The Bank of Valletta Premier League continued at the weekend with leaders Marsaxlokk maintaining their nine-point lead after a solid display in a 3-1 win over Valletta.

Sliema retained their second placing with a 2-1 come from behind win against Hibernians on Saturday while outgoing champions Birkirkara beat Msida for the first time this season to join Valletta in third place.

In the other match of the weekend, Pieta Hotspurs gave themselves a very big lift as they defeated Floriana 3-1 to practically make sure of saving their status this season.

As I have had the opportunity of saying on other occasions, leaders Marsaxlokk seem to have absolutely no challengers in their march towards their first ever title.

Against Valletta, Brian Talbot’s men did not perform wonders but theirs was a solid display as they took an early lead and then consolidated it with two goals from their top marksman Daniel Bogdanovic early in the second half.

A late goal by Nisevic had no effect on the result although it provided little consolation for the Lilywhites.

On Saturday, Sliema turned defeat into a victory as they beat Hibernians 2-1 in a match in which the Paolites, at first, appeared to be well equipped to register a positive result.

The Paolites had taken a first half lead and appeared to be causing several headaches to a disorganised Blues side.

In fact, it had to be Nigerian goalkeeper Murphy Akanji to keep them in the game with some good saves.

On the changeover, Sliema improved and deserved first to equalise through their usual scorer Ivan Woods and later take the lead through Anonam – the goal that proved to be the winner.

Although Sliema are still very far away from the title, it seems evident that they are the favourites to land the second spot in the standings and the automatic UEFA Cup berth.

Outgoing champions Birkirkara also landed their first victory over Msida St Joseph this season to move into joint third place with Valletta.

But despite the fact that new coach John Buttigieg has now collected a second straight victory, the Stripes still have to impress.

In fact, once again on Sunday, they appeared to be a struggling side and it had to be a controversial penalty decision in their favour which enabled them to open a strong 2-0 lead which obviously had an effect on the result.

The match was still open in the second half after Nwoke had pulled one back for the battling Saints, but Michael Galea’s second goal – and his club’s third – near the end, put paid to any hopes the Saints might have had of saving the match.

Pieta made themselves a big favour on Saturday by beating Floriana in a Relegation Pool match.

The result did not trouble Floriana a lot as they still top the standings with a healthy 15 points, three ahead of second placed Pieta who, in turn, now enjoy a five-point lead over St George’s.

The Hotspurs have thus moved closer to safety and they need just to beat St George’s or perhaps avoid a defeat in that direct encounter in the second round of this second phase.

Best player

Etienne Barbara (Birkirkara)

The Birkirkara striker is my pick this week after his good performance in the 3-1 win over Msida on Sunday.

Barbara has had a miserable start to the year and apart from being more off than on the pitch, mostly due to injury, he now seems to be close to returning to his best form.

On Sunday he was a constant menace to the Msida defence on most occasions when he had the ball at his feet and he also kept his cool to score that controversial penalty which helped his side in no small measure.

Barbara can now look forward with optimism towards a successful end of season which could be a prelude to a possible transfer in summer to some club abroad.

The scorers

M’XLOKK (57): D. Bogdanovic 24, H. Doda 8, K. Sammut 8, A. Schembri 7, C. Mamo 2, G. Sciberras 2, J. Pace 2, S. Bajada, M. Licari, I. Azzopardi (Floriana) og, R. Conceicao (St George’s) og

MSIDA SJ (34): D. Nwoke 12, I.Babatunde 10, O. Zongo 4, R. Baldacchino 3, T. Farrugia 2, P. Fenech, D. Cachia, P. Pullicino

VALLETTA (47): S. Monesterolo 16, G. Agius 9, R. Siberie 4, D. Falzon 3, B. Nisevic 3, K. Magro 2, D. Zarb 2, E. Uzeh 2, I. Zammit 2, M. Grima, J. Grioli, M. Barbara, D. Camilleri

FLORIANA (32): T. Cilia 6, A. Mifsud 6, W. Gomes 6, M. Micallef 3, C. Caruana 3, C. Cassar 2, R. Newell 2, I. Azzopardi, M. Gauci, G. Rtsa, Spasojevic

HIBERNIANS (38): T. Scerri 14, A. Cohen 8, N. Chukunyere 4, P. C. Doffo 3, T. Caruana 2, A. Xuereb 2, M. Bartolo 2, U. Nwoko, A. Pulis, J. Vella

BIRKIRKARA (38): J.P. Mifsud Triganza 11, E. Barbara 7, M. Galea 6, G. Mallia 2, W. Camenzuli 2, D. Larrossa 2, A. Paradiso, M. Calascione, L. Galea, MA Bonnici, H. Sbai, R. Briffa, A. Ciantar, P. Monye

SLIEMA (39): I. Woods 15, A. Madzar 5, A. Muscat 4, C. Nwoko 4, R. Bajada 3, M. Galea 2, Z. Zvoboda 2, O. Anonam 2, J. Chetcuti, M. Scerri

MARSA (12): A. Scerri 4, A. Ewurun 2, E. Yantchev 2, V. Bellia 2, B. Zammit, D. Cucciardi,

ST GEORGE’S (13): Effiong 4, L. Mizzi 3, R. Conceicao 3, S. Sciberras, E. do Nascimento, L. Pace,

PIETA H. (21): M. Deanov 5, S. Kondev 3, D. Kokavessis 3,D. Theuma 2, A. Decesare 2, A. Debono, C. Pulo, R. Galabov, S. Ciscaldi, D. Camenzuli, (K. Formosa (Floriana) og

Next matches

(all at Ta’ Qali)

Saturday 31 March

Birkirkara-Hibernians

Valletta-Msida St Joseph

Sunday 1 April

Floriana-Marsa

Marsaxlokk-Sliema W.