Champions Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers shared a point apiece in a highly entertaining six-goal draw yesterday evening.

The win keeps Sliema in fourth place on eight points while Birkirkara remain a point behind on seven after both have now played their fifth match.

Play was mostly balanced with both sides providing the small crowd present with some good and entertaining football.

Sliema’s goals were of the picture gallery with Ivan Woods scoring a brace to add to his already impressive tally this season. The Blues seemed to be playing their best football so far this season – until they suffered what looked like an unjust decision by the assistant referee and the official who awarded the Stripes a very dubious penalty.

The presence of Stefan Giglio at the back provided the Blues’ rearguard with more steadiness but, quite obviously, they lost a lot of balance in midfield, especially in the first half.

Here the Stripes held an edge in the opening 45 minutes. They had Etienne Barbara finally making a full appearance. He was in good form, proving to be a constant headache to Sliema’s left flank, where he was ably assisted by the non-stop George Mallia. Barbara also managed a brace of goals, one of them from the spot-kick.

In the second half, the match remained somewhat balanced at first, but as time went by, Sliema took control of midfield as Svoboda dictated matters.

The Stripes tired out and were forced on the defensive, operating in counter-attacks which rarely troubled the Sliema defence.

Sliema took the lead on 15 minutes with a splendidly executed goal. It was Nwoko who passed to Woods whose brilliant through pass to Muscat opened the Stripes defence and the flank defender scored with a fine rising shot.

The Stripes only took 10 minutes to get back on level terms when Sammut set Barbara in the Sliema area. The latter’s shot took a slight deviation and ended behind Akanji.

A minute later, it was Paradiso who tested Akanji and the Sliema goalie had to save in two attempts.

But it was Sliema who took the lead once again with another excellent goal on the 36th minute. Svoboda squared the ball to Nwoko and the former Stripes star crossed over perfectly for the unmarked Woods to head home a lovely header, beating Bledzewski all ends up.

On the 39th minute, Birkirkara were awarded a very dubious penalty when Barbara had a shot blocked to a corner and fell to the ground. It was a really harsh decision, but Barbara remained cool to slot the ball home, sending Akanji the wrong way.

The Stripes started the second half strongly. A Barbara effort was turned to corner in style by Akanji, while moments later, Barbara set substitute Holland in the area, only for the latter to hit wide from an ideal position.

On 52 minutes, Sliema were again in the lead for the third time. A freekick from Svoboda was a perfect assist for Ivan Woods who headed past Bledzewski.

A minute later, it was again on level terms, as Birkirkara equalised. A bad clearance by a Sliema defender went to the unmarked Mifsud Triganza who had no difficulty in smashing the ball home.

On 70 minutes, Mattocks headed down to Woods, but the striker this time lifted his semi-rovesciata well over the bar.

Sliema went close on 83 minutes through an Ivan Woods effort that went just over.

Two minutes later, the champions ended in 10 men when Kenneth Scicluna was shown the way out after a second bookable offence.

In those final minutes, Sliema assaulted the Stripes area and the champions were forced with their backs to the wall as the Blues pressed hard for the winner which, however, never arrived.

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Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski, MA Bonnici (C. Micallef), R. Sammut (P. Borg), W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, E. Barbara, JP Mifsud Triganza, K. Scicluna, A. Paradiso (J. Holland), G. Mallia, G. Gallovic.

Sliema W.: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, M. DiLello, B. Said, N. Turner (D. Carabott), R. Bajada (C. Mattocks), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, C. Nwoko (O. Anonam), Z. Zvoboda, S. Giglio.

Referee: A. Zammit. Asst refs: P. Agius, N. Debattista; 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: A. Muscat, E. Barbara 2, I. Woods 2, JP Mifsud Triganza

Yellow cards: MA Bonnici, K. Scicluna,

Red card: K. Scicluna

BOV player of match: I. Woods

TMI Top 3: 1. I. Woods 2. E. Barbara; 3. Z. Zvoboda