Runaway leaders Marsaxlokk enjoy a five-point lead in the standings this morning after beating a resolute Sliema side 3-1.The final score may suggest a romp but in actual fact it was a hard fought victory as the leaders were stretched to the limit by determined and sprightly opponents.

The Southseasiders’ firm self belief kept them well on course, hitting out at their opponents in crucial moments, even if yesterday they lacked the usual sharpness in attack, to chalk up an impressive seventh consecutive league win.

Sliema might feel aggrieved after contributing to a fair share of offensive football, showing superiority in possession as Bajada and Mattocks often seemed to enjoy superiority in midfield. At times they were even better than their opponents and only lacked finishing qualities although Woods was again a constant menace up front.

The teams had radically different experiences. Marsaxlokk had beaten main challengers Hibernians to take sole leadership. Sliema, on their part, had lost to Valletta after a mediocre performance.

Marsaxlokk made only one forced change from their last match – the inclusion of Magro in defence for the injured Dimech. There was no place for Doda, the substitute who scored the winner against Hibernians, in Marsaxlokk’s starting line-up.

Sliema trimmed theirs, giving starts to Carabott and Anonam as both Pace and Nwoko were relegated to the bench. Mattocks played for the injured Svoboda in the Wanderers’ midfield.

The first half was wanting in terms of real entertainment with goalmouth action very much at a premium. The best chances, though, fell to Sliema who made the more assertive start, allowing their opponents little comfort on the ball. The Wanderers went close after ten minutes when Bajada played a long pass wide to Muscat on the right flank. The Sliema defender advanced in the area, lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Gauci but then shot wide when challenged by Wellman.

Past the quarter hour, Chetcuti was obstructed inside the Marsaxlokk area, injuring his arm as he fell awkwardly, and had to be substituted by Turner. Woods shot Bajada’s short indirect free-kick against the Marsaxlokk wall.

Then Muscat’s drive was blocked into a corner.

Until then, Marsaxlokk had only looked menacing through Bogdanovic, heading Schembri’s cross over the bar.

However they took the lead past the half hour. At that stage Sliema appeared to have the edge in power and confidence but were made to pay for a slack moment in defence when Andre Schembri rose unhindered to head in what looked a harmless Frendo cross from the left to give his side a one-goal cushion by halftime.

Sliema though equalised five minutes into the second half when awarded a penalty after Woods was held by Magro inside the area on Turner’s cross from the right. Ivan Woods himself tucked away the penalty, his third for Sliema this season.

Sliema tried to pressurise their opponents’ defence after that and Marsaxlokk’s will to counter attack, lifted the game from its tedium.

On 72 minutes Sliema were caught cold with a Marsaxlokk execution of the highest quality. Sammut surged forward, played a low splitting pass to Daniel Bogdanovic who outpaced his direct marker and slid the ball past a helpless Akanji.

Sliema put in Nwoko for Carabott and mounted a series of attacks but could not penetrate Marsaxlokk’s blanket defence, which although bereft of their injured captain Mamo in the dying minutes, held out grimly.

There was still time for late substitute Haruna Doda to exploit Sliema’s gaps at the back and hit Marsaxlokk’s third goal in added time, to make it a somewhat flattering end result.

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

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, C. Mamo (K. Mamo), S. Wellman, C. Magro, M. Licari, J. Pace, A. Schembri (H. Doda), D. Bogdanovic, K. Sammut, G. Sciberras, C. Frendo

Referee: M. Borg, Asst. referees: A. Camilleri, E.Spiteri 4th Official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: A. Schembri, I. Woods (pen), D. Bogdanovic, H. Doda

Yellow cards: A. Muscat, S. Wellman, G. Sciberras, J. Pace, K. Sammut, M. Dilello

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema Wanderers)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada 2. I. Woods 3. K. Sammut