Ħamrun Spartans 0
Sliema Wanderers 2
Woods 61 pen, Bajada 90
Sliema Wanderers gave another strong indication of their fighting qualities yesterday when they staved off the challenge of Ħamrun Spartans despite having to play for more than an hour with a player less.
After their spirited showing in the 1-1 draw against Valletta last Monday, the Wanderers again displayed nerves of steel as they sustained the Spartans' pressure after having Serbian forward Kosta Bjodev sent off on 33 minutes before applying the killer touch through an Ivan Woods penalty midway through the second half and a Roderick Bajada goal in stoppage time.
It was a merited win for the Wanderers who despite failing to set any houses on fire, were the more incisive team, defending wisely throughout and hitting when their opponents seemed to take control .
Although Sliema are not ranked among the leading candidates for the title, on this kind of form they will certainly play the role of dark horses in the championship race.
Coach Stephen Azzopardi effected one change from the Sliema team that drew with champions Valletta last Monday as the injured Noel Turner was replaced by Branko Nisevic. New signing Daniel Sederino, an Australian midfielder, started on the bench.
Ħamrun coach Marco Gerada had to do without striker Gaetan Spiteri with Aaron Attard being roped in to take the right-wing position as Manolito Micallef was pushed to midfield with Steven Meilaq filling the striker's role vacated by Spiteri.
The match was evenly balanced early on but it was the Wanderers who came closest in the opening 15 minutes with two shots from the distance coming from Woods and Bjodev that both missed the target.
The Spartans protested for a penalty on 15 minutes when Ronaldo Ortega lost balance following a challenge by Jeffrey Chetcuti when on the point of shooting but the referee instead punished the Brazilian with a yellow card.
On 24 minutes Ortega's cross was nodded by Meilaq into the path of Micallef but the former Floriana midfielder dallied to conclude before firing wide.
Just past the half hour the Spartans almost scored an opener when they were awarded a free-kick on the right. Ryan Fenech's delivery was met by Zoran Levniac whose header was brilliantly saved by Henry Bonello, the Sliema keeper.
The Wanderers suffered a blow on 33 minutes when they had Bjedov dismissed after he was booked for the second time for dissent.
Five minutes from the interval, Bartolo's pin-pointed cross picked Woods in the area and the Malta forward headed just wide. At the other end, Micallef put Ortega in an inviting position but the latter's shot failed to trouble Bonello.
On the restart, Azzopardi withdrew Julian Vella and introduced Bajada as he looked to add more steel to his team's cover set-up.
Sliema almost struck five minutes into the second half when from a Bajada corner, goalkeeper Sean Sullivan misjudged his sortie and Ian Azzopardi's header was cleared off the line by Mangion.
On 57 minutes a good move from the Spartans ended with the hard-working Levniac heading just over.
Then, just past the hour, Sliema were awarded a penalty when Bartolo's steaming run in the area was illegally halted by Mark Anthony Bonnici. Woods stepped up for the spot-kick and duly converted to put Sliema 1-0 up.
On 67 minutes Gerada withdrew the ineffective Meilak and Azzopardi introduced Sederino in lieu of Alex Muscat. The Spartans were finding the going tough to carve scoring opportunities as the lack of a proven goal-scorer was leaving a negative effect on the team.
Luck was not helping Ħamrun's cause either as on 72 minutes Ortega's powerful drive came off the upright with Bonello beaten.
However, it was brave Sliema who sealed the win in time added on when Briffa set up Bajada who fired a low drive past Sullivan.
Ħamrun Spartans
S. Sullivan-6, M.A. Bonnici-5.5, Z. Levniac-7, A. Attard-6 ('86 J. Debattista), R. Ortega-6, S. Meilak-5 ('67 D. Cucciardi-5), R. Fenech-5, R. Mangion-5.5, N. Galea-6 ('75 S. Sultana), A. Noronha-6, M. Micallef-5.
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6.5 ('67 D. Sederino-6), I. Azzopardi-6, B. Nisevic-6.5, K. Bjodev-, M. Bartolo-7.5 ('86 C. Gatt Baldacchino), J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-6.5, I. Ciantar-6, J. Vella-5 ('46 R. Bajada-6.5), R. Briffa-6.5.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Mangion, Ortega,Briffa, Bajada, Bonnici.
Red card: Bjodev (S) 33.
BoV Player of the match: Matthew Bartolo (Sliema Wanderers).