Marsaxlokk are sole leaders in the BOV Premier League after beating direct rivals Hibernians in the top-of-table clash this weekend. They now open a two point lead over Msida SJ, who climbed to second place after beating St George’s.

It was Marsaxlokk’s sixth win on the trot after their reverse on the first day, confirming the Southseasiders’ potential this season.

As the final score suggests, it was a narrow triumph as Hibernians went down fighting and gave their opponents a good run for their money. Substitute Haruna Doda, turned the scales in Marsaxlokk’s favour, going in as a late substitute.

The Poalites, who now drop to third place, possess some very valid and experienced players themselves, like Muscat, Xuereb, Cohen, Nwoko, Scerri and Chukunyere, who are capable of giving every opponent a tough ride.

But what really won the game for Marsaxlokk was their strength in depth. No wonder, their squad is full of internationals, a bunch of the most local talented individuals, well gelled into a team by mentor Brian Talbot. That makes them firm favourites for this season’s honours, being the most consistent side so far.

Msida are also flying high, back to winning ways, after faltering against Marsaxlokk midway through a perfect start.

Their win against St George’s, albeit according to book form, confirmed once more the validity of their three foreign players and especially the bright patch, Ibrahim Babatunde is going through. Nwoke went in as substitute and scored his side’s second goal. Zongo makes up Msida’s ‘magic triangle’ which could help make this a memorable season for the Saints.

Sliema suffered their second league defeat this season, going down to Sebastian Monesterolo’s first half strike against Valletta and were caught up by the same Valletta in the standings.

But what was more disappointing was the Wanderers’ inept performance on Saturday. That comes after Sliema had been showing considerable improvement in their previous outings following a rather tepid start of the season.

Sliema seem to be lacking sharpness up front and are struggling against organised defences these days. Mattocks’ inclusion midway through the half and Turner’s at the start of the second, might have given them some needed impetus, but not enough to reap any dividends.

They are too Ivan Woods dependable this season as the international striker failed to find the opponents’ net for the first time this season and Sliema lost. Woods was unlucky with his shot hitting the woodwork, soon after Valletta’s lead. An equaliser then could have changed Sliema’s fate but that does not take away any of Valletta’s credit to a win which could have been bigger had they taken a couple of late opportunities, only to be denied by an alert Akanji in the Sliema goal.

This game was far from the classic that this fixture so frequently produces.

But Valletta won because they were the more assertive. Well organised at the back, with the returning presence of Massimo Grima, hard working in midfield with the ever improving Uzah Edafe, and deadly in attack with the consistent scoring rate of their Argentine Sebastian Monesterolo, Valletta are slowly but surely becoming a hard team to beat and on this form they should progress further in the standings.

In the other important clash of the week-end, champions Birkirkara and Floriana figured in an entertaining 1-1 draw. This result confirmed once again the difficult moment Birkirkara are passing through. Surely this depleted side is finding the going hard and they have to improve in the second round.

Floriana’s fighting spirit was rewarded with the late Wendell Gomes goal that saved the day for the Greens. Surely the sixth place will be a keen tussle this season.

Winless after seven games, Pieta Hotspurs, Marsa and St George’s remain very much embroiled in the relegation battle. All three lack the required qualities to fight against the elite. This weekend’s battle of the basement between Pieta and Marsa ended in a disappointing one-all draw which served either side no good. They now join St George’s on two points - very little to show so far, although it is still early to draw conclusions.

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Best player

Ndubisi Chukunyere (Hibernians)

This week the choice of best player of the week falls on Ndubisi Chukunyere, a player that is slowly but surely coming to his best form once again for the Paolites.

Although finishing on the losing end last Sunday in the top of the table clash against Marsaxlokk, the Nigerian was still the player of the match.

After having a very bad spell, even with the Citizens with whom he had a short period, Chukunyere returned to his old love and is once more shining with his dribbling and good vision of play.

Undoubtedly his showings are an added boost to Robert Gatt’s side, who so far, with almost the first round played, are playing some good stuff and will surely give league leaders and favourites Marsaxlokk a hard time in the future.

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The scorers

MARSAXLOKK (19): D. Bogdanovic 10, A. Schembri 4, K. Sammut 3, H. Doda 2, C. Mamo,I. Azzopardi (Floriana) og

MSIDA SJ (12): I.Babatunde 7, D. Nwoke 4, O. Zongo, I. P. Fenech, R. Baldacchino

VALLETTA (15): S. Monesterolo 11, G. Agius, K. Magro, D. Zarb, B. Nisevic, E. Uzeh

FLORIANA (13): T. Cilia 3, M. Micallef 3, C. Caruana 2, W. Gomes 3, A. Mifsud 2, C. Cassar,

HIBERNIANS (14): N. Chukunyere 3, T. Scerri 3, P. C. Doffo 2, T. Caruana 2, A. Cohen 3, U. Nwoko, A. Xuereb,

BIRKIRKARA (13): J.P. Mifsud Triganza 5, E. Barbara 3, A. Paradiso, M. Calascione, L. Galea, MA Bonnici, H. Sbai, JP Mifsud Triganza

SLIEMA (12): I. Woods 7, A. Muscat 2, R. Bajada 2, J. Chetcuti

MARSA (3): A. Ewurun 2, E. Yantchev, B. Zammit

ST GEORGE’S (3): S. Sciberras, L. Pace, E. do Nascimento

PIETA H. (3): A. Decesare, D. Theuma 2, A. Debono