Sliema W.: M. Akanji, J. Brincat, M. DiLello, B. Said, D. Debono, D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods (A. Muscat), O. Anonam (N. Turner), S. Giglio, D. Bogdanovic (C. Mattocks).

Birkirkara: D. Simon, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (JP Mifsud Triganza), E. Barbara (MA Bonnici), M. Galea, R. Briffa, K. Scicluna, G. Mallia, E. Yantchev, A. Ciantar (A. Ciantar).

Referee: C. Lautier. Asst refs: C. Micallef, S. Tanti; 4th official: J. Attard.

Scorers: J. Brincat, D. Bogdanovic, M. Galea pen,

Yellow cards: S. Giglio, G. Mallia, D. Doncic, D. Debono, E. Yantchev,

BOV player of the match: D. Bogdanovic

TMI Top 3: 1. J. Brincat; 2. D. Bogdanovic; 3. M. Galea.

It was revenge for Sliema yesterday as they beat Birkirkara by the odd goal in three to make amends for the 3-0 defeat suffered in the Super Cup match earlier this season.

The victory enabled the Wanderers to keep their perfect record with four wins from four matches. They are now three points ahead of Hibernians and five over Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk who suffered their first defeats his weekend.

The Wanderers had a full squad at their disposal while Birkirkara had Lino Galea missing through suspension. But the Stripes welcomed back Etienne Barbara from injury, though he was substituted after a quiet first half.

Sliema had made almost sure of the three points by the end of the first half when they led by two clear goals.

The Blues were a superior outfit showing the better ideas, even if Birkirkara saw much more of the ball.

In fact, they could have wrapped up the match earlier had Woods not contrived to miss some glaring opportunities in the first half.

The champions were lethal in their counter-attacks and the Birkirkara defence was always at sixes and sevens when facing such speedy merchants as Bogdanovic and Woods.

The Stripes worked the ball well up to the Sliema area, but when inside, they messed everything, playing right into the hands of the Blues' defence where Debono, Said and Chetcuti, not to mention Di Lello, were well in command.

When Michael Galea converted the penalty on 79 minutes, it was a just reward for their efforts, but it was not enough to halt the Wanderers' march at the top.

Sliema opened the scoring on 11 minutes after a fine triangular move. Doncic put Bogdanovic through in the Stripes area. The latter squared low for Brincat to flick the ball past Simon.

Soon after, a Camenzuli corner created havoc in the Sliema area as the ball was missed by Akanji in front of goal, but the official had noticed a foul by a Birkirkara player on Chetcuti as the latter was clearing the ball to safety.

On the 16th minute, a Briffa humdinger was well saved by Akanji. At the other end another fine move involving Giglio, Anonam and Woods ended with the latter skying the ball from 10 metres.

After Mallia missed a good chance for Birkirkara, it was Woods who went close with a fine dipper off a Bogdanovic cross.

On 38 minutes, after a Camenzuli bad clearance, the ball was booted forward by Sliema and Ivan Woods was clear only to hit high from an ideal position.

Sliema made it 2-0 a minute later when in a fast counter-attack, Woods received the ball on the edge of the area. He almost lost control but managed to square low for the completely unmarked Bogdanovic to hit home into the empty net.

A minute later, at the other end, Galea almost pulled one back, but his close range effort was blocked miraculously by Akanji.

Sliema could have added a third on 50 minutes but Doncic sent the ball well wide from the angle with Bogdanovic, again unmarked, waiting anxiously to apply the finishing touch.

At the other end, a William Camenzuli fine effort just missed the target.

Brian Said also had a great opportunity for Sliema, but Simon kept the Stripes in contention, blocking with his feet.

On the 61st minute, it was Akanji who denied Camenzuli a goal turning his freekick to corner.

Birkirkara got back into the game on 79 minutes when Debono floored Zahra in the area. Referee Lautier was close and quickly pointed to the dreaded spot from where Michael Galea beat Akanji to reduce the gap.

The Stripes were in full blast for an equaliser now. On 83 minutes, Akanji saved the result for Sliema as he turned to corner a Zahra freekick destined for the back of the net.

And a minute from full time, Mifsud Triganza just missed the target with a fine rising shot.

In added time, Sliema did well to play the possession game, thus killing off any other attempt by the Stripes.