Birkirkara’s winless streak of four matches, yesterday came to an end as they finally tasted victory in the Premier League, courtesy of a late winner from substitute Thomas Paris.

This was a setback for Floriana who, although they stay top at the end of the first round, their lead has now been cut to only one point.

After taking an early lead Floriana were caught up and then fell behind before halftime. After drawing level in the second half, they succumbed to Birkirkara’s late winner and never recovered.

By virtue of this win, Birkirkara meanwhile move further up the standings, in third place behind Sliema Wanderers, two points adrift of Floriana.

Although the scoreline may suggest an entertaining match, this was far from the truth. Three goals came from dead ball situations and another was a Floriana giveaway from a defensive blunder.

Both teams effected slight changes from their previous outings as Roderick Sammut, Martin Anastasi and Bernard Paris were given starts in the Birkirkara side while Floriana relegated Julian Briffa and Adrian Mifsud to the bench, to be replaced by Clifton Ciantar and Trevor Cilia respectively.

It took Floriana only six minutes to make the breakthrough, when awarded a penalty, after Cilia was floored inside the Birkirkara area by Sammut’s late tackle, which Darko Krsteski tucked away with power and precision.

Birkirkara were suddenly faced with an uphill struggle and took some time to settle into the game as Floriana enjoyed the better share of possession and threatened again after 20 minutes with a Brincat long range shot which went narrowly wide.

But on 25 minutes Birkirkara drew level, also from a set piece. Shaun Bajada beat keeper Agius with a well directed low free kick from the edge of the area towards the right.

Jean Paul Mifsud Triganza exploited Pisani’s gaffe, when he played a square pass in defence, advanced unmolested and steered the ball low past the helpless Agius to give Birkirkara the lead on 40 minutes.

And in the half’s added time, Mifsud Triganza again got the better of Krsteski’s and Ciantar’s indecision at the back, but keeper Agius rushed off his line to smother the danger.

Galea halted Bolasie’s run to concede a free kick and earn a yellow card. And after Bolasie made way for Adrian Mifsud, Christian Cassar beat keeper Paris with an exquisite shot at the right hand side.

With five minutes away from full time and the match heading for a draw, the Floriana defence was caught cold by Tabone’s deep cross from the left which fell to the unmarked Thomas Paris, who put the ball past keeper Agius and gave Birkirkara a much needed win.

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

Floriana: S. Agius, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, D. Krsteski, C. Ciantar, Z. Levniac, C. Caruana, Y. Bolasie, C. Cassar, M. Brincat, T. Cilia

Referee: P. Caruana asst.refs: P. Agius, M. Debono 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: D. Krsteski, S. Bjada, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, C. Cassar, T. Paris

Yellow cards: R. Sammut, P. Fenech, D. Krsteski, R. Hartvig, L. Galea, C. Cassar, M. Anastasi

Player of the match: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: 1. S. Bajada 2. A. Tabone 3. M. Micallef