Bold Tarxien give Sliema the blues

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Bueno 23
Sliema Wanderers 0

Not so long ago, few gave Tarxien Rainbows a fighting chance of preserving their Premier League status as the newcomers spent virtually the first half of the season rooted to the bottom of the table.

The landscape at the lower end of the standings has changed dramatically in the last few weeks though as Tarxien have shown incredible character to arrest their slide and revive their chances of evading the drop.

Further proof of their growing belief was provided yesterday when the Rainbows followed up the 4-0 drubbing of Ħamrun with a remarkable win over Sliema, Tarxien's first over the Blues in their history.

While the jubilant Rainbows enjoyed another good day at the office, not so can be said for Sliema.

Their wretched performance will increase the pressure on coach Stephen Azzopardi as his team have now lost three of their last four matches.

David Camilleri, plucked on loan from Valletta last week, was given his Tarxien debut by coach Noel Coleiro. The veteran was preferred to Luke Vella Critien.

The one-match ban imposed on Jeffrey Chetcuti was the cue for Sliema coach Azzopardi to award a starting role to new signing Sam Siro Furfaro.

In the early stages, a header by Branko Nisevic, yesterday deployed as a holding midfielder, was easily saved by Tarxien's Anthony Curmi and at the other end, Henry Bonello fisted away Ryan Grech's corner.

Scoring chances were something of a rarity in the opening minutes. Sliema sought to exploit the pace of Matthew Bartolo and Victor Ortega Coto on the flanks to open up the Rainbows' rearguard but to no avail.

Midway through the first half, Tarxien seized the lead despite playing with 10 men as Denni Rocha Dos Santos was out for treatment to an injury. Receiving a pass from Grech, Daniel Mariano Bueno underlined his reputation as one of the most clinical finishers in the league by stroking the ball past Bonello from just inside the box.

Moments earlier, Sliema had gone close but Roderick Bajada's grounder was stopped by Curmi. Coto might have gained an instant equaliser but his shot, following a fine run down the left, rolled inches wide of the near post.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Sliema's Alex Muscat set off on a mazy run on the right before laying the ball off to Bajada whose attempt to chip Curmi finished high and wide.

Tarxien were not only making life difficult for the disjointed Wanderers, they were also effective and menacing when pushing forward.

A goal might have helped to awaken Sliema and they almost restored parity five minutes before half-time. Bajada's corner from the left was palmed away by Curmi, Tarxien cleared the ball but only as far as Bartolo whose volley from the edge of the area was off target.

Having replaced Coto with Severino in the final minutes of the first half, Azzopardi threw on Noel Turner for Nisevic at the restart.

Sliema began the second half in attacking mode and would have made it 1-1 but for an excellent Curmi save. Severino was the provider with a looping cross from a free-kick and Ivan Woods rose high to head firmly towards goal but Curmi leapt to touch the ball over the bar.

It was all Sliema now but their optimism was hampered when midfielder Mark Scerri, having been booked early on for a late challenge, committed another bad foul on Steve Sadowski and was sent off.

Despite his side's numerical handicap, Azzopardi stuck with two men up front, Woods and Bartolo while Tarxien stayed 4-4-2.

Camilleri delivered a spinning cross-shot from a free-kick but Bonello was alert.

Miguel Ciantar, a late substitute for Bartolo, threatened to leave an instant imprint on the match but his sweetly-struck effort was met with a tipping save from Curmi as the Rainbows held off Sliema's attempts to salvage the game.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi-7.5, S. Sadowski-7, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, R. Grech-7.5, W. Chircop-6 ('84 K. Borg), M. Tanti-7 ('75 M. Buttigieg), D. Camilleri-6.5, R. Schembri-6, D.M. Bueno-6.5, D. Rocha Dos Santos ('27 L. Galea-6), E. De Lima-7.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6.5, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-5, B. Nisevic-4 ('46 N. Turner-5), M. Scerri, M. Bartolo-5 ('73 M. Ciantar), I. Woods-6, L. Dronca-5.5, V. Ortega Coto-5 ('41 D. Severino-5), R. Bajada-6, S. Furfaro-5.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Scerri; Nisevic; De Lima; Gatt Baldacchino; Woods; Bueno.

Red card: Scerri (S) 56.

BoV player of the match: Anthony Curmi (Tarxien).