Hamrun, Sliema share spoils in goalless draw

Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers shared the spoils in a goalless draw in a clash at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. A draw which puts the Wanderers on level points with leaders Gzira United, who however have a game in hand. 

This was the fifth positive result for the Wanderers who had earlier dropped their only points in a defeat to Gzira. For Hamrun, this was the third game without a win after losing to Tarxien and a draw with Mosta last week.

Hamrun had goalkeeper Sean Cini making his debut as they lacked goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo while Antonio Monticelli, Bradley Schembri and Francesco Marra made way for Triston Caruana, Peter Xuereb and Njongo Priso. For Sliema, Younes Marzouk replaced Frank Temile in the starting line-up.

Goal-mouth action was rare throughout the ninety minutes and during the first half, the only opportunity fell at the feet of Jefferson de Assis who however missed a good chance. Then late in the second half, a good move by Mark Scerri was concluded with a weak shot which was parried by Sean Cini without particular effort and finally a Stefano Bianciardi header, off a freekick by Muchardi, was saved once again by the Hamrun goalkeeper.

HAMRUN Sean Cini, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Sebastian Nayar, Carlos Henneberg, Massimo Ganci (87′ Ryan Darmanin), Matthew Gauci, Njongo Priso, Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil.
Subs not used: Lydon Moore, Russell Vella, Cain Cutajar, Darren Borg, Jeremy Busuttil, Bradley Sciberras.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Mattias Mucciardi, Kurt Shaw, Jefferson de Assis, Nii Nortey Ashong, Michele Sansone, Edmond Agius (71′ Mark Scerri), Goran Adamovic, Jean Paul Farrugia (46′ Frank Temile), Stefano Bianciardi, Younes Marzouk.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Jonathan Pearson, John Mintoff, Stefan Cassar, Omar Elouni.
Coach: John Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: Ivan Woods

Referee: Glen Tonna
Asst. Referees: Edward Spiteri, Chis Francalanza
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: Agius, Ganci, Gauci, Nortey, Calil
BOV Player of the Match: Matias Muchardi
Attendance: 529