Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, J. Mifsud, S. Bezzina, R. Forace, D. Camilleri, F. Temile, D. Falzon (J. Grioli), S. Monesterolo, H. Backhaus, I. Zammit (K. Magro)

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, I. Azzopardi, B. Said, N. Milovanovic (O. Anonam), R. Bajada, M. Bartolo, A. Madzar (N. Turner), R. Briffa, S. Pace, E. Barbara

Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: B. Said, A. Madzar, S. Monesterolo

Yellow cards: R. Forace, M. Bartolo, D. Falzon, A. Muscat, A. Madzar, S. Monesterolo

Player of the match: Roderick Bajada (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. E. Barbara 2. M. Bartolo 3. R. Bajada

This win puts Sliema Wanderers back at the top, joint leaders with Floriana, but it was also an opportunity for them to regain their form after a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Mqabba last weekend.

Sliema worked hard for their success, also because understrength Valletta still gave them a decent challenge, albeit lacking the required firepower to down a cohesive rearguard, inspired by skipper Brian Said. The citizens thus slumped to their second league defeat.

After a slow and rather cautious start, Sliema recovered their winning form as they helped their way into ascendancy, thanks to a creative and industrious midfield composed of Bajada, Bartolo and Briffa, to cap it all with two second half goals

Valletta had a patched-up look. They were suffering without the presence of the injured Agius and Giglio and the suspended Mattocks in midfield, as defenders Scicluna and Grima sat on the bench. Ian Zammit played in a retreated role, wide on the flank as Valletta introduced the young Nigerian Frank Temile in attack for the first time this season.

Sliema also had also selection problems of their own, had the injured Chetcuti and Woods, as well as defender Ian Ciantar, missing. Madzar and Milovanovic started the match as Murphy Akanji was back in goal after missing his side’s previous match.

Both teams’ recent struggling form might have suggested that this match was never to reach extraordinary heights despite the teams’ proud histories and heavy burden of expectation.

Valletta had slightly the better of the early exchanges, with Falzon’s grounder going wide and Monesterolo’s incursion only interrupted by Said’s timely tackle. Temile’s speed with the ball caused the Sliema rearguard some uncomfortable moments, but never looked in danger of being penetrated. Valletta tried to make the most of the set pieces and midway through the half Zammit hit Falzon’s cross from the left over the Sliema goal.

Displaying more inventiveness than their opponents, the Wanderers started to make a mark on the game by the half hour after winning a series of corners.

Bartolo ran in dangerously from the right flank but his low shot was footed out by keeper Darmanin. Two minutes later, Sliema carved the cleanest chance of the first half. Barbara started the move on the left, playing the ball to Milovanovic who intelligently played it square to the advancing Bajada, whose flick went tantalisingly wide, with Darmanin beaten.

Valletta’s quick response came from Camilleri, who whipped in a dangerous free-kick from the left which keeper Akanji palmed out but Zammit misplaced his shot on the loose ball. Shortly before the break, Barbara rifled a shot over. On the other end Akanji made a plunging save on Monesterolo’s shot, when well served by Backhaus, as the stalemate prevailed at halftime.

Valletta again made the better opening of the second period as Temile rattled his shot on the run against the bar. Sliema’s erratic defensive clearance fell to Monesterolo, whose effort lacked the required power in front of goal and Akanji saved.

On 53 minutes, Sliema broke the deadlock as keeper Darmanin, perhaps hampered by many players in front of him, failed to hold out Brian Said’s low header on Bajada’s corner kick from the right.

Valletta were shell shocked and took some time to settle, by which Sliema went close of doubling their lead. Briffa shot wide and Bajada hit Barbara’s cross but Darmanin saved. Valletta’s keeper also rushed out of his line to thwart Barbara with a plucky save on 64 minutes.

And as Sliema continued to play the better flowing football, with a combination of crisp passing and intelligent running, Valletta’s hopes were pinned on Temile’s bursting deep runs which tormented his opponents.

But it looked as good as over for Valletta eight minutes from time, when they collapsed to concede the second goal from Aleksandar Madzar’s low flick beyond Darmanin’s reach, after good work and cross by Barbrara from the right.

It was scant consolation for Valletta as Sebastian Monesterolo reduced the arrears deep into added time, capitalizing on some lack of concentration in the Sliema defence. But that served little purpose.