Cilia's brace keeps Stripes on title track

Sliema Wanderers 0
Birkirkara 3
Vukanac 15; Cilia 51, 60

Seven points clear, nine to go. Birkirkara embellished their status as title favourites last night after swatting aside the challenge of Sliema Wanderers to tighten their grip on top spot.

With the season at it most crucial stage, yesterday's clash with the erstwhile stuttering Sliema was preceded by talk that this could be a banana skin in-waiting for the Stripes as the Blues were desperate to snap a two-match losing streak.

Valletta were certainly hoping for a favour from the Blues but their prayers fell on deaf ears as Birkirkara drew on their extraordinary team spirit and their ability to hurt opponents with their devastating forward thrusts to ease to a 3-0 victory.

Thanks to their emphatic dismissal of Sliema, Birkirkara have moved to within three victories from the Premier League title, in the process turning up the heat on the Citizens ahead of their encounter with Tarxien this afternoon.

Birkirkara's redoubtable showing also went some way towards rewarding their vociferous fans who braved the biting cold to will their players on throughout yesterday's match which was over as a contest by the hour mark.

Sylvano Comvalius returned to Birkirkara's starting XI after a hamstring strain forced him to miss the 3-1 defeat to Valletta in the FA Trophy quarter-finals. Coach Paul Zammit also awarded a first-team recall to left-back Carlo Mamo but young midfielder Rowen Muscat was only conspicuous by his absence after falling sick before the match.

With Alan Tabone serving a one-match ban, the onus of partnering Paul Fenech and Shaun Bajada in midfield fell to veteran George Mallia.

Sliema's meek capitulation to Qormi, in the league, and Ħamrun Spartans, in the FA Trophy, induced coach Mark Marlow to ring the changes for this match. The young coach named an all-Maltese line-up as Romanian defender Lucian Dronca and Julio Alcorse were demoted to the bench while Brazilian midfielder Pedrinho was forced out by a one-match ban.

Eight minutes of the game had elapsed when the Blues threatened to break the deadlock. Clayton Failla's outswinging right-wing corner soared above Jorge Mora and into the path of Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza whose tame flick from close range was stopped by Fenech before Mora saved.

Undeterred, Birkirkara began to venture into Sliema's half more frequently. The Stripes' escalating momentum procured two corners as the Blues were having trouble keeping their opponents away from their penalty box. Mallia's cross from Birkirkara's second corner was met with a firm near-post header by Nikola Vukanac that beat Simon Agius hands down. One-nil to the Stripes after 15 minutes.

Birkirkara's pacey threat on the counter was evident again on 17 minutes when a long ball from midfield inviting Trevor Cilia to run at the dawdling Sliema defenders but the winger's strong drive flashed wide of the near post.

As the first half gained momentum, Sliema started to show signs of improvement. On 28 minutes, Mifsud Triganza laid the ball to Fenech who let fly a rising drive from outside the area but the ball sailed over.

At the other end, Agius kept Sliema's heads above water when tipping Comvalius's free-kick over the bar. Bajada's sweetly-struck cross-shot from the corner eluded friend and foe as the ball swirled tantalisingly towards the far post but, much to Sliema's relief, ended wide.

The action continued to oscillate from one end of the pitch to the other. Nine minutes from half-time, Sliema should have levelled when Fenech released right-back Alex Muscat who advanced unimpeded only to shoot straight at Mora.

On the cusp of half-time, Birkirkara came close to increasing their advantage when Comvalius charged clear down the inside-left channel but his overhit pass was too long for Cilia.

Birkirkara made a significant step towards victory when, six minutes into the second half, they moved 2-0 up.

There seemed little danger for Sliema when a long ball landed at the feet of Josef Mifsud but the defender made a mess of controlling the ball and Cilia duly profited. The Birkirkara speedster's first attempt was repelled by Agius but the ball ricocheted off Cilia and sailed into the net.

Sliema might have reduced the deficit shortly after but Gatt Baldacchino's header from Fenech's set-piece cross was deflected away for a corner.

Scoring chances were now coming thick and fast. The Stripes should have sealed the game when Agius fumbled Cilia's cross-shot but Galea's follow-on shot crashed against the bar.

Sliema let out a sigh of relief but theirs was a temporary reprieve for Birkirkara tripled their lead on the hour. Another speedy incursion by Birkirkara exposed Sliema's defensive frailties as Mallia bore down on goal through the middle. Mallia's shot drew a brave save from Agius, Galea's subsequent effort was warded off by the Sliema defenders only for Cilia to drive the loose ball into the untenanted net.

Birkirkara's third goal further blemished Sliema's flagging spirits. Marlow's floundering troops could not summon enough energy and courage to make a reaction.

With 16 minutes remaining, the excellent Mora prevented Sliema from reducing the deficit when fisting away Ian Azzopardi's venomous free-kick.

Julio Alcorse should have given his side a glimmer of hope when Woods put him clear but the Argentine blasted wide.

Sliema Wanderers: S. Agius-5, A. Muscat-5.5 ('86 A. Mercieca), I. Azzopardi-5, J. Mifsud-6, R. Fenech-5, M. Scerri-5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, I. Woods-6, J. Mintoff-5 ('57 I. Ciantar-5), C. Failla-6 ('52 J. Alcorse-5).

Birkirkara: J. Mora-8, T. Cilia-8, N. Vukanac-7, B. Nisevic-6.5, P. Fenech-6.5, G. Mallia-6 ('62 J. Zeraf-6), A. Buhagiar-6 ('87 T. Paris), C. Mamo-7, S. Bajada-6, M. Galea-6.5 ('71 K. Pulo), S. Comvalius-6.5.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Gatt Baldacchino; Mintoff; Mamo; Bajada; Fenech.

BOV player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara).