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

Msida SJ: O. Borg, S. Vella, S. Grima, J. Mifsud, T. Farrugia, D. Cachia (L.Micallef), P. Fenech, S. Bajada, A. Farrugia (M.Ellul), O. Zongo, D. Nwoke

Referee: M. Borg, Asst Refs: I.Spiteri, M. Debono, 4th Official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: I. Woods (2), A. Madzar

Yellow cards: J. Chetcuti, D. Nwoke

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

Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways yesterday when the crushed their second placed opponents, Msida St Joseph by three goals to nil. The goals came courtesy of a brace from Ivan Woods and Aleksander Madzar with Woods also missing a penalty for the Wanderers.

In this last match of the second round, both Sliema Wanderers and Msida were looking for a victory to cut away Marsaxlokk’s lead at the top. Sliema were hoping that their new acquisition Madzar would be more effective than he was against Marsaxlokk whilst Msida were looking for a similarly fine display as the one against Hibernians.

The Blues got off to a flying start after just one minute forging ahead through a fine goal by Ivan Woods after receiving from Bajada on the left.

Msida appeared rather shocked by this early goal and had some difficulty reacting although they had a penalty appeal waved away on nine minutes after a fall by Nwoke in the box following some muscling off the ball by Chetcuti.

Msida attempted to get back into the match with shots by Shaun Bajada and Fenech on 10 and 12 minutes respectively but the Blues’ defence was holding quite firm. The rest of the half was pretty borish as both Msida and Sliema did not seem to be taking too much risks and with most of the game being fought out in midfield.

Sliema managed to double the score on 43 minutes to provide themselves with an ideal cushion. A fine free-kick from Ciantar was missed by the Msida defenders with the ball falling to new acquisition Madzar who chested the ball and pipped past Borg who was given no chance. Seconds before half time, Shaun Bajada had a beautiful shot that was well saved by Akanji with the resulting corner from Zongo ending up in goal although the action had already been disallowed.

Msida came out strongly in the second half to get a goal back with Zongo coming close on 54 minutes with a fine shot.

However Sliema wrapped it all up from a counter two minutes later with Ivan Woods coolly slotting past the hapless Borg for his brace and the Blues' third of the match. That was curtains for Msida.

Sliema could have gone further ahead on 75 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Bajda's shot had struck the post and the lanky forward was fouled in the box.

However Woods missed the chance of a hat trick as Borg saved his low effort. The Blues had further opportunities to increase the score in the final minutes but could not find the killing toch.

However the match had long been won and lost with Sliema and Msida both starting on 17 points, six points behind Marsaxlokk in the Championship Pool.