After their second league win, the champions, Birkirkara FC, will now be looking forward to clinch the double by winning the U*Bet FA Trophy where, in the semi-finals, they will be meeting Hibernians on Saturday.

The Stripes must be commended not only for their performances on the field of play which made them the most consistent side throughout the season, but also for the way their very numerous and noisy supporters created an atmosphere rarely seen at the Stadium and later at Il-Wied, at Birkirkara.

All those who were present could only comment favourably on these celebrations. And I add: Were all those people – as well as all the others teams’ supporters – to follow their team throughout the season, wouldn’t our football be more entertaining and more pleasant to watch than it sometimes is?

Unfortunately this is not the case here. One clear example was the match on Sunday itself when the Sliema fans clearly abandoned their own players by staying away from the Stadium.

One might argue that they did not want to mix with their rivals and join in their celebrations. But on a day when Sliema needed all three points from a difficult match to clinch second place and a berth in the UEFA Cup next season, I expected much more, even though we have now become accustomed to the presence of just a few supporters who follow the Sliema side regularly at Ta’ Qali.

In any case, the Sliema players must also be commended for facing this difficult clash with the right attitude. Having lost the title in their previous few matches, it would have been an almost complete disaster to lose their UEFA Cup berth as well.

But it was not to be as Edward Aquilina’s boys woke up to their responsibilities and eventually ran out winners to pip Marsaxlokk to the runner-up spot.

The latter will rue some slipshod performances in the Championship Pool which not only ruined their chances for the League title, but also saw them missing out on the UEFA Cup berth. In all probability, however, Marsaxlokk will return to Europe via the Intertoto Cup.

On Friday, drama reigned supreme at the Stadium as Floriana rose from the dead in the second half of their match against Mosta.

After 30 minutes, the Greens were already contemplating a slide to the First Division next season, as Mosta raced into a 3-0 lead, also threatening to score more goals.

But in the second half, Jan ARtz’s boys scored an early goal, pulled back another a few minutes later, and then went on to clinch what looked – in the first half – an unlikely equaliser to save their status and send Mosta instead, to the first division.

It was the third time that the Greens had been involved in such remarkable recoveries this season. Twice against Hamrun, they were 2-0 down, only to come back and score four goals to turn the tide in their favour.

From these columns I wish a speedy return to the Premier to both Mosta and hamrun Spartans who will be playing first division football next season.

Best player: Adrian Mifsud ? (Floriana)

To Floriana striker Adrian Mifsud falls my last choice this season as he led his side to a remarkable second half recovery against Mosta which helped the Greens win the point they needed from the match against Mosta.

That point meant safety for Floriana and it condemned Mosta to next year’s first division as Pieta also obtained the point they needed the day after.

Mifsud was a protagonist scoring two goals and having another one annulled during that splendid Greens’ second half. Apart from the goals, Mifsud also gave the Mosta defence plenty to think about and it was his roaming around and finishing that brought about the Blues’ downfall.

Leading scorers

19 – Michael Galea

16 - Ivan Woods, Daniel Nwoke

15 – Adrian Mifsud

14 – Andrew Cohen, Wendell Gomes, Etienne Barbara

13 – Danilo Doncic

12 – Cleaven Frendo, Ikechuckwu Chibueze,

11 – Sebastian Monesterolo, Andre Schembri

10 – Daniel Bogdanovic, Haruna Doda, Martin Deanov