As if to make up for their drubbing by Msida St Joseph a fortnight ago, reigning champions Birkirkara yesterday exhibited all their attacking prowess, hitting four first-half goals past lowly St George's to restore some pride.

This, despite taking the field without Michael Galea and Etienne Barbara, the latter only sitting out as a substitute.

Angelo Paradiso was also a substitute, making way for the other foreigner, goalkeeper Bledewski, included instead of Sullivan in the starting line-up. Paradiso, however, made a late appearance for Gallovich.

The return of Jonathan Holland from injury lasted only 20 minutes as the unlucky Birkirkara player was forced out, substituted by young Patrick Borg.

For all Birkirkara's merits, their opponents' defensive set-up was far from convincing. The four goals that separated them from yesterday's rivals, aptly reflected the ebb and flow of a game too one-sided to be called a contest.

The first five minutes belonged to the Birkirkara forward Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. He scored with a low drive with hardly two minutes on the clock, after he twisted and turned past two opponents inside the St George's area. Then he had another good effort saved by keeper Paris and another goal disallowed for offside.

On the 9th minute he again stole inside the Saints' area to lay a perfect pass to the unmarked Matthew Calascione to hit at the top of the net from close range.

For a stunned St George's, the bad was soon to become worse. Purposeful and determined, the champions continued to surge forward, always penetrative on the attack.

With St George's finding it hard to make any real progress, it was no surprise that Birkirkara scored their third on 28 minutes with Mark Anthony Bonnici's blistering low shot from 25 metres out, beating the keeper at the near post.

On the stroke of half-time, St George's conceded a fourth goal by defender Lino Galea, who highlighted the Saints' defensive frailties, cracking in a short Camenzuli free-kick from nearly the bye-line on the left before 'Bizu' Do Nascimento tested the Birkirkara keeper with a powerful free-kick, tipped into a corner.

The second half was played in much meaningless fashion. Birkirkara, with the game well won, kept stroking the ball around, running through their party pieces and even spurned a couple of other chances through Calascione and Mallia. The latter was also denied by the woodwork. When they somewhat eased down, subconsciously at least, St George's looked menacing in the late stages.

The Birkirkara keeper was twice severely tested through close range efforts from their best player Do Nascimento and substitute Mizzi.

But towards the end, the Saints looked weary of the pace and physicality of Premier League life. Quite simply, the individual day's honours went to the boys in yellow and red.

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Birkirkara: A. Bledewski, M.A. Bonnici (C. Micallef), L. Galea, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, J. Holland (P. Borg), S. Hatim, J. P. Mifsud Triganza, G. Mallia, G. Gallovich (A. Paradiso)

St George's: B. Paris, A. Bonello, C. Brincat, R. Conceciao, E. Sevasta, J. Spiteri, S. Sciberras (L. Mizzi), L. Grima, H. Schembri (S. Borda), E. Do Nascimento, H. Sulaiman (L. Pace)

Referee: A. Arciola. Asst.refs: J. Rapa, M. Debono 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: J.P. Mifsud Triganza, M. Calascione, M.A. Bonnici, L. Galea

Yellow cards: R. Conceiciao, E. Do Nascimento, L. Galea

Player of the match: J.P. Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. J. P. Mifsud Triganza 2. W. Camenzuli 3. E. Do Nascimento