The big game, watched by a big crowd, ended in a one-all draw. That left Birkirkara basking in a two-point lead over nearest challengers Sliema, with a round still to go.

The goalkeepers had their fair share in the final result. Birkirkara's David Simon twice denied Sliema from sure goals with superb saves while Sliema's shot stopper Murphy Akanji saved Michael Galea's second half penalty to preserve a draw.

The game's best moments unfolded in the first half, with the goals, the best saves and the best furious and frenetic action. The teams' will to go out and play, as befits their present form, lended the game an exciting first half, during which both sides were evenly matched, with Sliema perhaps slightly the more dangerous.

The second half was far less attractive although Birkirkara could have wrapped it up had Galea converted a penalty as they looked to have a stranglehold on the proceedings and kept their opponents at bay.

Both teams had some key players missing. Mallia was on the Birkirkara bench while Turner and Brincat were not included in Sliema's starting line up.

But both coaches were forced to make substitutions in the course of the first half. Yanchev was injured after 20 minutes, making way for Sammut while Sliema lost Giglio's services towards the half hour and was eventually substituted by Turner.

Birkirkara were the first out of the blocks in an explosive start that kept Sliema on the defensive.

With both defences well composed, threats on the respective goals were only forthcoming from the flanks. Both teams had fast wide players in the mould of Bogdanovic and Barbara.

Sliema were the first to threaten towards the quarter hour when Bogdanovic managed to cross low from the left towards the middle as keeper Simon was out to block, but Said arrived fractionally before the ball and failed to conclude at goal.

Midway through the half Michael Galea's through ball caused panic inside the Sliema area. Calascione's effort was blocked into a corner.

The Wanderers gradually worked their way into ascendancy and produced their best spell, going close on two occasions, only to be denied by the Birkirkara keeper.

Bogdanovic ran free on the left and drilled a shot which Simon repelled in style. Minutes later, Bogdanovic threaded a pass to Woods, whose goal bound shot was smartly saved into corner by Simon.

But when Sliema seemed to have ridden the tide, Birkirkara struck on 39 minutes. The first time Barbara was allowed to go inside the Sliema area from the left, his shot was blocked by keeper Akanji and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza shot in the loose ball from close range.

But Birkirkara's joy was shortlived as the Wanderers restored equilibrium three minutes later. Ivan Woods twice exchanged the leather with Doncic in a swift build-up before beating Simon with a low strike at the far post.

Sliema kept up the tempo until half-time when a Dilello free-kick rebounded off the wall and Woods' shot was saved by Simon.

Birkirkara looked sharper on the ball and had the more enterprising part in the second half but never really threatened to capitalise.

Play continued to flash from one box to another but the two sets of defences held tight. Sliema keeper Akanji held out Barbara's long range shot with some difficulty. But the Stripes' best chance fell past the hour when they were awarded a penalty for Debono's handling of Lino Galea's cross inside the area.

Akanji, who often looked somewhat shaky in his handling yesterday, stretched himself to the left to save Michael Galea's shot and keep Sliema into the match.

The pace slackened after that and having taken all that Birkirkara could throw at them, Sliema looked delighted settling for a draw that leaves both teams well on course for the title. The race is still on.

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Birkirkara: D. Simon, L. Galea, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, E. Barbara, M. Galea, J. Holland (M.A. Bonnici), K. Scicluna, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, E. Yanchev (R. Sammut)

Sliema W: M. Akanji, M. Dilello, D. Debono (D.Carabott), B. Said, A. Muscat, R. Bajada, J. Chetcuti, D. Bogdanovic, S. Giglio (N. Turner), D. Doncic, I. Woods

Referee: A. Casha Asst. refs: K. Borg, A. Camilleri 4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: J.P. Mifsud Triganza, I. Woods

Yellow cards: B. Said, W. Camenzuli, R. Sammut, I. Woods

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. I. Woods 2. L. Galea 3. D. Simon