Hamrun Spartans 0
Sliema Wanderers 3

Sliema Wanderers joined Old-Firm rivals Floriana at the top of the fledgling Premier League table last night after overcoming the valid challenge of newly-promoted Hamrun Spartans for their second successive victory.

Widely regarded among the hot favourites for the title, Sliema will be delighted to have maintained their perfect start after a 3-0 win but they will be hard pressed to derive more positives from yesterday's encounter.

One would expect a team who has just forked out a hefty sum of money to sign a host of high-profile players and strengthen their squad, to win with style against a generous but limited team like Hamrun but this was certainly not the case yesterday.

For most of the match, the well-drilled Spartans not only gave as much as they got but produced the better football but they were ultimately undone by wayward finishing and the stout defending of Brian Said and company.

To their credit, Sliema did well to make the most of the chances that came their way and showed commendable resilience when under pressure but there is no disguising the fact that they will have to perform better if they are to justify their lofty aspirations.

Ivan Woods made his first start for Sliema in the 2007-08 league season after completing his rehabilitation from a knee injury. The inclusion of the Malta striker at the expense of Matthew Bartolo was not the only change from the Sliema team that defeated Msida St Joseph 3-0 in their opening league match.

Sliema coach Ray Farrugia offered a starting berth to Alex Muscat instead of Ian Ciantar. Muscat was deployed on the right side of a four-man defence as Sliema reverted to 4-4-2 yesterday.

Marco Gerada, the Hamrun coach, also made two alterations from the formation he fielded in the 2-1 defeat of Mqabba. Precious Monye's return to fitness prompted Gerada to reinstate the Nigerian to his central defensive position while striker Gaetan Spiteri, who missed the Spartans' opener through suspension, was preferred to veteran Stefan Sultana.

Mark Anthony Bonnici, acquired on Thursday from Birkirkara, was not included in the Spartans' 18-man squad.

In the opening stages, Spiteri got his head to a long-range cross by Evano Briffa but his central attempt was easy prey for Murphy Akanji.

After seven minutes, Sliema captain Said did well to cut out a dangerous cross from the speedy Alfred Effiong.

Despite the gulf in the resources of the two teams, it was Hamrun who showed the better ideas in the opening 20 minutes. Bratislav Timotic went close with a header from a Monye free-kick.

Sliema's first significant inroad into the Spartans' half nearly yielded a goal on 21 minutes but Woods, sliding it at the far post, miscued his shot from point blank after receiving a fine cross from Aleksandar Madzar.

At the other end, the elusive Effiong slipped a through-pass to Spiteri who outpaced Said but hit wide of the near post. In no time, skipper Ryan Fenech fashioned a strong drive that sailed just over the bar.

Hamrun's sprightly movement in those early stages caused considerably consternation among the Sliema defenders who often resorted to fouls to stop their opponents, particularly Effiong.

Given their bright start to the match, Hamrun will have felt confident about their chances of opening the score but it was Sliema who drew first blood.

The Wanderers had Nesko Milovanovic to thank for steadying their nerves, the Serbian midfielder stealing the show with a superbly-taken free-kick that swerved past the Spartans' defensive wall as well as the desperate dive of goalkeeper Michael Falzon. A fine goal indeed.

More misery was in store for the Spartans six minutes later when, in a swift breakaway, Milovanovic released the ball to the advancing Woods in the inside-left channel and the latter hung over a cross towards the far post. Rupert Mangion looked well-positioned to trap the ball but he miscued and Barbara duly capitalised, dashing into the box before directing the ball past the on-rushing Falzon.

The second half was less than three minutes when Hamrun gave their opponents a reminder of their attacking threat as Spiteri laid the ball on for Ryan Fenech whose first-time effort flew just over.

Referee Clayton Pisani dismissed Hamrun's claims of a penalty after Effiong went down in the box as he was being chased by Ian Azzopardi. Effiong was adjudged to have taken a dive and was duly cautioned by Pisani.

On the hour mark, Farrugia withdrew Chetcuti in favour of Bartolo and, moments later, Milovanovic was off target with another free-kick.

At the other end, Hamrun should have narrowed the deficit when the influential Ryan Fenech jinked his way into the box but chipped the ball just wide of the far post with only Akanji to beat.

The ease with which Fenech eased himself into a scoring position was the cue for Farrugia to introduce Noel Turner for the tiring Milovanovic.

Danger again loomed for Sliema when Spiteri set up Fenech with a backward pass but the low strike from the Hamrun skipper was easily neutralised by Akanji.

With 12 minutes remaining, Woods got on the end of a long pass and advanced unimpeded towards goal but his low, central shot was kept out by Falzon.

Woods then rifled a low shot that ended the wrong side of the near post and a close-range effort from the marauding Said was deflected away for a corner.

From the ensuing flag-kick, taken by Bartolo, Barbara guided the ball home to seal Sliema's win.

Hamrun: M. Falzon-5, P. Monye-6 ('85 S. Sultana), E. Briffa-5 ('82 D, Cucciardi), Roderick Fenech-6, S. Meilak-5.5, Ryan Fenech-7.5, J. Debattista-6, R. Mangion-6.5, B. Timotic-6, G. Spiteri-6.5, A. Effiong-7.

Sliema: M. Akanji-7, I. Azzopardi-5, E. Barbara-6, R. Briffa-5, J. Chetcuti-5 ('59 M. Bartolo-6), A. Madzar-5, N. Milovanovic-6 ('65 N. Turner-6), A. Muscat-5.5, S. Pace-6, B. Said-7, I. Woods-5 ('84 C. Nwoko).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Scorers: Milovanovic 30; Barbara 36, 87.

Yellow cards: Chetcuti; Muscat; Monye; Spiteri; Effiong; Woods.

BoV player of the Match: Ryan Fenech (Hamrun Spartans).