Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski, MA Bonnici, L. Galea, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, K. Scicluna, A. Paradiso (S. Hatim), JP Mifsud Triganza, G. Mallia, G. Gallovich.

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, S. Wellman, K. Sammut, C. Magro, L. Dimech, G. Sciberras, H. Doda, C. Frendo (D. Bogdanovic), A. Schembri, J. Pace.

Referee: Joe Attard. Asst refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri. 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: JP Mifsud Triganza

Yellow cards: S. Wellman, MA Bonnici, L. Galea,

Red card: G. Sciberras

BOV Player of the match: G. Mallia

TMI Top 3: 1. G. Mallia, 2. A. Paradiso, 3. A. Schembri.

Champions Birkirkara started the defence of their title on a positive note when they collected three important points against would-be challengers Marsaxlokk.

But it had to be a gift goal from Reuben Debono which separated the two sides after a highly entertaining game in which both sides created several scoring chances.

The two sides had some players missing. The Stripes had Michael Galea, Jonathan Holland, Roderick Briffa and Etienne Barbara, not to mention Adrian Ciantar and Antoine Zahra. Marsaxlokk had Andre Da Silva out through suspension.

In the first half, play was more or less equally balanced with Marsaxlokk perhaps enjoying more possession but with Birkirkara showing the better ideas and creating the better chances.

It was quite entertaining with the ball flowing from one side to the other with some moves really pleasing to the eye.

Birkirkara’s Italian midfielder Angelo Paradiso showed some excellent skills especially in the first half. Gallovich was also in good form at the back while Polish goalie Bledzewski was confident between the posts.

On the other hand, Marsaxlokk’s newcomer, former Birkirkara and Hibs striker Haruna Doda was well under control while Luke Dimech, at the back, appeared strong and was never in trouble. Bogdanovic was kept on the bench by Talbot until early in the second half when he replaced Cleaven Frendo.

In the second half, at first it seemed as if Marsaxlokk had finally taken the game in hand, but after Schembri hit the upright, Birkirkara scored what proved to be the winner and the southern seasiders had Gareth Sciberras sent off, there seemed to be no doubt where the points were going.

Birkirkara nearly opened the scoring on seven minutes, when Calascione and Mifsud Triganza exchanged the ball beautifully only for the latter’s final shot to be cleared by Debono to corner.

At the other end, Andre Schembri also missed a sitter for Marsaxlokk, hitting wide off a Mamo cross. Soon after, from a Galea cross, Calascione got to the ball before Debono, but his header went just wide.

On the 14th minute, Bledzewski had to dive sideways to save a Frendo grounder. And at the other end, a Paradiso cross was just missed by the diving Calascione. Soon after, another Paradiso cross saw Calascione heading goalwards, but Dimech cleared off the line with Debono beaten.

On 39 minutes, a Paradiso freekick was blocked by the barrier to an abortive corner. At the interval it was still goalless.

As the second half started, Cleaven Frendo had a freekick going wide, while at the other end, Mifsud Triganza, all alone in front of Debono, saw his shot being blocked by the goalie.

On 56 minutes, Marsaxlokk were unlucky not to take the lead when Andre Schembri saw his close range effort hitting the upright with the goalie beaten.

Debono had to save a Mifsud Triganza shot in two attempts. Doda had a shot cleared from over the line by Bonnici and, as Marsaxlokk insisted, Pace shot just wide from outside the area.

On 62 minutes, from a Bonnici cross, it was Debono who saved the day for Marsaxlokk, turning to corner Mallia’s dangerous header.

Four minutes later, substitute Bogdanovic was beautifully set by Schembri, but all alone, hit wide.

It was Birkirkara who eventually took the lead – albeit through a gift goal from goalie Debono. He failed to control a harmless looking grounder from the angle by Mifsud Triganza and the ball finished at the back of the net.

On 80 minutes, Bledzewski turned to corner a Sammut good effort. Two minutes later, M’Xlokk ended in 10 men when Sciberras was shown the red card for a second bookable offence.

In the final moments, in a swift counter-attack, Birkirkara substitute Hatim advanced before squaring to the unmarked Camenzuli who, with an open goal at his mercy, fired the ball sky-high.