SLIEMA WANDERERS 1 BIRKIRKARA 1

Sliema Wanderers poached a point from Birkirkara this afternoon as Trevor Cilia fired home with time almost up to seal a 1-1 draw.

The early exchanges were balanced but on 10 minutes, Birkirkara would have scored but for a great save from Glenn Zammit who fisted away Eliandro’s point-blank drive into the path of Ledesma but his tame effort from inside the penalty area was cleared off the line by Bianciardi.

This proved to be the prelude to Birkirkara’s goal which came on 19 minutes when Eliandro advanced down the right before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Gareth Sciberras whose lopping cross was headed home by Ledesma.

After a lull in entertaining football, Birkirkara mustered a good move when substitute Edmond Agius rattled the bar with a rising shot.

Ten minutes from time, Ledesma released Agius who raced past Bianciardi but his angled shot hit the woodwork for a second time in the match.

Birkirkara were seemingly on course for victory but Sliema had the last laugh as they equalised on the stroke of time.

A defensive blunder by Edward Herrera enabled Bocar to filter through as he passed the ball to Cilia.

The former Birkirkara midfielder stormed in to arch the ball over the onrushing Haber to the delight of the Sliema clan.