A goal by poacher Michael Galea past the half hour decided this scrappy match, lacking real excitement, in Birkirkara’s favour to give them their first league win and the leadership after having played two matches.

Mqabba, as in the previous defeat against Hamrun Spartans, again gave their all which unfortunately was not enough in the final outcome. They conceded the goal when they were sharing the spoils with their opponents, only to be reduced to ten men some minutes later. While they might be the perennial occupants of relegation trouble, Mqabba are a team with some good individuals. The hard working Marlon Briffa showed some neat touches, the defensive qualities of Nogueira were evident while the expertise of veteran captain Albert Busuttil came to the fore.

For all their possession, Birkirkara struggled to make it count in the face of an organized Mqabba defence. Truly they were indebted to some profligate finishing, especially by Alan Tabon, but they failed to break ten-men Mqabba for almost a whole hour.

Birkirkara fielded the same team which drew against Hibernians in the first match. Alan Tabone was given a start for the injured Sandjo in attack. Mqabba too did not change much in their second outing. Mark Anthony Psiala was preferred to Bonnici in the starting line-up.

Mqabba in fact fought gamely for the first half hour even though Birkirkara had gone close on two occasions in the early stages. Tabone’s curling shot, when standing unmarked inside the Mqabba area, went wide and on the quarter hour, Bajada’s cross from the left hit the onrushing Tabone who deflected the ball against the upright.

After surviving those scares, Mqabba tried to move forward but the towering presence of Birkirkara’s central defensive pair Yanchev and Hartvig, made life tough for Pereira or Muscat. The latter has still to score his first Premier League goal.

Tabone became protagonist in his side’s opening goal on 35 minutes. His exquisite free-kick thumped against the bar and Michael Galea was quick to head in the rebound.

Mqabba’s woes increased four minutes later when Brazilian striker Pereira, received his marching orders, after elbowing Yanchev, to become the first player sent off in the Premier League this season.

That sapped Mqabba’s brittle confidence and Birkirkara ended the first half well in control.

Mqabba put in Mintoff for Silva soon after the restart as Birkirkara tried to exploit their numerical superiority, without putting enough pressure on Mqabba’s defence though. Bajada shot over and then Tabone headed Anastasi’s cross well over the bar. When Fenech’s long cross was headed into Bajada’s path, he lofted the ball. Michael Galea also failed to put a decent contct to substitute Paris’ cross and another chance went to waste.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Birkirkara were running out of ideas and trailing by

only one goal, Mqabba were still very much in the game.

On 80 minutes, Tabone, unattended inside the Mqabba area, again fluffed a good opportunity, shooting off target.

Mqabba’s best chance fell late to Psaila, whose insidious free-kick went narrowly wide.

At the end, though, Birkirkara were still holding to a slender lead which saw them bag full points.

Birkirkara: B. Paris, L. Galea, P. Fenech, M. Galea, A.Tabone, M. Anastasi (T. Paris), R. Hartvig, L. Lombardi (R. Sammut), S. Bajada, G. Mallia, E. Yanchev

Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Busuttil, I. Nogueira, M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa, F. Silva (J. Mintoff), M. Pereira, C. Calleja (L. Galea), J.P. Muscat, C. Gatt Baldacchino, D. Zarb (M. Cocks)

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: P. Agius, J. Spiteri 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: M. Galea

Yellow cards: I. Nogueira, M. Cocks, R. Hartvig

Red card: M. Pereira

Player of the match: Marlon Briffa (Mqabba)

TMI top three: 1. S. Bajada 2. M. Briffa 3. A. Busuttil