Marsaxlokk beat Sliema to break into top four

Sliema Wanderers 1
Dronca 53 pen.
Marsaxlokk 3
Dronca 33 og; Alcorse 42; Muscat 81 og

Marsaxlokk broke into the Premier League's top four positions after beating an erratic Sliema Wanderers side 3-1 yesterday.

It was a fair outcome to a match in which Marsaxlokk produced a lively display with their pacy forwards Julio Alcorse and Marcelo Pereira capitalising on some shoddy defending by the Wanderers to lift their team one point clear of their opponents.

For Sliema, it was another disappointing outing as they were second best to their opponents for much of the match.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi had a number of players missing as Victor Ortega Coto, Miguel Ciantar, Kane Farrugia, Branko Nisevic, Mark Scerri and Simon Agius are all injured.

Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, had to make do without midfielder Peter Pullicino who was suspended.

The match started at a very slow pace and it was not before the 14th minute that either side created the first scoring chance. William Camenzuli's dipping cross found Chris Camilleri whose powerful drive was blocked by Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello.

Sliema responded on 24 minutes when Ivan Woods unleashed a powerful drive that was saved in two attempts by Marsaxlokk keeper Reuben Debono.

The stalemate was finally broken on 33 minutes. Pereira's cross looked to pose no danger for the Sliema defence but Lucian Dronca inadvertently headed the ball past his goalkeeper in an attempt to clear the danger.

The Romanian almost atoned for his error five minutes later when he was first to a Daniel Severino corner but his header flashed past the upright.

Sliema's task became more complicated three minutes from the interval when Alcorse beat the Sliema offside trap, controlled Kevin Sammut's through-ball and lobbed the ball over the helpless Bonello.

After the break, Azzopardi introduced the experienced Noel Turner for John Mintoff with Woods switched to attack and Matthew Bartolo to the left flank.

Sliema revived their hopes on 53 minutes when Renato Conceicao was adjudged to have handled the ball in an attempt to block the advancing Woods and the referee quickly pointed to the spot.

Dronca stepped up for the kick and coolly sent the ball past Debono.

Woods could have levelled things up on 58 minutes when Ian Azzopardi's low cross fell into his path but he failed to connect from routine distance.

The Wanderers were clearly on top now and on 62 minutes, Azzopardi's diagonal pass found Severino who avoided his marker but his low shot was kept out by Debono.

At the other end, Pereira came close to adding a third goal for Marsaxlokk when he fired a bold drive that hit the side-netting.

Fifteen minutes from time, Sliema threatened an equaliser when substitute Amedeo Mercieca won possession in the Marsaxlokk area and fed Woods who skewed his shot wide from an inviting position.

Sliema paid dearly for this miss as with nine minutes left, Marsaxlokk midfielder Christian Cassar burst into the area and his low shot was diverted by Sliema defender Alex Muscat into his own net.

Five minutes from time, substitute Malcolm Licari could have widened Marsaxlokk's margin but he headed over from a Cassar free-kick.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5, A. Muscat-5, I. Azzopardi-5.5, M. Bartolo-6 ('88 L. Martinelli), J. Chetcuti-5, I. Woods-6.5, L. Dronca-5, D. Severino-6 ('77 A. Mercieca), I. Ciantar-6, R. Bajada-6, J. Mintoff-4 ('46 N. Turner-6).

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6, C. Mamo-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Conceicao-6, B. Said-6, K. Sammut-6.5, J. Alcorse-7.5, C. Camilleri-6.5 ('70 M. Licari-6), W. Camenzuli-6 ('90 S. Scicluna), T. Templeman-5.5 ('60 C. Cassar-6.5), M. Pereira-6.5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Bajada; Woods.

BoV player of the match: Julio Alcorse (Marsaxlokk).