Sliema Wanderers were held in a second successive draw as they could not go beyond a 1-1 draw with Valletta at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Saturday.
The Wanderers, therefore, extended their unbeaten run to eight matches to fall five points behind Floriana and Hamrun while their lead over Marsaxlokk is trimmed to five points. Valletta, on the other hand, join Balzan in eighth place, three behind Hibernians, Birkirkara and Naxxar Lions.
Following a goalless first half, the Blues took the lead ten minutes in the second half when Geoffrey Acheampong released Samuel Gomes da Mata on the right and the latter anticipated Guarnone, placing the ball at the back of the net.
However on the 68th minute, Valletta levelled matters when a shot by Shaun Dimech from the left was deflected by Jean Borg past goalkeeper Rashed Al Tumi for an own goal.
