St Andrew were the better outfit during the whole 70 minutes as they created much more occasions than Birkirkara. They were also very methodical in their passing.

Birkirkara tried very hard to operate on the break but the Saints’ midfield and defence were as safe as houses. Following this game St Andrew are on five points from three games while Birkirkara have only one point, also from three games.

The game was only four minutes old when St Andrew opened the score when Zack Scerri served Neil Pace Cocks in the area and he gave Birkirkara keeper Dylan Galea no chance with a hard first-timer.

Encouraged by such an early lead the Saints’ mounted other actions from one of which Pace Cocks and Benjamin Zahra saw their shots missing the target.

The score became 2-0 in the 12th minute when Max Thake, after dribbling past an opponent, served Jeremy Vassallo in the area and he made no mistake with a low shot.

In the 14th minute Birkirkara came close to reduce the gap when Leon Zammit served Russel Gatt De Gabriele with a through ball and St Andrew keeper Jake Galea had to tip the ball over the bar.

In another Birkirkara action, Gatt De Gabriele was fouled outside the area and Galea saved the free kick by the same player.

In the 22nd minute St Andrew were denied by the woodwork from a Zahra effort. A minute later, however, it became 3-0 when Vassallo served Vella in the area and was pushed by a defender. Beppe Jaccarini converted from the spot sending the keeper the wrong way of the ball. 

St Andrew scored a fourth goal on the half hour when Ryan Sammut scored from inside the area after a flag kick by Zahra, and just before the half time whistle Birkirkara pulled one back when Gatt De Gabriele served Kurt Zammit in the area and he scored with a lobbed ball. 

The first action in the second half came from Birkirkara after six minutes when Gatt De Gabriele hit the bar as he tried his luck from outside the area with Galea completely beaten. Six minutes later Birkirkara scored a second goal Sergey Seychell scored with a header from inside the area. 

In the 56th minute St Andrew scored a fifth goal when Thake was fouled outside the area, Pace Cortis floated a high ball in the area and Zahra scored with a header. In the last action before the end, Gatt De Gabriele served Seychell in the area and the ball missed the upright from his shot. 

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Player of the match: Zack Scerri (St Andrew)