Sliema see off tame Mosta

SLIEMA WANDERERS-2, MOSTA-0

Sliema Wanderers scored twice in the second half to see off the tame challenge of Mosta in a game that came to life after the change of ends.

Having booked their place in the Championship Pool with a game to spare, Sliema Wanderers showed their determination to bolster their challenge for a European berth with a convincing second-half display.

The game was seven minutes old when Sliema striker Anicet Eyenga passed to Danail Mitev whose swerving drive flew over the bar.

Mosta had to wait until the 15th minute to create their first attack.

Jonathan Bajada cut in from the right before pulling the ball back for Kurt Magro who miscued his shot.

A diagonal free-kick from Ian Zammit was off the target but the early proceedings were generally dull.

Sliema protested for a penalty when Eyenga fell to the ground after being challenged by Martinelli but referee Glenn Tonna deemed that the striker had dived.

Mosta came close to opening the scoring seven minutes from half-time.

Clifford Gatt Baldacchino looked well-placed to clear a long ball from midfield but the Sliema defender, unaware of Obinna Obiefule's lurking presence, elected to allow the ball pass over his head.

Obiefule ran himself into the box unimpeded and chipped Bonello but luckily for Sliema the ball dropped wide of the far post.

Three minutes into the second, Mosta goalkeeper Jonathan Debono parried away Mitev's dangerous curler from a free-kick. Sliema threatened again when Mitev's cross was met by Eyenga who headed inches wide of the far post but the Blues went ahead in the next minute.

Debono's poor clearance had Mosta on the backfoot as Alex Muscat retrieved possession and squared to Emiliano Lattes who slotted home.

Sliema were now on top. Muscat drove just wide after a powerful run into the box and Mitev was also off target with a diagonal effort after being released by Lattes.

The Wanderers doubled their lead on 62 minutes, Eyenga heading home from Mitev's corner.

Gilbert Martin, who had come on for the ineffective Kibona, created a chance for Mosta when he released Zammit but the latter's grounder was wide.

Mitev again unsettled the Mosta defence with a strong run down the left but his cross was pushed away by Debono. The danger persisted as Sliema continued to put pressure on their confused opponents.

From a corner, taken by man-of-the-match Mitev, the ball flew towards the far post where Steve Bezzina had ghosted through but his close-range flick brought the best out of Debono.

Six minutes from time, Mosta suffered another blow when Zammit was dismissed after a late challenge on Nikola Bogdanovic earned him a second yellow card.