Birkirkara 2
St Andrews 0
Birkirkara: K. Naumovski, M. Vella (T. De Souza 75), L. Montebello (A. Alsherooqi 83), J. Bezzina, K. Zammit, E. Ferreira, N. Vukanac, M. Mifsud, C. Attard, T. Agius, M. De Siqueira (C. Failla 77)
St Andrews: E. Mammadov, A. Satariano (A. Friggieri 67), R. Martin, T. Blagrove, K. Reid, J. Farrugia, K. Magro, A. Borg, M. Davis, D. Jackson, M. Woo Ling (L. Sciberras 85)
Referee: D. Agius
Asst refs: D. Sultana, S. Duncan
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: L. Montebello 50, M. Mifsud 87
Yellow cards: M. Vella 59, A. Satariano 64, D. Jackson 90, J. Farrugia 90
BOV Player of the Match: L. Montebello.
TMI Top 3: 1. L. Montebello; 2. K. Zammit; 3. M. Davis
Second half strikes by Luke Montebello and Michael Mifsud were enough for Birkirkara to take all the three points from yesterday's match against St Andrews.
The victory enabled the Stripes to move temporarily into 4th place on 33 points, while the Saints remained in 11th place on 18 points.
For St Andrews, goalkeeper Elmaddin Mammadov was making his debut, while Walker was suspended for this match.
On Birkirkara's part, Matthew Guillaumier was missing as he was ruled out through suspension.
The match was characterised by the strong wind with the Saints enjoying the lion's share of the attacking in the first half and Birkirkara taking the initiative in the second period.
With the wind at their backs, the Saints created the best half chances but they failed to take advantage as they failed to score at least one goal.
Birkirkara found it rather hard to move forward, mostly because of the strong wind, and they only were dangerous on one occasion and that was from a set-piece.
In the second half, it was a different story as Birkirkara now took the initiative thanks to the wind blowing behind their backs.
When Montebello put them in front after five minutes, it already appeared an uphill struggle for the Saints and, in fact, they never gave Birkirkara goalie Naumovski any worries.
It is well to say that Montebello, who was named Man of the Match, scored his second consecutive goal since his return to the team after a long suspension.
The match started with the Saints on attack and in the 4th minute, Davis saw Naumovski out of his place and tried a shot from the distance, but the ball went well wide of the Stripes post.
On 18 minutes, Kemar Reid received a good pass from Davis and with Naumovski again out of position, the former's shot was cleared from over the line by Vukanac.
With the wind at their backs, the Saints maintained the initiative and Degran Jackson tried his luck from 20 metres, but the shot went over the bar.
In the 41st minute, Birkirkara threatened for the first time when they were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area. From De Siqueira's shot, a melee ensued in front of the Saints' fort, but Maurizio Vella's shot was blocked by goalie Mammadov.
Early in the second half a Satariano cross-shot passed across the Birkirkara goal and at the other end, soon after, Mifsud received a good ball and tried to lob the ball over the goalie from the edge of the area, but his effort went wide.
But a minute later, after a St Andrews lapse at the back, it was Luke Montebello who beat Mammadov from close range to put the Stripes ahead.
In the 55th minute, Montebello went close to scoring again with a low shot that was only inches away from the upright.
On the hour, it was Kemar Reid who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but Naumovski saved on deck.
In the 70th minute, Birkirkara squandered another good chance when Vella set Montebello who went round goalie Mammadov only to see his shot from the angle going wide.
Birkirkara assured themselves of the three points in the 87th minute when Thiago De Souza crossed perfectly for Michael Mifsud who dribbled round an opponent before beating Mammadov.