First half goals decide issue

Sliema W Melita 2 1

This game was decided by three goals in the first period. Both sides had their good moments in an actionpacked game. Sliema are on nine points from four games while Melita are still without any points also from four games.

The first action was created by Sliema as Michael Vella squarepassed the ball to Axl Xuereb but he drove over the bar from outside the area.

Melita reacted and Jeremy Spiteri Bailey dribbled past an opponent but he drove slightly over the bar from outside the area. Ian Stilon was then fouled outside the area but Sliema keeper Jovin Ebejer saved the free kick by Neil Bonello.

At the other end, from a flag kick by Christian Mercieca, Melita keeper Philip Schranz saved a header by Xuereb. Xuereb then served Vella in the area and Schranz tipped the ball over the bar.

In another action by Melita, Michael Zammit was fouled on the left flank and the ball was headed away from the free kick by Bonello, while at the other end minutes later, Carl Cassar served Vella in the area and Schranz saved his close-range shot.

Sliema opened the score in the 28th minute when Liam Cachia dribbled past an opponent on the right flank; the latter served Galea in the area who netted with a low shot.

Melita equalised on the half hour after a prolonged action. From a flag kick by Bonello, Ebejer saved a header by Antoine Attard to another corner which was taken by Attard. The ball was deflected into the net by Clive Psaila, but their joy was shortlived as two minutes later Sliema restored their slender lead when Xuereb dribbled past an opponent on the right flank; he then crossed to Caine Abela in the area who netted with a hard low drive.

The Blues applied the early pressure after the restart. Mercieca released Cachia on the right flank who after entering the area saw Schranz saving his shot.

Galea served Abela with a through ball and after the ball was partly cleared from his shot, Vella drove over the bar from the right edge of the area.

Mercieca put Xuereb through and the ball hit the base of the upright from his shot.

Melita reacted in search of an equaliser. Attard was fouled outside the area and the ball was cleared away from the free kick by the same player. Ryan Spiteri then dribbled past two opponents on the left flank and after the ball was partly cleared from his cross, substitute Benjamin Galea missed the bar by inches from the rebound.

Pierre Muscat was then fouled just outside the area, Ebejer saved the free kick by Attard to a corner which was taken by Bonello and Nathan Sammut headed over the bar.

The last two actions before the end were both created by Sliema. Xuereb put Galea through in the area and Schranz saved his shot in two attempts with a diving save. Then he saved a shot by Bonello after the latter was put through in the area by Sammut. Referee: Dorian Caruana Player of the match: Liam Cachia (Sliema W)