscat effort ending narrowly wide on a Muchardi pass.
Muscat again went close from a Zammit free kick from the left past the quarter hour as Hamrun only showed up with long range free kicks from Catalan and Grima going far off the target.
Hamrun suffered the first setback midway through the half when centre back Roderick Fenech was stretchered off with a knee injury.
Sliema subjected Hamrun to some concerted pressure and finally broke the deadlock on 38 minutes. Muscat did good work on the byeline on the left before playing the ball back for Matias Muchardi to beat keeper Curmi with a looping ball at the top corner.
And before halftime, Guga’s slip inside the Hamrun area allowed Zammit to shoot low, with keeper Curmi turning the ball into a corner.
Sliema were still the better side in the second half, although Hamrun could have equalised on 54 minutes. Substitute Micallef clipped the bar with his shot from the edge of the area.
Sliema kept probing for that assuring goal, without playing particularly brilliant. On 70 minutes, helped by the wind behind his back, a long Bajada curling free kick was turned into a corner by the Hamrun keeper with some difficulty.
Four minutes later, the Wanderers had a goal disallowed for a controversial offside decision after Woods’ fierce drive was parried by keeper Curmi and Zammit nipped inside the area to head in the loose ball but the assistant flagged an infringement.
But there was no denying Sliema eight minutes from time. Matias Muchardi continued to offer a chunky threat as he played a deft one-two with Zammit before advancing down the left flank to shoot past the helpless Curmi.
On 84 minutes substitute Faccini severely tested the Hamrun shot stopper, who was equal to task to save into a corner and spare the Spartans from further derision