Sliema W-Valletta 2-2

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, R. Bajada, M. Bartolo (R. Briffa), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, O. Anonam (S. Pace), E. Barbara (C. Ventura)

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Grioli, K. Scicluna, J. Mifsud, S. Bezzina, D. Camilleri, S. Giglio, I. Zammit (G. Agius), H. Backhaus (C. Mattocks), F. Temile, S. Monesterolo (J. Bondin)

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: I. Woods (2) pens, S. Giglio (2)

Yellow cards: S. Giglio, O. Anonam, J. Mifsud

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1.S. Giglio 2. R. Bajada 3. J. Grioli

Leaders Valletta maintained their four-point gap over challengers Sliema Wanderers ?but only just. Yesterday they nearly suffered a damaging setback when trailing their opponents till the last minute. Then Stefan Giglio’s last gasp goal earned them a draw and preserved their unbeaten run.

Sliema showed some assertive enthusiasm, well aware that they had to beat Valletta to keep up their title contention. A win would have reduced the gap on the leaders to merely one point. Two penalty goals by Ivan Woods had twice given them a lead. Twice they were caught up by Giglio’s goals ?one just before the break and the other on the stroke of time.

But this was vastly a tactical game which disappointed the neutrals who wanted to be entertained.

Both sides went into this game in some vein of good form, following wins in their previous outings. Valletta, however left Gilbert Agius on the bench for almost a whole hour, while Sliema did not give a start to Roderick Briffa.

The two teams produced some flowing football in the first half but little in terms of excitement as both blotted each other out, conceding few openings.

Both sides went close with headed efforts. Mifsud’s was deflected into a corner by the Sliema defence on a Giglio free kick for Valletta as Anonam headed Bartolo’s cross wide.

Towards the half hour some hesitancy in the Sliema defence allowed Zammit to play the ball square to the advancing Monesterolo whose curling shot forced keeper Akanji to stretch himself and save.

On the other end Woods lacked co ordination when trying to connect on Barbara’s cross from the byeline on the left.

On 36 minutes Sliema were awarded a penalty when assistant Spiteri judged Temile to have handled the ball inside the area as he tried to cut Said’s cross from the right. That brought harsh protests from the Valletta players before Ivan Woods tucked away the penalty to give the Wanderers the lead.

Valletta’s reaction almost brought an immediate equalizer. Zammit’s header beat Akanji but was chested out by Nisevic.

Deep into two minutes of added time, Sliema conceded a sloppy goal. Said and Muscat both failed to clear the ball on a Grioli throw-in and Stefan Giglio managed to put his foot to the ball as it trickled past Akanji over the goal line to restore equilibrium before halftime.

Valletta seemed to have stepped up a gear after the interval. A Grioli cross shot clipped the bar as they tried to charge through the Sliema defence.

On 59 minutes Gilbert Agius substituted Zammit and exactly on the hour, Sliema were awarded their second penalty, this time for Mifsud’s late tackle on Bajada. Ivan Woods stepped up to score again.

That goal sapped away Valletta’s brittle confidence, hard as they tried to level matters. Agius’s shot on the turn went wide and then Akanji again denied Agius on a Camilleri short free kick.

Eighteen minutes from time, striker Carlos Eduardo Ventura made his Premier League debut for Sliema, going in as a Barbara substitute.

But Valletta kept pressing forward, raking several balls inside the Sliema area and winning a series of corners.

Sliema finally wilted with a minute remaining. Monesterolo sent a low cross inside the area and Stefan Giglio picked the short clearance to stab in the ball from the edge of the area to seal a personal brace and stretch Vallletta’s unbeaten run.