Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, S. Wellman, T. Templeman, R. Conceicao, K. Sammut, M. Licari, P. Pullicino, G. Sciberras (J. Pace), M. Barbara (J.Alcorse), C. Frendo

Birkirkara: O. Borg, R. Sammut, E. Yanchev, R. Hartvig, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, M. Anastasi (A. Sylla), A. Tabone (T. Paris), S. Bajada, J.P. Mifsud Triganza

Referee: J. Attard asst.refs: K. Borg, J. Camilleri 4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: S. Bajada, M. Licari, C. Frendo (2)

Yellow cards: J. Pace, C. Mamo, E. Yanchev, M. Licari

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. S. Bajada 2. C. Frendo 3. C. Mamo

Champions Marsaxlokk were back in the groove yesterday after their reverse against Hamrun Spartans. Within less than a week from that heavy 7-3 defeat, the champions?trimmed side showed a different face against Birkirkara, winning 3-1, after falling in arrears, to restore some pride.

Showing more spirit and industry in midfield, especially from Pullicino and Sciberras until injured, Marsaxlokk inflicted more woes on a Birkirkara side which deserved a better outcome, judging from their commitment in the second half. Some rusty finishing and sloppy defending again let the Stripes down. They now slide to seventh place in the table, with only one win in four matches.

Marsaxlokk’s starting line-up included only Conceicao as a foreigner, with both Da Silva and Gomes recently released. Their new signing from Hibernians, Julio Alcorse, only went in as a late substitute.

Keeper Gauci lost his place, with Rueben Debono deputising in goal. Cleaven Frendo also started the match and played an influential role, scoring two of his side’s goals. Strangely enough, coach Brian Talbot watched the match from the stands, sitting in the VIP area, in the first half but was back on the bench for the second half.

Three goals within the first 20 minutes, promised an entertaining fare. Birkirkara broke the deadlock as early as the ninth minute. Shaun Bajada started the move on the left, served Tabone inside the area and then himself persisted to pounce on the nearly lost ball, side-footing it past the helpless Marsaxlokk keeper.

The champions took hardly five minutes to restore equilibrium. Keeper Borg failed to hold Sammut’s long range shot and Malcolm Licari was on hand to toe-poke the loose ball over the line, despite a Birkirkara defender’s challenge.

That goal injected some pace and enthusiasm into Marsaxlokk’s efforts and they even forged ahead by the 20th minute, courtesy of Cleaven Frendo’s shot from the edge of the area, which completely surprised keeper Borg, diving late as the ball beat him at the far end.

Birkirkara took some time to recover but gradually found their pace and a good choral move past the half hour enabled Bajada a shot at goal but the grounded Debono saved.

Before the break, Sammut failed to control the ball on Frendo’s inviting free kick.

Birkirkara gave a debut to their new Ivory Coast striker Amed Sylla at the start of the second half as Marsaxlokk substituted the injured Sciberras with Jamie Pace.

Sylla had a shot blocked by keeper Debono on 53 minutes and towards the hour Birkirkara, who did most of the running in the second period, won a free kick on the edge of the area. Bajada’s ferocious shot was repelled by keeper Borg, with Fenech failing to put the loose ball on target.

Minutes later, Fenech again failed to connect on Tabone’s cross in front of goal.

Marsaxlokk were conceding too many free kicks on the edge of their area but Birkirkara failed time again to exploit them.

On 73 minutes, Mifsud Triganza’s low rasping shot from outside area skimmed the foot of the post on Debono’s right as Birkirkara kept up their probe for an equaliser.

But their hopes were dashed on 78 minutes, conceding Marsaxlokk’s third goal against the run of play. Cleaven Frendo ran in well for Mamo’s deep cross from the left and lobbed the ball over a stranded Borg in goal to seal the issue.