Tarxien Rainbows 0
Sliema Wanderers 2
Dronca 23; Alcorse 46
Sliema Wanderers ended a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows to draw level on points with third-placed Qormi.
Lucien Dronca put the Wanderers ahead on 23 minutes when he took advantage of keeper David Cassar's error. Tarxien rallied but could not make their pressure count and fell two goals behind within a few seconds from restart.
Many in football found it hard to believe, but Sliema coach Mark Marlow was going into the Tarxien match under pressure - or so we were led to believe.
Two consecutive defeats had left the Blues clan disappointed after seeing their team suffering a shock exit from the Anniversary Cup before falling to a 2-1 upset to Birkirkara.
Coming out of the dressing rooms at Corradino, Marlow looked a picture of calm - his mood perhaps boosted by the fact that hot-shot Denni was missing from the Rainbows' line-up.
The Wanderers had taken a patient and calm approach to the match, gradually raising the tempo before taking the lead.
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was having plenty of space down the right flank, and after weaving between two defenders, he pulled the ball back for Clayton Failla whose shot was palmed away by David Cassar after 10 minutes.
Twice in three minutes, Failla hit left-foot piledrivers from 20 metres, the first forcing Cassar to tip over and the second flying inches over the bar.
Tarxien slowly began to gather themselves and gave Sliema a scare on 17 minutes when Luke Vella Critien outpaced Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and cleverly played in Anderson Ribeiro down the right but the Brazilian somehow slipped on the ball.
On the other side, a piercing Mifsud Triganza found Ian Azzopardi on the left flank, whose acute-angled strike was tipped over by Cassar.
The Wanderers' early dominance perhaps warranted a goal and they got their reward on 23 minutes. Ryan Fenech concluded with a heavy touch that caught Cassar unprepared as the keeper inexplicably let the ball slip and the rearguard allowed Dronca time and space to drill the ball home at the near post.
Tarxien's response was positive but when David Camilleri swung in a free-kick to the far post Manuel Caruana headed out.
Noel Coleiro's hopes of a fast start to the second half were dashed within seconds of the restart as Sliema swept forward instantly to double their lead.
Argentine Julio Alcorse got the ball rolling with a clinical finish after good work from Ivan Woods as he doubled the lead within 15 seconds of the referee's whistle.
The Rainbows made a double substitution after 53 minutes, with Steve Sadowski and Andrew Decesare making way for Kurt Magro and Gianluca Calabretta.
Anderson Ribeiro, meanwhile, was having a miserable afternoon, starved of any meaningful service and unable to make the slightest impact on events.
But if the move was designed to revive Tarxien it failed even though they did occasionally string a move together that ensured the Sliema defence was not completely redundant. Ryan Grech, the other Rainbows substitute, missed a good chance to reduce the deficit when Camilleri's corner set him free in the box only for the midfielder to head wide.
However, there were only brief forays into the Sliema half and at the other end Failla narrowly failed to connect with a cross into the box by Woods after 72 minutes.
Woods then created another chance after a superb solo run from the Malta midfielder. He picked up the ball in his own half, sprinted away from three opponents but his shot lacked conviction.
Ribeiro had an ideal opportunity to save some pride for Tarxien but a superb Simon Agius save denied the striker on 82 minutes.
Tarxien Rainbows: D. Cassar-5, S. Sadowski-5 ('53 K. Magro-5.5), D. Camilleri-6.5, E. Pereira-6, A. Ribeiro-5, L. Vella Critien-6.5, M. Tanti-6 ('66 R. Grech-5.5), A. Decesare-6 ('53 G. Calabretta-5), M. Caruana-6, J.Grioli-6, R. Mintoff-6.
Sliema Wanderers: S. Agius-6.5, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Fenech-6.5, J. Mifsud Triganza-6.5 ('57 M. Scerri-5), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, I. Woods-8, L. Dronca-6.5, P. Calcado-6 ('90 A. Mercieca), C. Failla-7, J. Alcorse-7 ('88 N. Turner).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Gatt Baldacchino, Pedrinho, Fenech, Vella Critien, Grioli.
BoV player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema Wanderers).