Double just reward for stylish Wanderers

Sliema Wanderers 2
Marsaxlokk 0

A 39-year wait for a league and cup double came to an end yesterday when Sliema Wanderers assembled a powerful, fully-focused performance to sweep past the committed, but largely toothless, challenge of Marsaxlokk.

Billed as a clash between tradition and resurgence due to the different milestones chased by the two finalists - Sliema had their sights set on the 100th trophy in their history whereas Marsaxlokk were looking to claim their first major honour - the experience and superior technical traits of the league champions proved too much for their opposition.

Marsaxlokk's task of adding the prized scalp of Sliema to that of Pietà, Hibernians and Valletta was compounded from the moment Joe Brincat put the Wanderers ahead almost on the half-hour mark.

The superb build-up to their second goal, scored by the in-form Stefan Giglio, a strong candidate for the MFA Footballer of the Year award, four minutes from time left no doubt as to the legitimacy of Sliema's success.

The players and fans were already in party mood when Noel Turner, their long-serving skipper, lifted the FA Trophy high as some Marsaxlokk players had stayed inside the stadium to witness the presentation ceremony.

Their disappointment was evident but their pride and dignity stood out like a shining light. The southerners' progress this season has been such that they will be one of Malta's representatives in the UEFA Cup.

Interest in our football is said to have dwindled lately if attendance figures are anything to go by. Yet, the sizeable crowd that witnessed the final match of the 2003-2004 season will have given the clubs and the Malta FA good cause to believe that their efforts to lure the fans back can pay dividends if there is a positive build-up and the sort of keenly-contested fare served up in the FA Trophy semi-finals.

The enthusiasm shown by the supporters is also a credit to Sliema and Marsaxlokk. These clubs may not boast a reputation as crowd-pullers but their bold attempts to make a lasting impact on the outgoing season clearly drew the appreciation of their faithful as well as the neutral fans.

A scan of the starting line-ups revealed no big changes.

Deprived of injured defender Jeffrey Chetcuti, Edward Aquilina, now winner of a double with the Blues both as a player and coach, drafted the rehabilitated Carlo Mamo at left-back and instructed Turner and Brincat to protect their defence whenever Marsaxlokk moved forward.

Aquilina's strategy was prompted by his premonition that Robert Kelly, his counterpart, would deploy Daniel Bogdanovic as a lone striker.

Marsaxlokk's initial approach vindicated the Sliema mentor as Bogdanovic was asked to carry his team's attacking burden all by himself. Malcolm Licari was consigned to the subs' bench and Nikolai Slavtchev, a defender, picked up the sweeper's role.

Apart from a cross-shot by Sliema's Rupert Mangion which was saved by the alert Ivan Casha, there were few clearcut openings in the early stages but when the champions were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area for a foul on Michael Mifsud, danger loomed for Marsaxlokk.

Brincat stepped up to take the kick, striking the ball low towards the bottom-left corner. Casha dived in the right direction but could not stop the ball from sailing into the net.

Marsaxlokk's reaction to Sliema's 29th-minute opener was so weak that Murphy Akanji was redundant for the entire first half.

One minute from the break, Brincat nearly doubled Sliema's account with another swerving free-kick which sailed wide of the far post.

As expected, Kelly tried to lift the inertia of his team's performance by bringing on Licari instead of Minabo Asechemie. Amidst the sloppiness littering the start of the second half, Sliema managed to put together a good move but Mangion's grounder was easily saved by Casha.

Another long-range effort by Stefan Giglio was too central to trouble Casha but Sliema remained the livelier side thanks to their better passing and tactical discipline.

Sixteen minutes of the second half had passed when Marsaxlokk finally threatened to pierce Sliema's defence.

A well-timed Licari run down the left forced the Sliema defenders to clear the ball for a corner which was taken by Donatas Vencevicius, Akanji came out but spilled his cross and Bogdanovic fired the loose ball high.

At the other end, Casha kept Marsaxlokk's heads above water when blocking the goalbound Mifsud after Mangion's flighted pass had found him in abundant space.

The Marsaxlokk rearguard was again at sea when another fast Sliema raid saw Orosco Anonam freeing Danilo Doncic inside the box, the Serbian lifted the ball over Casha but Buhagiar came rushing back to head to safety.

Marsaxlokk's toils to unlock the Sliema defence made one wonder for how long would Kelly persist in keeping Etienne Barbara, his team's best scorer in the league, on the bench.

Barbara's turn finally came midway through the second half when he came on for Slavtchev.

As the minutes trickled by, Marsaxlokk grew more frenetic in their efforts to mount more pressure on Sliema, Bogdanovic firing a menacing shot which Akanji parried in two attempts.

It was the first time in the match that Marsaxlokk had managed to enjoy some ascendancy and they should have equalised if Magro did not send his drive high after a good combination between Bogdanovic and Camilleri.

Six minutes from time, Marsaxlokk thought it was all over when Mifsud's blistering run took him inside the box where he served the unmarked Doncic. Much to their relief, his flick came off the post.

The killer blow was not long in coming, though, as another dazzling Sliema attack had Doncic receiving the ball on the edge of the area, Mifsud wisely allowing the pass to drift towards the steaming Giglio who duly beat Casha with a firm drive.

Sliema were in seventh heaven. Bogdanovic should have scored a consolation goal for Marsaxlokk but first Said and then Akanji blocked his successive efforts.

Sliema: M. Akanji, J. Brincat, C. Mamo ('88 K. Sammut), B. Said, N. Turner, D. Doncic, M. Mifsud ('90 D. Sylla), R. Mangion, O. Anonam, S. Giglio, K. Laferla.

Marsaxlokk: I. Casha, D. Carabott, C. Magro, D. Camilleri, D. Bogdanovic, D. Vencevicius, R. Buhagiar, N. Slavtchev ('68 E. Barbara), K. Mamo, T. Templeman, M. Asechemie ('45 M. Licari).

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Scorers: Brincat 29; Giglio 86.