PEMBROKE ATHLETA 0; SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

After five attempts, Alfonso Greco finally celebrated his first win in his return to Sliema.

Sliema deserved the points as they created the best chances throughout the encounter and only some wasteful finishing and some goalkeeping skills of Mario Muscat kept Pembroke hoping for a sharing of the spoils.

Sliema took the lead past the quarter of the hour mark. Gary Muir commenced the move from the left and he was quick to spot Farrugia unmarked in the centre with the ex-Hibs player planting the ball into the net.

After that, the Wanderers strove to establish a comfortable buffer by doubling the lead. Denni arguably one of the most consistent and hard-working players yesterday, thought he had done enough to accomplish this feat after 41 minutes when his low drive whizzed towards goal and was somehow parried by Mario Muscat.

Sliema maintained their momentum after the change of ends as Pembroke lacked steel and dynamism in midfield. On 64 minutes, Denni sliced open the Athleta defence with a through ball for Farrugia who unleashed a fierce shot which Muscat repelled in two desperate attempts as the ball looked destined to end in the back of the net.

Four minutes from time, substitute Aidan Friggieri stole the limelight when he showed some deft footwork to jink his way through before setting up Denni who shot straight into Muscat’s hands.

But the Brazilian soon made as two minutes later he received a good ball from Farrugia who headed Friggieri’s cross into Denni’s path before the latter drilled a firm shot past Muscat.