Ivan Woods – and goalkeeper Murphy Akanji – gave Sliema three most precious points yesterday as the former scored an 80th minute winner against rivals Birkirkara and the goalie saved an added injury time penalty to thwart the champions.

The win pushed the Wanderers closer to leaders Marsaxlokk who, however, have today’s match against Floriana in hand.

But it is evident that the Blues are now back in contention for the title – their sixth positive result under Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia – and they are now expecting the return of most of their injured players to maintain their challenge to the leading duo.

Both sides had several players missing, especially Sliema who had, among others, Stefan Giglio, Orosko Anonam, Claude Mattocks, Noel Turner and Zdenek Zvoboda ruled out. Birkirkara had goalie Bledzewski and midfielder Larrosa as well as the suspended William Camenzuli. Sliema were welcoming back veteran Joe Brincat on the substitutes’ bench, while Birkirkara had Roderick Briffa and Adrian Ciantar back in the squad after being out through long-term injuries.

The first half was rather poor with both sides finding it difficult to create openings. However, Birkirkara appeared to be more enterprising up front though Brian Said and Jeffrey Chetcuti dominated the central approaches. The same can be said about Jonathan Holland and Kenneth Scicluna at the other end, both dominant in the heart of the champions’ defence.

One expected something better from these two rivals as play never reached the expected levels.

Play improved somewhat on the changeover with Ivan Woods, on one side, and Etienne Barbara, on the other, being dangerous with the ball at their feet, but still under some sort of control, until the Sliema striker, as usual, found the net to score what proved to be the winner.

At the end, the Stripes were unlucky to have lost all the points – a draw would have been a fairer result in the circumstances.

The match had a quiet opening as both sides sized up each other. But on 27 minutes the Stripes earned a freekick from which Jonathan Holland forced Murphy Akanji into an excellent save, turning the ball to a corner.

Play was restricted mainly to midfield but the Stripes went close once again on 38 minutes through a fine dipper by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza which went just over.

And a few minutes later, it was Barbara who tried from the same angle, but his effort also went over.

Sliema’s only attempt came on 43 minutes when off a David Carabott corner, Brian Said’s low shot was saved without any difficulty by Sullivan.

Soon after the second half started, Sliema had the best opportunity when a Lino Galea clearance went straight to Alex Muscat, but the latter fired well over the bar from an ideal position.

On 69 minutes, Barbara received a good ball from midfield and had a good shot going just over. Soon after, it was Akanji who saved the day for Sliema, saving a tricky shot from Mifsud Triganza.

On 74 minutes, Barbara had the ball at the back of Akanji’s net but he was ruled to have committed a foul before his shot at goal.

Six minutes later, at the other end, it was Sullivan who rushed out of his charge to dive at Bajada’s feet, avoiding an awkward situation for the Stripes.

Soon after, Sliema took the lead when Ivan Woods received a long ball from Joe Brincat to beat the onrushing Sullivan.

The match had already gone into injury time when Birkirkara were awarded a penalty for a Muscat handling infringement off a Galea shot. But Murphy Akanji managed to stop Barbara’s effort from the spot-kick and kill all hopes Birkirkara had of saving a point.

Sliema W.: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, R. Bajada, D. Carabott (J. Brincat), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, I. Ciantar, M. Galea (C. Nwoko), S. Pace, C. Ciantar (L. Lombardi).

Birkirkara: S. Sullivan, MA Bonnici (R. Briffa), L. Galea, R. Sammut, M. Calascione, E. Barbara, M. Galea, JP Mifsud Triganza, J. Holland (G. Gallovich), K. Scicluna, G. Mallia.

Referee: A. Azzopardi. Asst refs: P. Agius, E. Spiteri, 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorer: I. Woods,

Yellow card: A. Muscat.

Player of the match: E. Barbara.

TMI Top 3: 1. I. Woods; 2. M. Akanji; 3. K. Scicluna.