Birkirkara-Sliema W 1-1

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski, M. A. Bonnici (J. Zerafa), P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara (G. Marinov), M. Galea, R. Briffa, C. Micallef, K. Scicluna, G. Mallia, A. Ciantar

Sliema W: M. Akanji, M. Dilello, B. Said, L. Lombardi, D. Carabott, S. Pace, R. Bajada, C. Mattocks (A. Muscat), S. Giglio, I. Woods, A. Madzar (C. Nwoko)

Referee: A. M. Sant Asst. refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: A. Ciantar, R. Bajada

Yellow cards: M. Dilello, A. Ciantar, K. Scicluna, S. Giglio

Red card: K. Scicluna

Player of the match: Rodrick Bajada (Sliema Wanderers)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada, 2. G. Mallia, 3. C. Micallef

Courtesy of a one-all draw between Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk were crowned champions yesterday, 24 hours before they kick-off their match against Msida SJ this afternoon, three matches before the end of the championship.

Their seven point lead over Sliema Wanderers this morning is unassailable.

Main rivals Sliema dropped more points in the chase and their fading hopes of catching up with the leaders evaporated in thin air yesterday after a second consecutive draw.

Some consolation for the Wanderers is their stranglehold on second place as they mathematically need only one more point to consolidate the runners-up spot.

Suspensions deprived Birkirkara of Roderick Sammut and Sliema of Jeffrey Chetcuti. Both coaches were forced to make some tactical changes to their sides as Monye played in the heart of the Birkirkara defence, alongside Scicluna and Pace played in front of the Sliema defence, with Carabott starting the match as right back.

Birkirkara enjoyed their best spell during the first quarter hour. Barbara and Michael Galea combined well to cause the Sliema rearguard some anxious moments.

With hardly seven minutes on the clock, they were one up when Adrian Ciantar left keeper Akanji rooted to his line with a well directed free-kick from outside the penalty area.

Buoyed by that advantage, Bonnici set Mallia on the left, with a cross towards Barbara who balooned the ball in front of goal.

After a Madzar direct free-kick from the right clipped the bar, Ciantar hit Barbara’s cross from right first time but Akanji was equal to task, tipping the ball superbly over the bar for a corner.

Sliema gradually tried to claw their way into the game, but despite some neat footwork by Bajada, Woods and Giglio, they could not penetrate Birkirkara’s blanket defence. Their option to shoot from a distance did not yield much. Lombardi and Madzar were also erratic in their conclusions.

But the Wanderers battled gamely enough and kept their opponents pinned inside their own half. Sliema’s football was good to watch, but failed to produce a telling finish and Birkirkara were still enjoying their lead by halftime.

Sliema stepped up a gear after the break, substituting Mattocks with Muscat, who made his comeback after a long lay-off.

They carved a good chance within three minutes when Woods played the ball for Madzar who tried to lob over the onrushing Bledzewski but the Birkirkara keeper did well to reach for the ball.

But there was no denying Roderick Bajada on 50 minutes as he unleashed a powerful drive from some 25 metres out that completely surprised Bledzewski to restore equilibrium. The goal injected enthusiasm into the Sliema side, looking more composed and full of flair.

But Birkirkara defended stoutly, allowing few openings for Sliema’s forwards to exploit. Sliema brought in Nwoko for the innocuous Madzar with a quarter of an hour remaining as the match remained anybody’s for the taking.

Birkirkara were reduced to ten men for the last ten minutes when defender Scicluna was sent off for a second bookable offence when trying to halt one of Sliema’s fast breaks.

The Stripes had to weather a late onslaught but could have won the match themselves when Galea controlled Micallef’s cross, only for Akanji to save his effort. At the end the stalemate prevailed.