Valletta showed signs of recovery yesterday against Sliema but for the third consecutive match they still failed to find the back of the net. It was a fair result in a balanced encounter, a result that is of little use to both teams.

Valletta were very aggressive at the start, pressing high on the Sliema defenders. Wellington and Campos were making their debut for the Citizens and Bonello had to make a great save on 14 minutes to block a Cisotti shot.

Valletta’s injury list was extended on 18 minutes when Jonathan Caruana limped off and was replaced by Malano with Triston Caruana moving at the heart of the City defence. On 20 minutes Fontanella well saved by Wellington was denied by Galea.

On the half hour Valletta lost another player, Miguel Angel Alba, who was replaced by Piciollo. Wellington almost scored on 36 minutes but his header was cleared off the goal line.

At the start of the second half Wellington had a good run on the right but his angled drive was well blocked by Galea.

On 50 minutes Rowen Muscat tried his luck from a distance but his shot slightly missed the target.

On 57 minutes a good Sliema move between Beerman and Kisil with Satarianos header blocked by Bonello.

Five minutes another opportunity for Sliema with Sansone#s effort blocked by Joe Zerafa.

Both sets continued to give their all in search of the winning goal, with Valletta going close on a couple of occassions.

A Matteo Piciollo effort six minutes from time missed the base of the upright by a whisker, and in stoppage time substitute Nwoko almost clinched it for Valletta but his lob was brilliantly saved by Galea.

 Photo Domenic Aquilina