Etienne Barbara struck a second half hat-trick against Sliema yesterday evening to enable Birkirkara to maintain their strong hold on the competition.

In fact, it was the Stripes’ fourth consecutive win and the third successive against Sliema. It was also sweet revenge for the Stripes over Sliema after the champions had beaten the Stripes in the season opener Euro Cup.

It was a big day for Etienne Barbara. His performance and goals confirmed that he is at present one of the most in form players after having started the season also on a good note despite the negative performances of the Stripes.

Yesterday, however, the Stripes were not just Barbara. It was a collective effort starting from goalkeeper David Simon and with the rest also giving their fair contribution towards the success.

In the first half, play was more or less balanced with Birkirkara, perhaps, showing more eagerness in trying to forge ahead.

Sliema were disappointing and it seems evident that Edward Aquilina and Hugh Caruana will have to work hard to get their ‘illustrious’ performers back in form if they are to start the league campaign the coming weekend on a positive note.

The defence left much to be desired, especially in the second half, and it was only Anonam, Doncic and Turner who came off the pitch with their heads held high.

The Stripes appeared to be in better shape and Sliema had to resort to a loot of fouls to stop the dangerous Etienne Barbara, Mark Anthony Bonnici and Lino Galea.

The Blues operated on swift breaks launched mainly from midfield where Noel Turner, Orosko Anonam and Danilo Doncic worked incessantly to cope with Birkirkara’s threat forthcoming from the ever present Omnye, George Mallia and Roderick Briffa.

At the back, both teams appeared strong with both goalies confidently handling all that was proposed to them. Birkirkara’s David Simon once again confirmed he will be a strong asset for them this season. His was another positive performance yesterday.

But in the second half, the Stripes showed that they mean business this year. Apart from goalie Simon, Bulgarian central defender Yantchev also played a blinder, as did Camenzuli, giving their defence a more secure look.

It was here that Stephen Azzopardi’s boys emerged on top as their swift counter-attacks played havoc with a slow-moving Sliema defence.

In the initial stages, both sides sized up each other as neither seemed able to take control of the midfield sector.

Sliema had Brincat playing in a deep role at the back with Anonam again on the right flank. Doncic was again deployed in a midfield role with Woods and Bogdanovic roaming in front.

The Stripes had striker Michael Galea and midfielder Antoine Zahra back in the squad, starting the match on the substitutes’ bench.

The first action worthy of note arrived on 18 minutes when off a Camenzuli freekick, the ball was pushed to Lino Galea, but Brian Said cleared in extremis to a corner, through risking an own goal.

On 24 minutes, Birkirkara earned another freekick from which Adrian Ciantar’s good effort was easily saved by the alert Akanji.

On 41 minutes, Birkirkara worked out the best move with Mallia squaring low for Briffa who set Monye on the left. The Nigerian’s low shot, however, was turned to corner by Akanji, who moments later, was shown a yellow card for protesting with the official.

The Stripes started the second half like a house on fire and after being denied an edge of area freekick when Briffa was pulled down when on the point of going through, it was George Mallia who saw his effort going over the post.

On the 56th minute, the Stripes were dangerous once again. Barbara was set in the area, dribbled round his opponent only for his cross to be intercepted by Brincat and it had to be Akanji to save an own goal despite the ball being central.

Sliema’s first real threat arrived on 63 minutes when off a Woods corner, Doncic anticipated a late Simon sortie, but the ball went wide. At the other end, it was Akanji who chested down a Barbara humdinger to keep his net intact.

Four minutes later, Sliema scored when Doncic made all the spadework on the right flank and then passed to Woods who easily hit into the net. But the linesman’s flag had already gone up for an offside and the point was disallowed.

A minute later, Birkirkara opened the scoring. Roderick Briffa set Etienne Barbara on the left. His first effort was blocked by the diving Akanji, but his second attempt finished at the back of the net.

Sliema replied with a Giglio effort on 71 minutes that just missed the upright.

Birkirkara struck again on the 78th minute with a typical counter-attack. A long ball forward saw Adrian Ciantar beating the Sliema offside trap. He advanced to cross low for Barbara to hit home into an empty net.

It was not over yet as the Stripes still had time to score a third goal. It was Matthew Calascione who served Barbara to lob over the advancing Akanji and into the net.

At the end of the match, MFA President Dr Joe Mifsud, presented the Bank of Valletta Super Cup to the Stripes captain William Camenzuli.

Line-up

Sliema W. M. Akanji, J. Brincat, M. DiLello, B. Said, N. Turner, D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti (C. Mattocks), I. Woods, O. Anonam, S. Giglio, D. Bogdanovic.

Birkirkara: D. Simon, MA Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara (M. Galea), R. Briffa, K. Scicluna (M. Calascione), G. Mallia (A. Zahra), E. Yantchev, A. Ciantar.

Referee: A. Casha. Asst refs: J. Camilleri, N. Debattista. 4th official: A. Azzopardi.

Scorers: E. Barbara 3.

Yellow cards: B.Said, M. DiLello, M. Akanji, P. Monye,