Tarxien Rainbows stepped up their chase for a top-six berth when they had the better of rivals Sliema Wanderers 2-1 at the Hibs Stadium.

It was a deserved victory for the Rainbows who worked incessantly throughout to wear down their more quoted opponents and bag three priceless points that lifted them to fourth place in the standings on 21 points.

Tarxien took the lead on 16 minutes when from a Mark Tanti corner-kick, Orosco Anonam dived full-stretch and his firm header came off the upright, ricocheted off the back off goalkeeper Zammit and into the net.

Sliema soon responded and drew level five minutes later from another corner. Miguel Ciantar’s was not cleared by Evaldo and in came Clifford Gatt Baldacchino who fired home with a low drive.

However, it was Tarxien who grabbed the winner on 52 minutes when Daniel Mariano Bueno raced clear on the left before slipping the ball into the path of Mark Tanti who cooly slotted the ball past Glenn Zammit.

Sliema were unlucky not to draw level a minute from time when Luigi Ruggiero’s piledriver came off the crossbar.

Tarxien midfielder Mark Tanti was voted as the BOV Player of the match.