Sliema Wanderers 4
Woods 25; Pedrinho 59; Dronca 85 pen.; Alcorse 90+4
Tarxien Rainbows 2
Gatt Baldacchino 10 og; Denni 90+2

Sliema and Tarxien came into their second round meeting high on confidence after both emerged victorious from their last outings.

With a clutch of teams battling hard for a slot in the Championship Pool, this all-blue clash assumed greater significance as reflected by the two teams' endeavours in what turned out to be a compelling match.

Having fallen behind through a freak own goal, Sliema showed cool heads and clinical finishing as they recovered from that early setback to gun down the plucky Tarxien who, to their credit, stuck to their positive approach even after David Camilleri was expelled on 63 minutes.

Stephen Azzopardi's decision to select the same team that started the 3-1 win over Valletta meant that newly-signed Argentine striker Julio Alcorse was among the substitutes.

Tarxien's new recruit Justin Grioli, plucked on loan from Valletta, also started on the bench.

The Rainbows found themselves 1-0 up in bizarre circumstances when Sliema defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino's overhit backpass whistled past the startled Simon Agius.

Within a minute of Gatt Baldacchino's own goal, Sliema threatened to level matters when Woods slipped a through-ball to Alex Muscat whose rising shot cannoned off the bar.

The unrelenting rain made conditions awkward for both teams for much of the opening 20 minutes.

The exchanges were balanced but Sliema drove forward with more zest. The scoreboard marked 25 minutes when Josef Mifsud swung in a measured cross from the right and Woods headed home.

Sliema almost nosed ahead when Pedrinho's corner from the left dropped at the feet of Ian Azzopardi but the latter's scrambled effort was cleared away by Andrew Decesare.

However, Sliema continued to look somewhat susceptible at the back. On one occasion, Tarxien captain Manuel Caruana pounced on a mishit clearance but his looping shot was pawed away by Agius.

Sliema were quick to break on the counter as Woods supplied Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who drove wide.

Another sweeping attacking move followed but this time it was the Tarxien forwards who used their speed and agility to unhinge the Sliema defence.

Gianluca Calabretta directed a pass to Ribeiro who jinked his way through. Having drifted wide of the near post, Ribeiro centred for Denni who just managed to make contact with the ball but his effort ended wide.

Tarxien's Brazilian forwards combined again three minutes into the second half as Denni squared to Ribeiro whose low strike was blocked by Agius.

Sliema midfielder Scerri made way for Clayton Failla early in the second half and 12 minutes after the change of ends, Grioli came on for the ineffective Calabretta.

Close to the hour mark, Sliema took the lead. A prolonged raid put the Tarxien defence under pressure as Mifsud Triganza burst clear on the left and dragged a low cross into the goalmouth. Lee Galea appeared to wrestle Woods to the ground but the ball reached the unmarked Pedrinho who rifled home.

Tarxien's task was further compounded when Camilleri received a straight red card for a late tackle on Pedrinho.

The Rainbows had the ball in the net when Ribeiro climbed above his markers to meet Grioli's free-kick but the 'goal' was chalked off after referee Borg spotted a foul in the box.

With 18 minutes left, Alcorse came on for Pedrinho.

Everton's thunderbolt from a free-kick soared tantalisingly towards goal but Agius tipped the ball over the bar.

At the other end, Alcorse fired wide but in their next move, Tarxien almost made it 2-2. Steve Sadowski made a strong dash on the left and produced an excellent cross that was met with a firm header from Ribeiro. Agius, however, was equal to the task.

Five minutes from time, Sliema scored again. They were awarded a penalty when Grioli impeded Mifsud Triganza from advancing inside the box. Lucian Dronca despatched a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

In stoppage time, Denni, one of the best players on the field, handed Tarxien a lifeline when scoring with a powerful drive but in next to no time, Sliema restored their two-goal lead.

Alcorse marked his debut with a goal as he curled the ball past Curmi after receiving from man-of-the-match Mifsud Triganza.

Sliema Wanderers:S. Agius-7, A. Muscat-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, R. Fenech-6, M. Scerri-6 ('54 C. Failla-6), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, I. Woods-6.5 ('80 N. Turner), L. Dronca-6, Pedrinho-7 ('72 J. Alcorse).

Tarxien Rainbows:A. Curmi-5, M. Caruana-7, D. Camilleri, G. Calabretta-5 ('57 J. Grioli-5), Everton-6, Ribeiro-6, M. Tanti-5, A. Decesare-5 ('46 S. Sadowski-6), L. Vella Critien-6 ('82 K. Magro), Denni-7.5, L. Galea-6.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Mifsud; Ribeiro; Calabretta; Scerri; Grioli; Fenech; Alcorse.

Red card: Camilleri (T) 63.

BoV player of the match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Sliema).