SLIEMA WANDERERS 2 ST ANDREWS 1

Aidan Friggieri was the toast of Sliema as the young midfielder came off the bench to fire home his team’s winner against St Andrew’s and book a place into the FA trophy semi-finals.

At the beginning, congested midfield play did not help either team’s cause of making it to the semi-finals. As usual Enmy Penà Beltre worked out a good move on the right flank before crossing for Oseghale but the latter’s shot was wide.

Sliema broke the deadlock past the half hour. A calibrated ball from Johann Bezzina just outside the box had the Saints goalkeeper back-tracking in vain as the looping shot sailed into the net.

With only one goal in it, the issue was not yet resolved. This fact was underlined as St Andrews opened the second half in a more adventurous vein. But in so doing, Josè Borg’s troops left themselves exposed at the back. On 66 minutes, Muir sprung the offside trap with a pass into the path of Marko Potezica but the midfielder shot straight at Galea.

Shortly after, St Andrews drew level. Salomon Wisdom’s incursion into the box forced Gatt Baldacchino to tackle him and as the striker slumped onto the ground, referee Esther Azzopardi immediately pointed to the spot. Joseph Farrugia despatched the ball into the left corner with his typical nonchalance.

Seven minutes from time, Aidan Friggieri was thrown in the fray instead of Farrugia. Two minutes later, Sliema won a freekick on the edge of the box. Muir kicked the ball at the far post where the nippy midfielder controlled the ball and then fired an unstoppable rising shot past Galea with virtually his first touch of the ball.

Sliema were now home and dry after being pushed to the limit by a gallant St Andrews side.