Balzan 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Ohawuchi 9;

Sliema Wanderers moved to the top of the BOV Premier League after edging past ten-man Balzan yesterday.

Stanley Ohawuchi once again turned out to be Sliema’s match-winner. The Nigerian striker grabbed the all-important goal early on as the Blues secured their third win of the season to go one point clear of Hibernians who play Rabat Ajax today.

However, it was far from a vintage display by the Wanderers who struggled to convert long spells of possession into scoring opportunities and failed to kill off a Balzan side who, despite the dismissal of midfielder Fabio Vignaroli early in the second half, still managed to create a few worries to Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper.

In the end, though, it’s the final result that counts and Sliema will be pleased to have stretched their unbeaten start to four matches.

Sliema coach Alfonso Greco effected just one change from the team that beat Naxxar Lions as Nigerian striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie was preferred to Argentine Mathias Muchardi.

Riccardo Tumiatti, the Balzan coach, also elected to make one change from the 2-1 loss to Birkirkara as midfielder Firas Aboulezz was out of the Reds’ 18-man squad. His place in the team was taken by Luke Sciberras.

Sliema hit the ground running. They were already a goal to the good after only nine minutes as Senegalese forward Pape Gueye was alert to dispossess the dithering Andrew Scicluna before speeding into the area and squaring the ball to Ohawuchi who blasted into the net.

A goal ahead, one expected the Wanderers to keep the pressure on the Balzan defence but for all their possession, they struggled to pose any danger to Daniel Martinez’s goal.

The Blues had to wait until the 26th minute to produce another scoring opportunity when Ohaw-uchi sped clear of his marker before hitting a swerving drive that was blocked by Martinez.

Balzan finally threatened on the half-hour mark when Mark Spiteri hit a fierce drive from outside the area but Sliema goalkeeper Bonello fisted the ball away.

Goalscoring chances continued to be few and far between with both teams going for long-range shots which had scant reward.

Five minutes from the break, Ohawuchi again went close for the Blues but his effort from outside the box rolled wide.

Balzan came close to drawing level three minutes from the break when Spiteri won possession and darted into the area but his low shot came off the post.

A minute later, Balzan striker Jose Luis Armario Negrin’s downward header was blocked by Bonello.

Two minutes into the second half, Gianluca Calabretta broke clear on the right before sending an inviting cross towards the unmarked Negrin but in came Stefano Bianciardi who anticipated the Balzan forward

Greco was clearly not happy with his side’s showing and on 55 minutes, he took off the subdued Bello-Osagie for Muchardi.

Tumiatti also responded with an attacking substitution when he withdrew Sciberras and roped in Lydon Micallef.

Micallef was soon in action on 65 minutes when he collected a great pass from Justin Grioli but his shot on the turn was stopped by Bonello.

Balzan’s hopes suffered a blow three minutes later when Vignaroli, who had just been booked after committing a foul in the middle of the park, was sent off after earning a second yellow card for dissent.

Twenty minutes from time, Sliema almost made it 2-0 when Muchardi gained possession just outside the area and quickly set up Ohawuchi who turned past his marker but his shot was kept out by the alert Martinez.

Sliema threatened again on 77 minutes when Gueye picked out Ohawuchi who transferred the ball towards Muchardi but the latter’s drive was deflected past the post.

Five minutes from time, Ohawuchi almost sealed the points for the Blues. Put through by Alex Muscat, the Nigerian saw his effort pushed away by Martinez and from the rebound, Ohawuchi was again denied by the Balzan no.1.

In time added-on, Balzan almost grabbed an equaliser but Bonello did well to push over Grioli’s long-range shot.

Ohawuchi had the last chance when he ran free and tried to turn past Martinez but his attempt was blocked by the Balzan goalkeeper.

Greens win appeal

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that Floriana’s appeal against the one-point penalty imposed by the MFA Control and Disciplinary Board had been upheld by the Appeals Board.

Floriana, who started the season with minus six points following a decision by the MFA Licensing Board, had been docked another point over payment issues with Birkirkara for the transfer of Thomas Paris in 2011, but the Appeals Board reversed the decision of the Disciplinary Board.

Balzan
D. Martinez-6.5, J.L. Armario Negrin-5 (71 E. Beu), S. Bezzina-6, G. Calabretta-6.5, D. Grima-6, J. Grioli-6.5, R. Pereira-6, L. Sciberras-5.5 (64 L. Micallef-6), A. Scicluna-5, M. Spiteri-6.5 (78 A. Agius), F. Vignaroli.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6, J. Borg-6, J. Mintoff-5.5, M. Scerri-5.5, S. Ohawuchi-7, A. Bello-Osagie-5 (56 M. Muchardi-6), C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, P. Gueye-6, P. Barbetti-6.5, S. Bianciardi-6.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Scerri; Barbetti; Grioli; Vignaroli; Muscat.

Red card: Vignaroli (B) 67.

BOV player of the match: Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema).

Attendance: 425.