That champions Sliema Wanderers are still a force to be reckoned with in Maltese football was not the only truth conveyed by their 2-0 success over Birkirkara on Saturday. Stefan Giglio's no non-sense movement in the middle of the field and his decisive impact also spewed out further evidence of his importance to the Wanderers team, writes Kevin Azzopardi

What made his contribution all the more impressive was the fact that Saturday's game represented Stefan Giglio's first competitive run-out in two months. This long period of inactivity was caused by a surgical intervention Giglio had in Rome to rectify a nagging cartilage problem last month.

The thought of making his comeback from injury in such a delicate encounter did not faze Giglio whose excellent performances in Sliema's 2003-2004 title-winning campaign saw him being named the Malta FA Footballer of the Year.

"Considering that I had been out for two months, I cannot but be satisfied with my comeback," Giglio told The Times.

"I am also pleased with our performance as a team. Sliema Wanderers definitely rose to the occasion after all the criticism we received of late. A win against Birkirkara had long been overdue after we failed to beat them in any of our four previous meetings this season.

"Every member of our team played an important part in this victory. I would say this was one of Sliema's best showings this season, especially in the way we kept things very tight at the back."

Banking on their experience and tactical nous, the Wanderers strove to crowd their own half in a bid to leave little room for the roving and normally incisive Birkirkara forwards to weave their usual passing patterns.

Giglio was a key figure in Sliema's midfield, tracking back to protect his defence when Birkirkara attacked and spraying clever passes to his eager forwards every time he had possession. The former Valletta and CSKA Sofia stalwart capped his fine outing by scoring Sliema's second goal which drained Birkirkara of their fighting spirit.

Although his performance almost belied the fact that Giglio had been away from a football pitch for two months, he confessed that his plan was to conserve his energy at the start of the match.

"My match fitness is still not 100 per cent," Giglio remarked.

"It's never easy being thrown into the fray for such an important game after spending two months on the sidelines.

"I was aware that I need more competitive action to shed the rustiness caused by the injury but I tried not to overstretch myself... it was a matter of trying to do the simple things good."

The only stain on an otherwise perfect afternoon for Giglio was the yellow card he incurred for a tough challenge on Precious Monye early in the game.

It was his fourth successive caution and will keep him out of Sliema's next fixture against Hibernians on Sunday.

"I was late with that challenge on Monye but I don't think it warranted a yellow card," Giglio said. "It was a normal foul contrary to what some might have suggested after the game.

"My disappointment is that I am ineligible to play against Hibs. It's always frustrating when you are suspended but at the same time, I'm comforted by the knowledge that at Sliema we don't lack strength-in-depth. I'm confident that whoever is chosen to replace me will do a good job."

Giglio also believes that Sliema's conquest of Birkirkara has dealt their title hopes a significant fillip.

"It was a useful win, one that certainly strengthens our chances of making it three titles in a row," Giglio reminisced.

"That said, I don't think that Birkirkara are out of the title race. I'm sure they will come back to challenge for the championship along with Valletta and Hibernians.

"The real business only begins after the teams' points are halved before the start of the Championship Pool. There's still a long way to go and certain results this season have shown that there are no easy games in the top flight."

Giglio believes that Birkirkara's problems in stringing together a positive run of results stem from their injury problems.

"Birkirkara have been hit hard by injuries but once they have all their important players available, they will be a threat to anyone."

Thanks to their win over Birkirkara, Sliema have reclaimed top spot but their gap on Valletta, their nearest pursuers, is of two points.

Valletta... 'title contenders'

Bracketed among the likely Relegation Pool candidates before the start of the season, the Citizens have torn the formbook, becoming one of the first teams to secure a top-six finish, never mind their lofty position in the standings.

"I don't think anyone predicted that Valletta would be atop of the standings in the second round," said Giglio who was born and bred in the capital.

"They are worthy of their high position in the standings because they have been playing consistently well. On the back of their steady performances, I have come to regard Valletta as one of the main contenders for the title.

"The indications point to an interesting race between four teams but I believe that we are better than the rest when we perform to our full potential."

A fully-fit Giglio would definitely raise Sliema's chances of striking top form during the Championship Pool.

"My immediate concern is to regain full fitness and to train and play to the best of my abilities," Giglio stressed.

"Obviously, I'm also looking to help my team to stay on the winning trail in order to fulfil our ambition of a third consecutive Malta title."

Premier League scorers...

Birkirkara: M. Galea 11; Doda 6; Camenzuli 4 (1 pen.); Nwoko 3, Mifsud Triganza 3; Zahra 2, Ciantar 2, Dronca 2 (2 pens); Mallia, Tabone, Monye.

Floriana: Baldacchino 6; Wellman 5; Cilia 3; Micallef 2; Da Silva 2 (2 pens.); I. Ciantar, Bajada.

Hibs: Cohen 10 (7 pens); Scerri 7; Schembri 5; Mbong 2, Chukunyere 2; Baldacchino, Pulis, Pullicino. Own goal - Abdilla (vs Pietà).

Lija: M. Gatt 3, Barry 3; Lanzon 2 (2 pens); Kristo, Azzopardi.

Marsaxlokk: Barbara 4 (1 pen) - now with Birkirkara; Paiber 3 (2 pens), Licari 3; Bogdanovic 2, Carabott 2, Templeman 2, C. Mamo 2, Trendafilov 2, Pace 2; Zammit, Asechemie, Draganov, Magro, Buhagiar.

Msida: Porceddu 8 (4 pens); Nwoke 6; Sammut 3, Zammit 3; Theuma 2; J. Farrugia, Bajada, Micallef.

Pietà: Woods 12 (2 pens.) - now with Sliema; Frendo 7 (1 pen.); Ortas 4; Nisevic 2, Calleja 2; Zahra, Okoh, G. Sciberras. Own goal - Gauci (vs St Patrick).

Sliema: Doncic 8 (2 pens); Giglio 5; Mattocks 3; Anonam 2, Said 2; Turner (1 pen), Debono, Mangion, Woods. Own goals - Giua (vs Msida); Theuma (vs Msida); S. Pace (vs Valletta); Baldacchino (vs Hibs).

St Patrick: Tanti 4; Caruana 3; Anizoba 2; C. Failla - now with Hibs, Dozie, Fenech, Pullicino.

Valletta: Grima 9 (5 pens); Agius 8; Zammit 5, Galea 5; Vucasinovic 3, Camilleri 3; Marx, Forace, Fenech, Penchev.

Fixtures...

Saturday - (Tedesco Stadium)
1 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs St Patrick
3 p.m. Msida SJ vs Floriana

Sunday - (National Stadium)
2 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs
4 p.m. Valletta vs Birkirkara

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Sliema W.	15	11	2	2	28	12	35
Valletta	15	10	3	2	37	22	33
Hibernians	15	8	5	2	30	20	29
Birkirkara	15	7	4	4	36	22	25
Floriana	16	6	5	5	20	20	23
Marsaxlokk	16	5	5	6	27	21	20
Pietà Hotspurs	16	5	4	7	31	26	19
Msida St Joseph	16	4	5	7	25	31	17
St Patrick	16	2	2	12	13	39	8
Lija Athletic	16	2	1	13	10	44	7