Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, I. Azzopardi, M. Ciantar (J. Vella), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, L. Dronca, I. Ciantar, V. Coto (M. Bartolo), R. Bajada, J. Mintoff (N. Turner)

Birkirkara: O. Borg, T. Cilia, R. Hartvig, I. Sokolov, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, S. Bajada, J. Zerafa (M. Anastasi), J. Holland (K. Mihailov), M. Galea, K. Valkov (J. Mifsud Triganza)

Referee: M. Borg asst.refs: A. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: M. Ciantar

Yellow cards: I. Sokolov, P. Fenech, O. Borg, A. Muscat, J. Chetcuti

Red card: J. Chetcuti

Player of the match: Miguel Ciantar (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Bajada 2. M. Ciantar 3. I. Sokolov

Sliema Wanderers obtained a flat win against third-placed Birkirkara, courtesy of a spectacular second half goal from Miguel Ciantar to move within two points of the Stripes, who are suddenly running out of ideas, goals and points.

With the riving energy of Roderick Bajada and the illusive movement in attack of Miguel Ciantar, Sliema always had the ascendancy.

After their upsetting defeats against Marsaxlokk and Hibernians, which practically put them out of the running, Birkirkara have little tangible to play for, except perhaps for a prestigious final place in the standings. Against the Wanderers, they had Bajada and Hartvig returning after suspension. Dilello and Thomas Paris were dropped to the bench as Valkov was preferred to Mifsud Triganza in attack.

On their part, Sliema made only one change from starting line-up which drew against Floriana the previous week. Ian Azzopardi started the match instead of Turner.

Both teams effected first half substitutions soon after the half hour. Sliema put in Bartolo for Coto and Birkirkara substituted Zerafa with Anastasi.

But that failed to rouse any excitement in a first half devoid of incident, except for a couple of Bajada free kicks before the game was half an hour old.

The first was held out by keeper Borg while the second was flicked by Woods towards Mintoff who hoisted the ball in front of goal.

Birkirkara only showed up with a couple of forays by Valkov, but the striker looked understandably short of optimum sharpness in front of goal.

Things slightly improved in the second half, as Sliema reverted to a more direct approach on resumption. Muscat ran freely through the Birkirkara defence from the middle, with Miguel Ciantar playing the dummy. His shot was saved by keeper Borg.

On the hour, Mifsud Triganza went in for Valkov but a minute later, Sliema scored the all important goal. Bajada sprayed a long ball from the right towards Miguel Ciantar who volleyed beautifully past the helpless keeper with his left foot.

That goal injected more verve in Sliema’s efforts. On 65 minutes, Ciantar, well served by Mintoff, thumped his shot against the foot of the post.

Ten minutes later, the volatile Ciantar went past keeper Borg but his goalbound effort was blocked by Sokolov on the line.

It was only in the last stages that the Sliema defence had to absorb some pressure as Birkirkara searched in vain for an equaliser. But their blunt attack failed to breach Sliema’s defence even after captain Jeffrey Chetcuti was sent off in the dying minutes after his retaliation on Michael Galea earned him a second yellow card.