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

Pieta H: A. Hogg, C. Okoh (E. Camilleri), B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo (E. Vella), C. Sammut, D. Gatt, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, A. Debono, D. Mifsud, R. Camilleri (E. Bugeja)

Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: K. Borg, J. Rapa 4th official: I. Miller

Scorers: J. Chetcuti, A. Debono, R. Bajada (2), I. Woods (pen)

Yellow cards: A. Debono, E. Camilleri, C. Sammut, Z. Svoboda, M. Dilello

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada 2. I. Woods 3. A. Hogg

Roderick Bajada was dropped to the bench by coach Aquilina in the only change Sliema made from the side which drew 3-3 with Birkirkara in the previous outing.

Bajada went in as a substitute after the restart for the injured Giglio yesterday and his inclusion provided the required impetus for the Wanderers’ final win which moves them closer to the leading pack.

Bajada scored two goals which enabled his side to down a spirited Pieta side and avoid some unexpected embarassment. Sliema were far from impressive in the first half but improved considerably after being caught out by Debono’s equaliser early in the second half. Chetcuti had given the Wanderers a first half lead.

Injuries and suspensions deprived Pieta of several key players such as Calleja, Okonkwo, Theuma, Deanov, Chris Camilleri and Herrera. They had Camenzuli and Sammut back after suspension however.

Pieta however traded the early exchanges at par with their opponents, looking well composed in midfield and capitaliSing on the mobility of Ryan Camilleri and Refalo up front to give the Sliema defence some uncomfortable moments. Only some poor finishing let them down.

When Turner missed control on Gatt’s long ball, Akanji was quick to block Sammut’s incursion.

It was only after the quarter hour that the Wanderers began to exploit their superior potential and on 23 minutes Svoboda’s free-kick from the right found defender Jeffrey Chetcuti unmarked inside the Pieta area to head Sliema in front.

Sliema went close to increasing their lead a couple of minutes later as a Muscat low shot rebounded off the post.

Towards the hour, keeper Hogg rushed out of his area to clear off Woods. Nwoke lobbed the loose ball narrowly over. And before the break, Woods arrived fractionally late on Muscat’s low cross and the chance went to waste.

Although with Bajada’s inclusion Sliema went out for the second half in livelier fashion, Pieta Hotspurs drew level after only three minutes play. Ryan Camilleri sent a low cross from the left which was well met by Anatole Debono who steered the ball coolly past the helpless Akanji.

But Sliema upped the tempo and after a Bajada chip narrowly missed the target, the Wanderers put in Anonam for Pace.

On 68 minutes, Hogg blocked the substitute’s powerful shot on a Woods assist.

Pieta, although hard pressed, kept fighting gamely but with Carabott also replacing turner, the final quarter hour changed the match’s fate in Sliema’s favour.

On 73 minutes Roderick Bajada was quick to pick Woods’ pass inside the area and beat Hogg with a low diagonal shot off the foot of the post.

Five minutes later the referee awarded Sliema a penalty when Woods was challenged by Sciberras inside the area, which brought many protests from the Pieta players before Ivan Woods himself beat Hogg from the spot kick.

With the points virtually secured, Sliema kept up their dominance and there seemed a certain inevitability about their fourth goal, which came on 87 minutes from a Roderick Bajada blistering shot from outside the area that left Hogg grasping thin air.

In the late minutes, the Pieta keeper saved his side from further derision as he twice held out goal-bound efforts from Muscat and Svoboda.