Sliema W.                           1              Birkirkara                            0

Sliema W: G. Zammit,  L. Maretinelli, A. Muscat, C. Gatt Baldacchino, P. Barbetti,  M. Scerri, I. Woods (J. Mifsud), S.Ohawuchi (L. Ruggiero), S. Bajada, M. Muchardi, S. Bianciardi

Birkirkara: R, Gauci, E. Herrera (R. Joselito),  Z. Muscat (R. Muscat), J. Zerafa, N. Vukanac, R. Camenzuli (J.P. Mifsud Triganza) , G. Sciberras, A. Mendoza, P. Fenech,  S. Shodiya, Jhonnattan

Referee:  A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs:  W. Debattista, R. Vella

4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: I. Woods 44

Yellow cards: S. Bajada, A. Mendoza, S. Shodiya, M. Scerri, P. Barbetti, S. Bianciardi, I. Woods

Red card: S. Shodiya

Player of the match: M. Muchardi (Sliema W)

TMI top 3:  1. S. Muchardi  2. S. Bajada   3. P. Fenech

For the third time this season, Birkirkara failed to beat Sliema Wanderers. Yesterday they suffered another blow to their title challenge when they were beaten by an Ivan Woods goal on the stroke of halftime and were reduced to ten men for the last 12 minutes. Woods’ all important goal enabled the Wanderers to catch up with the Stripes, now both lying four points adrift of the leading pair Valletta and Hibernians.

Birkirkara looked short of ideas yesterday in a match almost completely devoid of distinction, without any hope of a spectacle, They really struggled to put enough cohesion to down an organised Sliema side and never recovered from the goal conceded.

The Wanderers had Glenn Zammit back in goal and preferred Stanley Ohawuchi in attack instead of Ruggiero. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino also returned to partner Bianciardi in central defence and Luca Martinelli as right back, with Mark Scerri starting in midfield. John Mintoff was suspended while Ian Zammit and Josef Mifsud were exiled to the bench.

Suspensions deprived Birkirkara of goalkeeper Justin Haber and forward Ryan Scicluna. Reuben Gauci played in goal and Joseph Zerafa was given a start as left back. The return of Paul Fenech in midfield meant that there was no place for Mifsud Triganza, with Edward Herrera playing in an advanced wide role on the right to support Shodiya and Jhonnattan.

The match was open, unpredictable but far from gripping. Neither side could establish much control as the teams stifled each other in midfield, with Muchardi, Scerri and Bajada operating well against the likes of Birkirkara trio of Fenech, Camenzuli and Sciberras, showing immense strength and awareness.  Goal scoring opportunities remained much at a premium. The first opening for Birkirkara came after 20 minutes. Sciberras arrived in time on Shodiya’s long ball inside the area but steered his free header harmlessly at keeper Zammit.

Muscat carried Sliema’s threat on 36 minutes as he made inroads on the left, after going past Mendoza, but his shot was well saved by keeper Gauci.

Fenech’s drive from a distance, one minute later, did not trouble keeper Zammit and Bajada’s long range shot, at the other end, missed the target.

Sliema poached a goal with halftime approaching. The Birkirkara defence was caught square on the Sliema keeper’s kick forward. Ivan Woods advanced unhindred, dribbled the keeper and steered the ball into an unattended goal.

Birkirkara made a double substitution at halftime. Rowen Muscat and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza replaced Zach Muscat and Ryan Camenzuli, with Herrera dropping at right back and Shodiya taking a wide role on the right.

They showed more urgency in the second half although ther were signs of frustration as they became too erratic in the final third. Herrera’s cross from the byeline on the right went uncleared and unconverted and on another Jhonnattan cross on 65 minutes, Gatt Baldacchino cleared the ball over the bar into a corner, almost committing an own goal.

The execution of set pieces was not of the highest quality either.

Sliema did not panic and remained composed, threatening with some fast break as Woods and Ohawuchi struggled to go past Mendoza, Muscat and Vukanac.

Birkirkara’s frustration was epitomised when Shodiya, who had been already booked, committed a foul and a second caution brought about his dismissal on 78 minutes.

Each side had a good chance after that.

On 80 minutes, a Bajada cross was flicked by Woods towards substitute Ruggiero, whose shot was blocked by keeper Gauci.

Jhonnattan’s free kick, three minutes later, was tipped by keeper Zammit against the underside of the bar and the Sliema custodian atoned with another save following a goalmouth scramble.

That was before the contest fizzled out.

Yet, Sliema could have inflicted more damage into four minutes of added time. Bajada nutmegged Joselito, advanced on the left but his shot was repelled by keeper Gauci.