Birkirkara have become the new revelation side of the season. After four matches, they are perched on top of the tree together with another surprise this season, Floriana, both on ten points.

While the Greens dropped their first points of the season in an exciting draw with Sliema Wanderers on Friday evening, the Stripes collected their third victory on the trot as they beat champions Marsaxlokk on Sunday afternoon.

Also at the weekend, Hibernians and Pieta obtained their first victories this season, while there was more gloom for Valletta whose much vaunted team missed the bus once again – this time conceding a goal (an equaliser) in the late stages of the game against Msida, meaning that they have now lost four points in such a manner.

Mqabba remain the only team without a point, and of course, without a victory.

The Stripes are the talk of the town at present. After the previous week’s win over Sliema, they chalked up another impressive win, this time over the champions.

John Buttigieg’s side was not expected to be in the forefront in the hunt for this year’s title. I had indicated they could have been possible outsiders, but they have proved me wrong in my observations, at least so far. They changed many faces from last season’s line-up – last Sunday, for example, they had seven new faces, with only George Mallia, Michael Galea, L. Galea and Roderick Sammut maintaining their place in the starting line-up.

Yet, after that unconvincing 1-1 draw against Hibernians in their opening encounter, the side is clicking magnificently with the players showing a sense of teamwork which was obviously missing last season.

The newcomers, especially Paul Fenech and Sean Bajada, not to mention the three foreigners, are also leaving the desired effect with the old boys, particularly Michael Galea, also giving their fair share in this successful start.

Marsaxlokk were just a shade of the team that won the title last season. The second defeat in a row means that the team could be heading into a crisis, unless coach Brian Talbot finds ways and means of halting this disastrous run.

Against Hamrun the previous week and again in the match against Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk showed that they have missed the scoring touch and always appeared to be lacking ideas and inspiration in midfield. In such circumstances I would have expected Talbot to make use of Malcolm Licari as a striker. He used to be so successful at that role when playing with Pieta Hotspurs in the past.

The champions are already four points behind the leaders and they could well find themselves in trouble if they do not reverse their current bad form.

On Friday evening, Floriana and Sliema fought out an exciting 2-2 draw. It was an electrifying ‘derby’ in which Sliema took the lead early. Floriana recovered well to take the lead themselves (2-1) only to be stopped in injury time with an equaliser from Sliema.

The Greens missed strikers Adrian Mifsud and Bolasie, especially in the first half, when Sliema were the better team. But the joint leaders came back strongly into the second half, during which they jolted Sliema until the Blues managed to scramble a point following Roderick Briffa’s fine goal near the end.

The Greens confirmed their potential in this match. Their results and performances are there for all to notice. This team is certainly no fluke and Danilo Doncic is certainly doing an excellent job with this bunch of ‘youngsters’, most of whom have now matured into some fine footballers.

Sliema disappointed once again. After taking an early lead, they remained the best side in the first half, but with Floriana visibly shaken, they could not add to their tally.

On the changeover, they had to suffer the Greens’ rally. Their opponents not only reversed the score to take a 2-1 lead but also threatened to overwhelm the Wanderers who might consider themselves lucky to have remained in contention to save a point with that excellent equaliser from Briffa.

Valletta again disappointed their large number of followers with another slipshod performance against lowly Msida SJ. A late equaliser by the Saints meant that Valletta had forfeited another two points at the last minute. The previous week, the citizens were stopped by Hibernians who got their equaliser three minutes from the end.

Valletta cannot get going. Even if they manage to take the lead, as they did on Saturday through Mattocks, they remain a team struggling to find their form with Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo failing once again to get his name on the scoresheet.

It is unfair, however, to continue hammering doubts on the form of this player only. And it is also unfair for the side to continue relying on his well known scoring abilities. After all, current top scorer Ian Zammit was also in the starting line-up on Saturday and he also failed to score.

The others also have to give their contribution if the side is to be successful. Apart from Gilbert Agius, the rest seem to be well off form and unless coach Paul Zammit can lift the players’ morale, it will be difficult for them to get back into contention very quickly.

Msida did very well to steal that point near the end. They must consider it as a bonus point in their circumstances – fighting for a place among the top six.

So far they have collected four points from four matches and they seem to be on the right track, even if the road is still very long.

Hibernians and Pieta obtained their first victories of the season beating Mqabba and Hamrun Spartans respectively.

The Paolites, for the first time this season, and even if they were facing bottom club Mqabba, were impressive in their 2-0 win.

They also confirmed their potential – I have always said that this side has all the ingredients to be a title challenger. After collecting four points from the last two matches, they can now look forward with more optimism, starting this evening with the match against Sliema W.

For Mqabba, it was a fourth defeat from four matches, and it is now already looking obvious, if there was any doubt before, that their main interest will be that of avoiding the Big Drop after just one season.

Pieta Hotspurs also registered an important win, beating neighbours Hamrun Spartans by the odd goal in five.

It was the Hotspurs’ first win of the season and Carmel Busuttil’s boys deserved the verdict after coming from behind the score three goals before suffering an injury time Hamrun second goal which was not enough to deny them the three points.

The Spartans showed just a few glimpses of the form they had shown when beating Marsaxlokk the previous week. Theirs was a pathetic performance as they failed to take command after taking the lead in the first half. Instead they allowed Pieta to take command as the Hotspurs scored two quick goals to overturn the result before the interval.

Player of the week

Martin Deanov (Pieta H.)

Pieta’s midfield general Martin Deanov is my choice this week after his five-star performance in the 3-2 win over Hamrun Spartans on Saturday.

Deanov, a target for many a top club during the past two seasons, but who has remained loyal to the Hotspurs, was very instrumental in his side’s win over the Spartans.

He procured the second and third goals for his side apart from being a menace whenever he had the ball at his feet.

I am sure he will again be a target for some of the top clubs in future if he maintains such excellent form.

Top scorers

4 goals – Etienne Barbara (Sliema W.)

3 goals – Christian Caruana (Floriana), Ian Zammit (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Pieta H.), Ron Hartvig (Birkirkara)

2 goals – Michael Galea (Birkirkara), Adrian Mifsud (Floriana), Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk), Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun S.), Terence Scerri (Hibernians), Ryan Darmanin (Floriana), Alexsander Mazdar (Sliema W.),

Next programme

(all matches at Ta’ Qali)

Today

7.30pm Sliema W.-Hibernians

Tomorrow

6pm Msida SJ-Hamrun S.

8pm Valletta-Mqabba

Thursday

6pm Pieta H.-Birkirkara

8pm Marsaxlokk-Floriana