Sliema Wanderers 1
Martinelli 75;
Rabat Ajax 0

Well-drilled and commendably constructive in their forward approach, lowly Rabat gave as much as they got for the best part of their match against Sliema.

The Magpies’ gritty display looked to have put them on their way to earn another creditable draw against more-quoted opponents.

But Silvio Vella’s charges were pegged back by the Wanderers’ attacking play in the closing period as Luca Martinelli netted the all-important goal fifteen minutes from time to hand the Wanderers the points that all but sealed their place in the Championship Pool.

In fact, the Blues are level with second-placed Valletta and Birkir-kara on the 30-point mark albeit the latter two have a game in hand.

Rabat’s initial line-up showed four changes from the side that held champions Valletta to a 1-1 draw before the Christmas recess.

Newcomer Diego Carrillo Pendas replaced the suspended Manuel Fuster. On the plus side, Vella could call upon the returning Montenegrin defender Ivan Carapic and Clive Brincat, while Wayne Borg replaced Clifford Gauci as Rabat lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Andrew Decesare filled the void left by the injured Sliema skipper Alex Muscat. The Wanderers’ 4-2-3-1 formation had the attacking trio of Luigi Ruggiero, Alain Faccini and Beppe Muscat playing off main striker Ivan Woods.

The first noteworthy came Sliema’s way on 10 minutes. Ruggiero darted into the box after waltzing past Dylan Falzon to swerve his effort on the right with the ball looping off the Magpies crossbar.

Despite dominating possession, Sliema struggled to penetrate Rabat’s defence early on as the game fell into a lull with Vella’s troops reading their opponents’ attacking tactics.

On 28 minutes, Sliema’s defence was unlocked by a neat three-man move. Caruana picked up the ball near the halfway line to exchange possession with Felice. The lanky striker-turned-midfielder pinged the ball into the path of Wayne Borg who was blocked by Martinelli.

The complexion of the game remained unchanged, however, as Sliema retained the initiative.

Two minutes from the break, Martinelli was kept in play by David Azzopardi and his inswinger was just missed out by Faccini in front of a gaping goal.

Alfonso threw caution to the wind by reverting to a three-man defence and pushing more men upfield with the introduction of Miguel Ciantar.

The game opened up and Carillo Pendas’s point-blank shot drew a smart save from Glenn Zammit.

At the other end, Woods carved open the Rabat defence with a neat movement on the right before serving Ruggiero but the goalkeeper proved equal to task.

Woods’s high work-rate, coupled with his ability to shield and run with the ball, increased Sliema’s attacking threat as he dropped deeper into midfield.

After 68 minutes, the overlapping Martinelli rifled his shot over the bar after receiving from Woods.

Martinelli’s surging runs down the right were causing problems to the Magpies, giving David Azzo-pardi, Rabat’s weakest link, a torrid time.

In fact, after 75 minutes, substitute Artemio Laudisi set up the advancing Martinelli who sped through before planting a low shot past Azzopardi.

Rabat tried to hit back and Carillo Pendas’s free-kick was blocked into a corner while Patrick Borg’s long-range shot finished wide as Vella’s men ended the game in attacking mode.

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6, L. Martinelli-8, P. Barbetti-6, M. Scerri-5.5, L. Ruggiero-6.5, A. Decesare-5 (51 M. Ciantar-4), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5.5, I. Woods-7.5, A. Faccini-6 (75 A. Laudisi), B. Muscat-6 (82 J. Mifsud), S. Bianciardi-7.5.

Rabat Ajax
J. Azzopardi-5.5, I. Carapic-6, J. Caruana-6.5, J. Felice-6.5, J. L. Armaro Negrin-5.5, D. Falzon-5, W. Borg-5, P. Borg-5.5, C. Brincat-5.5, D. Carrillo Pendas-6, D. Azzopardi-4.5.

Yellow cards: Barbetti, P. Borg, C. Brincat.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

BOV Player of the match: Luca Martinelli (Sliema Wanderers).

Attendance: 439.

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