Although playing with ten men for the entire second half, Sliema Wanderers still overcame a stern test of nerves against resolute Marsaxlokk to chalk their seventh league win in as many matches and maintain a hundred per cent record start to their title defence.

Despite their announced enhancement in their coaching set-up and the appointment of Ray Farrugia as their technical advisor in midfield, Marsaxlokk were left without a coach on the bench yesterday as Atanas Marinov was missing and club official Peter Hartshorne conducted the proceedings.

Their team selection omitted both Suares Gomes and Gomes Dos Santos from the starting line-up, with Paiber making his first appearance for the side as team captain.

Marsaxlokk tried hard to improve on their recent dismal record of only two points from four matches but failed to exploit numerical superiority to down Sliema’s solid rearguard and even lost out on their temporary draw when conceding Sliema’s late goal.

Sliema had Muscat and Debono back from suspension but both Dilello and Anonam sat out on the bench. They confirmed their superior class by abating the tide and Marsaxlokk’s assault after the restart but still proved deadly on the break. Their consistent winning streak remains impressive.

The game was lamentably lacking on meaningful goalmouth action in the early stages.

Scoring ideas were often stifled once either side progressed past the half-way line with several niggling fouls from both sets of players.

Play was often interrupted by the referee’s constant whistling.

On the quarter hour, both sides went close to breaking the deadlock. Sliema threatened first when Bogdanovic advanced on the right but keeper Gauci was well place to save his angled shot.

On the other end, Bajada clipped the bar with a curling free-kick from the right.

However both sides found it desperately hard to make real progress and the fuse again fizzled out.

Halftime was starting to loom as Sliema found their taste for the game. Bogdanovic’s cross from the right was missed by Woods but fell into Danilo Doncic’s path to volley in at the far post.

The goal apart, the other most noteworthy episode of a foul-riddled first half was Stefan Giglio’s dismissal, two minutes before the break, after two bookings, the second for a foul on Frendo in the centre circle.

Sliema, in numerical inferiority, opted to defend in the second half as both Turner and Bogdanovic retreated deeper.

Marsaxlokk started to apply some sustainable pressure which kept the Wanderers defending grimly. Their defence leaked water on the hour when Schembri’s cross from the right fell to Jamie Pace, whose first headed effort was blocked by an opponent but the alert Marsaxlokk player reacted to shoot in the rebound.

Marsaxlokk enjoyed their best spell after that and the Sliema keeper Akanji was put under a severe test as the Southseasiders introduced Kevin Mamo and Licari, scenting their chance of winning the game.

Schembri headed Mamo’s inviting cross over the bar and Licari’s blistering rising shot was tipped over the bar by Akanji.

But Sliema produced all their championship stuff with their winner, ten minutes from time. The goal might have been of the simplest execution but the build-up was of the highest quality.

Woods played one-two with substitute Farrugia, who had set the ball rolling from midfield, and when the goalkeeper rushed out to block the Sliema striker, Woods played the ball square to the unmarked Daniel Bogdanovic to deposit the bll into an unattended goal.

The visibly dejected Marsaxlokk could not pick up courage to react as wounded Sliema cruised to their seventh consecutive win, albeit saved by the foot of the post in added time, holding off Wellman’s grounder from outside the penalty area.