Marsaxlokk-Birkirkara 6-1

Marsaxlokk: J. Haber, L. Dimech, M. Licari (S. Tellus), K. Mamo, K. Sammut, J. Pace, U. Nwoko, D. Bogdanovic (H. Doda), A. Schembri (S. Garci), C. Magro, P. Pullicino

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski (S. Sullivan), P. Monye, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Briffa, J. Holland, D. Larrosa, K. Scicluna, G. Mallia, A. Ciantar

Referee: M. Borg Asst.refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorer: K. Sammut, D. Bogdanovic (4), A. Schembri, P. Monye

Yellow card: D. Larrosa, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli

Player of the match: Daniel Bogdanovic (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. D. Bogdanovic 2. A. Schembri 3. P. Pullicino

Another abject performance from Birkirkara helped leaders Marsaxlokk to another assured victory, translating their pace and power up front into goals. They showed in the process that they are full of running with the championship race getting properly under way.

Marsaxlokk were a reshuffled side, missing the likes of Wellman and Carlo Mamo in defence, Sciberras in midfield and Doda in attack but Talbot’s team put Birkirkara to the sword with the same high-quality efficiency with which they disposed of Hibernians last week, recording their fifth Premier League win in succession.

For Birkirkara this was an opportunity to regain their form after a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Valletta last week – a performance that brought about coach Stephen Azzopardi’s resignation after the club appointed Jan Artz to share the club’s coaching duties. But the form crisis persists. Outclassed, but also outfought, Birkirkara surrendered to a competent, efficient and occasionally imperious Marsaxlokk, who, with the driving energy of Andre Schembri and the illusive movement in attack of four-goal hero Daniel Bogdanovic, always had the ascendancy.

Birkirkara were on the back foot from the moment their goalkeeper Bledzewski twice rushed out of his line to smother the early danger created by Nwoko and Bogdanovic.

Birkirkara showed up with a Camenzuli arrow-like drive which keeper Haber tipped over the bar after 12 minutes.

But before the half hour, Marsaxlokk were already two goals up. Past the quarter hour Pullicino’s through pass from a Bogdanovic cross put Kevin Sammut clear to steer the ball low past the helpless Bledzewski.

Ten minutes later, Bogdanovic chested the ball on Licaris’ deep cross from the right to shoot low past Bledzewski and make it 2-0.

With Birkirkara’s pride severely dented, they hardly had the energy to regroup. Barbara found an opening but lofted the ball well over Haber’s goal and Holland’s harmless free-kick was easy prey for the Marsaxlokk keeper.

The Southseasiders kept attacking in furious waves in the meantime. Bledzewski palmed out Pace’s long range shot and then footed out a dangerous Bogdanovic free-kick from the edge of the area.

It was no surprise that Birkirkara conceded a third goal just before the break as Schembri sent a sailing cross from the left and Daniel Bogdanovic beat Bledzewski with a free header.

Bledzewski and Barbara did not turn up for Birkirkara in the second half and Marsaxlokk continued with their stroll, toying with their opponents and looking lethal on the breaks.

On 57 minutes reserve keeper Sullivan held out Nwoko’s shot but Schembri headed in from close range despite Camenzuli’s attempt to clear on the line.

Towards the hour, Bogdanovic connected well on Schembri’s low cross but shot against the bar and somehow Sullivan saved.

The irrepressible Schembri sparked the movement for Marsaxlokk’s fifth goal on 63 minutes, sending a low cross for Daniel Bogdanovic to hook and beat Sullivan with relative ease. Bogdanovic again capitalised on an erratic back header by Sammut, seven minutes later, to foil the keeper and deposit the ball into an unattended goal to take his personal tally to 22 league goals this season, before being substituted.

Ten minutes from time, the woodwork again denied Marsaxlokk, holding out substitute Garci’s thunderous shot from a distance.

Even a consolation goal scored by Precious Monye, with virtually the last kick of the match, as he picked up a defensive clearance from outside the area, failed to lift humiliated Birkirkara’s spirits.