Just hours after orchestrating Sliema Wanderers' 4-1 victory over Marsaxlokk with two clinical goals, Aleksandar Madzar warned the leaders that the Blues are still very much alive and kicking in so far as their title chances are concerned.

With five matches before the end of the 2006-2007 Premier League campaign, Marsaxlokk are still the hot favourites to become Malta champions as they lead Sliema by six points at the top of the standings.

Although Sliema know that their title chances are remote, their optimism has increased after they inflicted Marsaxlokk's first defeat in 22 matches.

Madzar may be a relative newcomer to our football after joining Sliema during the January transfer window but the Montenegro forward has seen enough in the last two-and-a-half months to conclude that his team can challenge Marsaxlokk for the title.

"I still believe we can do it," Mad-zar told The Times.

"We have narrowed the gap to six points and our final league match is against Marsaxlokk. For me, the title race is not over yet.

"I don't know if my team-mates think the same but I'm the type of person who never gives up. If Marsaxlokk lose one of their next games and we maintain our winning run, then anything can happen."

That of Sunday was Sliema's first win over Marsaxlokk this season after the southerners had prevailed on the two other occasions they had met in the league.

Madzar hailed the motivational skills of coach Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia as the key to their victory.

"In my career, I've never met a better motivator than Ray Farrugia," the 28-year-old Madzar commented.

"During half-time, his passionate talk spurred us to greater efforts.

"Even if we're three goals down at half-time, the way the coach addresses the players would make us believe that we could fight back and win the game.

"There's also a great team spirit among the Sliema players. Tactically, we were also very organised on Sunday but, honestly, I believe that the coach made the difference.

"When I first came to Malta, I was told that Sliema weren't doing well before Farrugia took over. Now we're second and still fighting for the league. I think that tells everything about the character of the Sliema players and the positive impact the coach has had on the team."

The 4-1 scoreline leaves no doubt as to the legitimacy of Sliema's victory but after the game, many wondered whether the outcome would have been the same had Marsaxlokk not lost striker Andrè Schembri to a red card in the dying moments of the first half.

Madzar reckoned the red-card episode did have an effect on the pattern of the game but he is convinced that Sliema would still have won the game even if Marsaxlokk stayed with 11 players.

"Having a player sent off just before the end of the first half was a setback for Marsaxlokk but I think we would still have beaten them with 11 players," Madzar said.

"As for the red card, the Marsaxlokk player made a mistake because in football, you just can't speak to the referee the way he did."

Farrugia's bold decision to replace Czech midfielder Zdenek Svoboda with Madzar in January was seen as a gamble by many but the experienced striker is surely repaying the coach's faith, scoring seven goals in eight league games.

"I'm very happy to have joined Sliema," Madzar said. "As for my performance level so far, I'm satisfied with what I've done but I feel I'm improving with every game.

"I am always looking to do better and I believe there is more to come from me. The Marsaxlokk victory belongs to the past now. I'm already thinking about our cup quarter-final against Birkirkara next weekend."

Losing for the first time since August will surely have left all in the Marsaxlokk clan with a bitter taste but Gareth Sciberras is not too downcast.

That is not to say that the dynamic Marsaxlokk midfielder is not disappointed about his team's defeat but, having been through so much personal hardship following the death of his parents in the space of a few weeks, he prefers to keep things in perspective.

"You cannot be happy when your team loses but I honestly think that this defeat will galvanise Marsa-xlokk," Sciberras told The Times.

"This result is a reminder that we must stay focused and committed to reach our goal. It's not like the world has collapsed just because we lost once in 22 games.

"People were saying that Marsa-xlokk had already won the league title before Sunday but that's not the case.

"Before mathematics dictate that we can't be overhauled, we cannot relax and take things for granted. Every game is a challenge and all the other clubs in the top six are fighting to reach their objectives.

"On the positive side, we're still six points clear at the top with only five matches to go. Our sights are now set on winning the next game against Hibs."

Turning points

For Sciberras, the red card to Schembri on the brink of half-time was one of two turning points.

"The red card was a blow for us," Sciberras commented. "Before Schembri was sent off, we were pressing hard for an equaliser. Sliema didn't create a single scoring chance after their opening goal.

"For most of the first half, we played the better football but conceding a second goal so early in the second half left us with a mountain to climb.

"Despite being down to ten men, we still tried to attack, even when we were losing 4-1.

"In the second half, we put some pressure on Sliema who chose to operate with counter-attacks but it was difficult for us to limit their forward moves because they continued to play with two strikers."

The sight of Sciberras jogging out of the tunnel with the rest of his team-mates on Sunday went down well with one and sundry after the former Malta U-21 captain had ruled himself out of Malta's qualifier against Greece following the death of his father the Sunday before last.

"Football has always been a release for me," Sciberras said.

"When I'm on the pitch, be it in training or during a game, I try to put personal matters to one side and concentrate on what I'm doing.

"March has been a very difficult month for me as I lost both my parents in a matter of weeks.

"Last weekend, I was relieved to get out on the pitch and play... I was just looking to get on with life, that's my character.

"I guess my parents are guiding me from up there. I take this opportunity to thank all those people who expressed their solidarity with my family during this difficult time."