Floriana: R. Gauci, M. Caruana, C. Ciantar (M. Micallef), T. Cilia, R. Gango-Rtsa, K. Formosa, J. Schembri Craig, S. Wellman, A. Evi Parker (N. Baldacchino), R. Darmanin, M. Gauci (J. Borg).
Birkirkara: S. Darmanin, M. A. Bonnici, L. Galea, R. Sammut (M. Anastasi), G. Mallia, H. Doda (K. Scicluna), C. Nwoko, L. Dronca, J. P. Mifsud Triganza (T. Paris), E. Barbara, A. Ciantar.
Referee: C. Lautier Asst. refs: K. Borg, J. Camilleri 4th official: A. Zammit
Scorers: C. Nwoko, l. Dronca (pen)
Yellow cards: R. Gauci, L. Galea
Player of match: S. Wellman (Floriana)
TMI top three: 1. S. Wellman 2. J. Schembri Craig 3. S. Darmanin
Floriana were still left seeking their first win in the Championship Pool yesterday, on an afternoon of messy football, misplaced passes and too much predictability.
There were, to be fair, moments when they might have conjured that elusive win against the lethargic Birkirkara. Stephen Wellman did voluminous work in midfield, serving as a link between his defence and attack, but his openings, runs and crosses found little support in an anaemic Floriana attack.
Birkirkara were not much better. After a dismal first half, lacking ideas and cohesion, they slightly improved after the change of ends and finally managed to crack down Floriana's stubborn rearguard with two late goals, one from a penalty. This scrappy win keeps them firmly in third place.
Floriana showed four changes from their last match against Sliema. Their defence was severely handicapped by key absences of their two suspended defenders Briffa and Azzopardi. Baldacchino and Micallef were both relegated to the bench as the returning Wellman resumed duty and Formosa, Darmanin and Gauci all earned a start.
Floriana also suffered without the presence of the still injured Da Silva and Brincat in midfield.
Birkirkara, on their part, had Camenzuli missing through suspension and Michael Galea and Roderick Briffa still out through injury.
But these were no excuses for the drudgery of a barren first half which clearly depicted the miserable state of local football these days.
Birkirkara lacked motivation as Floriana did more of the running, albeit in chaotic fashion.
Towards the quarter hour, Schembri Craig powered a shot from 25 metres out which keeper Darmanin did well to tip over the bar into a corner. Eviparker tested Darmanin again with another diagonal shot and Wellman shot out from near the byeline.
On 20 minutes Formosa's cross from the right was missed by Mallia but Wellman lofted his effort.
Floriana's goal did not come under any meaningful threat for a whole 35 minutes. Then a Ciantar insidious free-kick from the right was capably handled by keeper Gauci.
The Stripes' pathetic approach was unbearable for their disgruntling fans by half-time.
Things hinted to a brighter start to the second half as Birkirkara immediately went close with a Mifsud Triganza effort saved on the line by Ciantar and Doda's shot on the loose ball was blocked into a corner as the Floriana rearguard survived some anxious moments.
On the other end, Wellman galloped on the left flank, crossed low for Eviparker whose shot was palmed out by the alert Darmanin.
But soon the match fell back to its former mediocre levels, with some patchy football of the poorest quality.
Baldacchino and Micallef went in as substitutes as Floriana tried to add some impetus, but Birkirkara went closer on 73 minutes. Mifsud Triganza managed to put a foot to Galea's rasping shot from the left but keeper Gauci saved superbly into a corner.
Darmanin also needed to stretch himself to hold out Micallef's shot soon afterwards.
The match burst into life with two Birkirkara goals in the final eight minutes. The first, on 82 minutes, was engineered by Barbara who ran in on the right. His shot was partially blocked by Gauci and the post but Chucks Nwoko was close to tap in the rebound.
Five minutes later, substitute Anastasi earned his side a penalty when floored by the Floriana keeper who was booked. Lucien Dronca converted from the spot to give Birkirkara a hard-earned three points in a dour affair.