Sliema stop Stripes’ momentum

Football - BOV Premier League

kick, they lacked the guile in congested area to unpick their rivals. Their passing was out of sync and they lacked composure.

The Sliema defenders pinned them back on the flanks while Denni’s effervescence, and a combatitive midfield with the likes of Jonathan Pearson and Mark Scerri, held sway at the centre. Birkirkara have failed to beat their rivals in three matches this season.

They went in front after 11 minutes. Miguel Alba beat the Sliema keeper with a low curling free kick from the edge of the area on the left.

At this point Birkirkara should have coasted, but instead Sliema hit back for an equaliser. On 18 minutes Denni Dos Santos capitalised on some defensive hesitation inside the Birkirkara area as he pounced on an Attard back pass to shoot in past keeper Bonello.

From then on, Birkirkara became increasingly frustrated and Sliema went close again towards the half hour with a Denni free kick that landed on teh roof of the net.

Birkirkara threatened but lacked punch. Herrera headed Alba’s deep cross wide before Sliema responded with a Temile incursion from the left, Birkirkara’s clearance fell to Pearson whose grounder was parried by Bonello only for Temile to win possession but was ruled offside.

At that stage Sliema were well in the game as it hurtled from one end to the other.

Birkirkara also had their chance just before the break. Alba, standing alone inside the six-yard box, sent a diagonal shot inches wide.

The second half was a sharp contrast to an eventful first. And even after Birkirkara introduced Jhon Obregon, and later Ryan Scicluna, for Agius and Dimitrov, as the lack of goalscoring threat from midfield was highlighted, the forwards began to struggle. Mislav Andelkovic was also retreated by the Birkirkara coach on 75 minutes.

Perhaps relaxing a little, Birkirkara were experiencing some slapdash moments.

In the late stages Incorvaia headed Denni’s free kick narrowly over but the Stripes also fluffed their chance when the ball was cleared short from inside Sliema’s crowded area but substitute Matthew Guillaumier lofted the ball. Hibernians Balzan Valletta Floriana Birkirkara Sliema Tarxien St. Andrews Hamrun Gzira Mosta Pembroke PW D L F A Pts 26 17 5 4 47 23 56 26 16 6 4 54 29 54 26 15 8 3 43 17 53 26 13 7 6 42 26 46 26 13 6 7 48 24 45 26 10 5 11 32 33 35 26 7 8 11 31 33 29 26 6 10 10 29 37 28 26 8 4 14 37 50 28 26 8 4 14 31 40 28 26 4 4 18 18 59 16 26 3 5 18 22 63 14

■ This was supposed to be the day when Birkirkara won to consolidate their place into the top four. Instead they had to settle for a draw against strugglers Sliema Wanderers, who have only won three times since the start of the year. Following...