Pieta H: M. Vella, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo (G. Goodlip), C. Pulo, Sammut, S. Kondev, D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Galabov, D. Kokavessis (R. Provenzano).

Birkirkara: A. Bladzewski, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, E. Barbara (P. Borg), M. Galea, R. Briffa, J. Holland (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), J. Zerafa (A. Spiteri), A. Ciantar, G. Mallia

Referee: A. Azzopardi, Asst. refs: G. Barbara, A. Camilleri 4th official: I. Miller.

Scorers: M. Galea (2), A. Ciantar, M. Deanov, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (pen)

Yellow cards: A. Ciantar, D. Mifsud, R. Briffa, Z. Kondev, P. Borg,

Player of the match: Adrian Ciantar (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. A. Ciantar 2. M. Galea 3. Z. Kondev

Champions Birkirkara kept the pace with the frontrunners with a deserved win against a determined Pieta side. No doubt that Birkirkara were the best side but Pieta, especially in the second half, played their hearts out and confirmed that they are well on their way to recovery and will it out till the end with St George’s to avoid the drop.

The score can be considered as very harsh on the boys led by Carmel Busuttil, but the champions confirmed that they are still a force to be reckoned with, and that some poor results obtained so far in the first phase are surely due to their endless injury list.

Birkirkara fielded three defenders, with Jonathan Holland, Camenzuli and Sammut. In attack Michael Galea and Etienne Barbara combined very well, with Adrian Ciantar and George Mallia giving a good contribution in midfield.

Pieta packed their defence to halt Birkirkara’s attacks, with Galabov and the massive Bernard Sammut as central defenders.

However the Pieta strikers Kokavessis and Deanov rarely saw the ball in the first half with the Stripes in full command.

As expected Birkirkara held the initiative from the start, with the Pieta goalkeeper called in action on eight minutes saving a dangerous cross shot from Etienne Barbara. On 20 minutes Mark Vella again saved a good shot by William Camenzuli from the edge of the area. Vella was again instrumental blocking an Adrian Ciantar shot.

On 24 minutes Birkirkara finally forged ahead when Etienne Barbara crossed perfectly inside the area were Michael Galea had no difficulty scoring from three metres.

Pieta’s first attempt came on the half hour with Refalo passing to Kondev, but Bladzesvki rushed out of position to block the danger. However the stripes roamed all over the field and were unlucky minutes later when Michael Galea passed to Adrian Ciantar whose shot slammed against the upright.

In the second half Birkirkara continued to show their superiority and on 56 minutes Adrian Ciantar scored their second goal when he headed in a precise cross from the right by Matthew Calascione.

Minutes later Pieta’s Kokavessis completely deceived goalkeeper Bladzevski with a cross shot with the ball hitting the crossbar.

Birkirkara lost Jonathan Holland and Etienne Barbara through injury and Pieta started to show the better ideas, and Martin Deanov dribbled past goalkeeper Bladzevski but his shot was cleared off the line by William Camenzuli. Pieta insisted and Bladzevski had to dive to deny Pulo a certain goal.

Birkirkara hit back with a Michael Galea header that hit the crossbar.

However the third goal arrived on 80 minutes with Mifsud Triganza passing to Michael Galea who easily beat Vella.

However this goal was too harsh on Pieta and they deservedly pulled one back on 82 minutes through Martin Deanov who beat Bladzevski with a low shot.

But in injury time substitute Andrew Spiteri was floored by Galabov and from the resultant penalty Mifsud Triganza made no mistake.