Ten-man Sliema pick up first win in Championship Pool

Hamrun Spartans 0
Sliema Wanderers 2

A gutsy second-half performance earned Sliema Wanderers their first win in the Championship Pool after beating Hamrun Spartans 2-0 at the Hibs Ground yesterday.

The scoreline might suggest that the Wanderers had it their own way but the story was quite different. In fact, after a dull first half, which saw the Blues struggling to impose their play, Sliema suffered a blow when they had striker Ivan Woods sent off midway through the second half.

One expected the Wanderers, who went into this match on the back of two successive defeats, to wilt under the pressure. However, despite being a man down Sliema went on to score two goals in the final 11 minutes to move third in the standings, four points adrift of leaders Marsaxlokk who face Birkirkara today.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi made five changes to the team that lost 4-2 to Marsaxlokk.

Etienne Barbara was serving a club suspension while Mark Scerri and Jeffrey Chetcuti were ruled out with injury. Ian Azzopardi and Roderick Briffa were dropped to the bench and Orosco Anonam had to serve a one-match ban. Henry Bonello retained his place in goal ahead of Murphy Akanji while Carlos Ventura was handed a starting berth up front.

Hamrun were without midfielder Rupert Mangion, who was injured, while Mark Anthony Bonnici and Roderick Fenech were suspended. Alfred Effiong was the team's lone striker as Gaetan Spiteri started on the bench.

The opening stages of the match saw both teams battling hard to gain an edge in midfield with Sliema seeing more of the ball but in front of them they found an organised Hamrun defence, well marshalled by Precious Monye. It was no easy for the Blues to reach Sean Sullivan's goal.

In fact, the first attempt at goal only arrived on 28 minutes when Ventura chested the ball into the path of Roderick Bajada but the latter's grounder rolled wide.

It was the Spartans who should have broken the stalemate on 33 minutes when Effiong's precise lob put Kevin Borg clean through but the winger shot straight at Bonello who somehow kept the ball out. Stefan Sultana pounced on the rebound but his shot finished wide.

Sliema hit back with a quick break. Woods broke free on the left before delivering the ball into the path of the sprinting Matthew Bartolo who, however, miscued his shot and the chance was lost.

Sliema were clearly lacking in ideas, particularly when trying to push forward. Woods was trying hard to find gaps in the Hamrun defence but there was little help from his team-mates.

At the other end, the Spartans were relying on the running of Stephen Meilaq.

On the stroke of half-time, Sliema almost got a breakthrough when Bartolo's dipping cross was headed by Brian Said into the path of Da Silva whose shot forced Sullivan into a fine diving save.

Four minutes into the second half, Ventura tried his luck from a free-kick but the shot sailed over and a minute later Da Silva headed just over from another free-kick.

The Wanderers were starting to create more scoring opportunities now and on 52 minutes Woods's shot sailed just over.

Close to the hour, Azzopardi withdrew Noel Turner and introduced Ian Ciantar in a move that saw Alex Muscat moving to a more advanced position on the right with the newcomer taking a defensive role.

On 66 minutes, Hamrun had coach Gerada sent off from the dug-out following remarks he passed to the match officials.

Tempers started to flare and Sliema were reduced to ten men when Woods was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Branko Timotic. The Sliema forward was sent off for showing dissent as the referee was on his way to consult his assistant about the incident.

Azzopardi sent on Roderick Briffa in lieu of Branko Nisevic in a bold attempt to win the match despite the numerical handicap while the Spartans brought on Spiteri.

The clock marked 79 minutes when Bartolo won possession in the middle of the park before surging forward and unleashing a powerful drive that gave Sullivan no chance.

Five minutes from time Sliema sealed the points. They were awarded a free-kick just outside the box and Bajada's curling shot flew into the top corner of the net despite the keeper's attempt to reach the ball.

Hamrun: S. Sullivan-6, D. Cucciardi-5.5, P. Monye-6.5, K. Borg-6, S. Meilak-6, R. Fenech-6, S. Sultana-6 ('81 C. Cacciatolo), J. Debattista-5.5 ('87 L.J. Agius), N. Galea-6, B. Timotic-6, A. Effiong-5.5 ('74 G. Spiteri).

Sliema: H. Bonello-7, A. Muscat-6.5, B. Said-5.5, B. Nisevic-6 ('74 R. Briffa), N. Turner-5 ('58 I. Ciantar-5.5), A. Rocha Da Silva-7, R. Bajada-7, M. Bartolo-7.5, J. Vella-6, I. Woods, C. Ventura-5 ('81 I. Azzopardi).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorers: Bartolo 79, Bajada 85.

Yellow Cards: Timotic, Galea, Nisevic, Fenech.

Red card: Woods (S) 66.

BoV Player of the Match: Matthew Bartolo (Sliema Wanderers).