Sliema Wanderers, facing life after Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia, started the second round at the top of the BOV Premier League as they were back in the groove this weekend beating Msida St Joseph 4-1.

The other three matches in this weekend’s programme brought an end to the first round and with eight of the ten Premier League teams having played nine matches, the situation remains rather tight. Only seven points separate the first eight teams in the standings.

Sliema, who played one game more, open a two-point lead over Floriana, after returning to winning ways against Msida, marking a positive debut for new coach Stephen Azzopardi.

The Wanderers, with a trimmed line-up, showed better commitment although the final score flatters them. Sliema were leading 2-1 when Msida had to play the last 20 minutes with eight men, after having three players sent off. Sliema only scored their last two goals in the closing stages, although in all fairness they were a superior lot in the second half. Msida fought gamely during the first 45 minutes and even took the lead but eventually wilted under the Blues’ pressure.

Floriana succumbed to their second defeat on Saturday, beaten by Birkirkara 3-2 and thus dropped to second place.

Birkirkara halted their winless streak of four matches to climb up the standings and close on the leading pack, one point adrift of Floriana.

Valletta’s demolition of a pallid Marsaxlokk side to the tune of 7-0 was the season’s biggest league win so far and took them up to third place, on equal points with Birkirkara.

The draw between Hamrun Spartans and Hibernians puts them on level terms with Marsaxlokk, a further two points behind.

Although unquestionably Floriana have played consistently and looked far and away the best of the top Premier League teams so far, the break seemed to have sapped some of their brittle confidence and early enthusiasm as they failed to win their last two matches. After a lucky draw against Hamrun Spartans the previous week, this weekend the Greens lost to Birkirkara.

The most lethal attack of the Premier League was frustrated for the second successive week as their goals against Birkirkara came from a penalty and a direct free kick. Their early form seems to be deserting them and against the Stripes, as against Hamrun, they created precious little as regards to open play.

Floriana struggled to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players although both Adrian Mifsud and Ryan Darmanin did not start the match and were brought in as second half substitutes.

Birkirkara returned to their winning ways after their previous win dated back to September.

The absence of striker Michael Galea and the departure of Tamboulas have somewhat blunted their cutting edge up front and it is the first time this season that the Stripes managed to score three goals in one match.

The return of Jean Paul Mifsud Triganza has helped to give Birkirkara more punch, as he is given some good service from Alan Tabone and Shaun Bajada.

The latter is by far emerging as one of the most influential players in the Stripes’ side this season and his well executed free kick against Floriana in his side’s equalizer, proved that he is also very deadly in set pieces.

Valletta’s revival continued this weekend as they extended their unbeaten run to three matches. Their demolition of Marsaxlokk provided a goal deluge although the frailty of the opposition also helped them to win at a canter.

Valletta’s Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo scored four of his side’s seven goals, all in the first half, to put the Citizens on track and take his personal tally to seven goals – the best so far. But Monesterolo could not have achieved that without the movement and skill of those around him, especially Ian Zammit and Stefan Giglio, as well as Backhaus and Camilleri.

Remarkably, Valletta routed Marsaxlokk without the still injured Gilbert Agius, and with Bondin, Forace, Mattocks and Fenech on the bench.

Is this Valletta’s turning point of the season? After a disappointing start, Valletta are widely expected to make further strides in the second round after their expensive pre-season reinforcements and their forthcoming match against rivals Floriana would be the right test of their potential.

Valletta’s 7-0 win was a humiliation for Marsaxlokk. Given the respective form of the teams going into this game – Valletta unbeaten in three matches and Marsaxlokk winning only one of the previous three – a Valletta win was not the hardest to predict. What was unexpected however was how bad the champions were going to be.

Talbot’s team was not so much embarrassed as utterly humiliated. Very rarely can a Marsaxlokk side show such a collective lack of commitment, and this fact alone, more than the desperate defending and toothless forward play, might have caused dejected coach Brian Talbot to leave the team’s bench before the match was over. Even the Southseasiders’ fans showed their disapproval as they removed all streamers at half time.

Hamrun Spartans failed to win in four consecutive games and their inability to hold to their lead has become rather chronic. Last Sunday they gave away a two-goal cushion and nearly lost the match against Hibernians.

As always, the Spartans were off to an assertive start and looked the better team in the first half, dampened by Hibernians’ soft goal and failure to score a third after the post denied Gaetan Spiteri a goal.

In the second half, Hibernians rallied back and after drawing level, looked superior, galvanised by Terrence Scerri’s inclusion and capitalising on Hamrun’s injuries to Monye and Mangion who both had to leave the field. Only the Hamrun keeper Michael Falzon denied them victory.

Unless Hamrun start turning their chances and possession more ruthlessly into goals, they may live to rue the many dropped points at the end.