Birkirkara: B. Paris, L. Galea, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (M. Anastasi), E. Barbara (C. Nwoko), M. Galea, J. Holland (A. Zahra), K. Scicluna, R. Briffa, G. Mallia
Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, I. Deanov, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi (A. Decesare), C. Sammut, A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, D. Gera, C. Sciuto (C. Calleja) (R. Grech), H. Schembri
Referee: M. Borg. Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, Ms E. Farrugia 4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Galea (2) 1 pen, E. Barbara, L. Galea, M. Deanov
Yellow cards: C. Sammut, D. Gera
Player of the match: L. Galea (Birkirkara)
TMI top three: 1. L. Galea 2. E. Barbara 3. G. Mallia
Birkirkara were back in the grove against Pieta yesterday after their reverse against Sliema last week.
They fully exploited their inferior opponents' defensive frailties to register a pronounced and deserved win which was already well baked in the first half.
Birkirkara always had more ideas, better shape and that extra class and could have scored more goals. Two goals up by the first half hour put them firmly in command. By halftime they were three goals to the good.
Pieta had to defend in numbers to keep them out but their defensive nerves often proved flimsy when the Birkirkara players arrived in their vicinity. They struggled in vain to contain the myriad talents of Barbara, Mallia and Michael Galea.
Keeper Hogg, who was his side's hero last week with a last minute equaliser against Mosta, contributed somehow negatively to Birkirkara's first two goals, although the youngster atoned with some good saves in the second half.
Pieta keep holding on to their thin squad of inexperienced, albeit promising youngsters, who fail to deliver against the big guns.
Birkirkara were without two of their foreigners, keeper Simon and defender Yanchev. They also had Ciantar missing but defender Lino Galea was returning after suspension.
Their latest capture, Jonathan Holland, made his debut for Birkirkara, playing as a defensive midfielder on the right.
A more assertive start indicated it was only a matter of time before Birkirkara broke the deadlock. They took the lead on 14 minutes courtesy of a goalkeeper gaffe. Hogg dropped a high ball when challenged by Mallia who took possession and passed it square to the unmarked Michael Galea to score the easiest of goals with a routine knock.
Soon after, Lino Galea's rising shot was deflected into a corner and Barbara, almost always involved in every Birkirkara offensive move, had two efforts blocked inside the area.
Pieta's only threats came from a couple of long distance shots by Sciuto who was visibly not fully fit and was substituted midway through the half.
Towards the half hour, Pieta's keeper Hogg again failed to cut out an insidious Lino Galea cross from the left and Etienne Barbara connected well to steer the ball in from close range.
Birkirkara grew in confidence. Their forwards started to dart around to the Pieta defenders' frustration.
On 43 minutes, another defensive blunder brought about Birkirkara's third goal when the Pieta defenders looked negligent in their clearance and Lino Galea shot in the loose ball from the edge of the area with a low diagonal drive.
On the stroke of halftime, Hogg spared Pieta further derision as he stretched himself to save Barbara's shot on the turn into a corner.
With Birkirkara easing off, subconsciously at least, Pieta were allowed more space and time on the ball in the second half. Yet the Hotspurs failed to make anything out of it, except for a Ciscaldi shot which narrowly missed the target.
On the hour Zahra and Anastasi replaced Holland and Calascione and ten minutes later Chucks Nwoko also made his first appearance for Birkirkara this season, going in as a substitute for Barbara.
Birkirkara always remained the more menacing. Hogg dived to palm out Zahra's rasping shot and then saved into a corner Michael Galea's shot on the turn.
Pieta hit a consolation goal with five minutes remaining when Martin Deanov nipped in to beat the static Birkirkara rearguard on a long ball and score his fourth league goal.
It was much too late as Birkirkara even found time to score their fourth on the stroke of time, courtesy of a Michael Galea penalty after Schembri had handled the ball inside the area.