Marsaxlokk-Birkirkara 2-0

Marsaxlokk confirmed their status as Birkirkara’s bogey team yesterday as, once again, the Stripes failed to lower their colours, not even earning a point after a 2-0 defeat.

It was also Birkirkara’s first defeat after a string of five consecutive wins.

The Stripes therefore missed the chance to go top of the table with Sliema. The defeat keeps them in third place on 25 points, three behind the Wanderers and two behind Hibernians, who have a game in hand.

Marsaxlokk have now moved to the 21-point mark and are now practically assured of a place in the top six for Championship Pool purposes.

The southern seasiders showed some of their real worth yesterday, especially in the first half, as they quickly took a 2-0 lead which helped them take a firm control of the proceedings.

In the first half, they played their best football this season with Cleaven Frendo getting involved in almost all of their actions. This youngster seems set to be the side’s shining star and perhaps Malta’s star of the future.

Birkirkara were simply a shadow of their usual selves. The defence, in particular, was at sixes and sevens and it was no surprise that they suffered two goals, for which they had little or no reply.

Marsaxlokk went close on four minutes when a Cleaven Frendo freekick was palmed by Simon onto the post.

At the other end, Birkirkara had a Roderick Briffa effort being cleared to corner.

On the ninth minute, the southern seasiders opened the scoring. Camenzuli passed the ball badly to an opponent who squared for Frendo to cross low into the area where Wendell Gomes was on hand to hit home past a surprised Simon.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. From a cross by Frendo, Simon appeared undecided in his sortie and Schembri could head the ball into the net.

Birkirkara were apparently shocked and failed to react, but on 35 minutes, Michael Galea was close to pulling one back with a fine shot on the turn that missed the upright by inches.

On 43 minutes, a Chucks Nwoko free-kick was turned to corner by Reuben Gauci.

Soon after the changeover, substitute Mifsud Triganza was unlucky to see his effort hitting the crossbar after being set by Nwoko.

But that was as far as Birkirkara could go in their efforts to get back into the game. Marsaxlokk elected to defend their lead and they did so in a highly organised manner, never giving their opponents the chance to have a pot at goal.

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, K. Sammut, NM Dos Santos Gomes, S. Wellman, C. Magro, C. Mamo, T. Templeman, J. Pace, C. Frendo, A. Schembri (K. Mamo), W. Soares Gomes (S. Bajada).

Birkirkara: D. Simon, P. Monye, R. Sammut (JP Mifsud Triganza), W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (C. Nwoko), E. Barbara (MA Bonnici), M. Galea, K. Scicluna, R. Briffa, G. Mallia, A. Ciantar.

Referee: M. Borg. Asst refs: J. Rapa, N. Debattista; 4th official: C. Lautier.

Scorers: W. Gomes, A. Schembri,

Yellow cards: A. Ciantar, E. Barbara, N. Gomes, C. Frendo, S. Gomes, S. Wellman,

Player of the match: C. Frendo

TMI top three: 1. C. Frendo, 2. S. Wellman, 3. C. Magro