Valletta FC extended their lead at the top by one point to two as they won their match against Tarxien Rainbows convincingly.

In the meantime, their immediate followers now are Marsaxlokk and Hamrun Spartans, who both won their games against Birkirkara and Hibernians respectively to move to the nine-point mark, two behind the leaders.

For Birkirkara it was a disastrous weekend – one of their biggest humiliations in their history – while for Hibernians it was a confirmation that the team has failed to maintain the early season promise.

Sliema also failed to capitalize on a promising situation which could have seen them moving alone on second place. But their failure to beat Qormi on Monday meant that they are still fourth on eight points.

Valletta are slowly but surely confirming early season predictions that they will be the No. 1 favourites for the league title this season.

This weekend, not only did they see their usual main challengers Birkirkara and Hibernians losing more points but they also steadied their boat further with a polished display against a purposeful Tarxien side which only succumbed in the final 20 minutes.

Valletta were given a tough challenge by the Rainbows especially in the first half when exchanges were shared. But in the second half, the citizens were a superior outfit and made the most of some Tarxien lapses at the back to score a comfortable victory.

The Rainbows showed improvement over recent performances but failed to hold on after twice coming back to equalise two City goals.

The match also marked the return to scoring form of Tarxien’s Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno, back at the club after a season in Poland.

Birkirkara suffered one of their biggest humiliations in the Premier League as they went down 5-2 to an impressive Marsaxlokk side.

In my preview on Saturday I had indicated that this would be a tricky match for the Stripes. And so it proved to be.

Marsaxlokk produced a great performance and had striker Alfred Effiong in superlative form as he scored four of his side’s five goals in the rout of the champions.

On such form, Marsaxlokk seem to have become Valletta’s biggest challengers at present and one now awaits the match between the two teams next Monday.

The Stripes will do well to forget all about their performance on Sunday. The absence of Shaun Bajada, Alan Tabone and Rowen Muscat might have left its mark on the team, but this was not a good enough excuse for such a poor performance which must have made coach Paul Zammit very angry.

The Stripes lacked any fighting spirit, especially after they suffered the third goal at the start of the second half.

And Zammit will have to work harder to see an improvement at the back which left much to be desired in this encounter.

Hamrun Spartans returned to winning form in the match against Hibernians who seem unable to return to winning form after such a good start to the season.

However, Steve D’Amato’s boys almost spoiled everything in a second half in which they allowed the 10-man Hibernians to claw their way back into the match. In fact, it was only a magnificent save by Casha on McManus close to the final whistle that helped them survive to win the maximum three points.

Had the Paolites produced the same form of the second half in that disastrous first period, then the story might have been different.

But they allowed their opponents to take a handsome 4-0 lead by the start of the second half and although they proved that it was not all over, it was evident that it was very difficult.

Floriana registered their first draw after two wins and two defeats, but they also allowed bottom placed Vittoriosa Stars to earn their first point of the season in a goalless draw.

The Greens, however, were once again disappointing and missed a good chance to move into second place on their own. At the end, they must have also been relieved that they did not lose all the points from this match.

In fact, Vittoriosa frustrated them with an organised defensive plan in which goalkeeper Simon Agius was inspiring. In fact, the Greens, despite their territorial superiority, had little to show at the end.

The Stars, as already said, concentrated mainly on defence, but when they attacked, they also provided some anxious moments for the Greens defence which, however, was never perforated.

It was an encouraging result for the Stars who now hope to continue showing improving in search of their first victory.

On Monday evening, Sliema Wanderers again disappointed their followers with a pathetic performance against Qormi.

The end result was a fruitless goalless draw as neither side must have been happy with the outcome.

Qormi, in fact, might have seen more of the ball, but they lacked ideas and rarely looked like being able to penetrate the Sliema defence.

Best player

Alfred Effiong (Marsaxlokk)

Nigerian Alfred Effiong was the toast of Marsaxlokk on Sunday afternoon as he scored four of his side’s goals in a splendid 5-2 victory over the champions.

But it was not just for the number of goals he scored that I have picked him as the best player this week. His was a quality performance and some of the goals he scored were well executed.

He had a good season last time with Qormi, but this year, he seems to be improving with every match Marsaxlokk are playing.

No doubt he has become one of the most feared strikers in the local Premier League.

Top scorers

5 goals - Terence Scerri (Valletta), Alfred Effiong (Marsaxlokk)

4 goals - Paul McManus (Hibernians)

3 goals - Terence Vella (Birkirkara), George Mallia (Qormi), Marcelo Pereira, Dene Shields (both Hamrun S.), Kevin Sammut (Valletta), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

2 goals - Trevor Cilia, Michael Galea, Emiliano Lattes (all Birkirkara), Peter Anizoba, Massimo Grima (Hamrun S.), C. dos Santos Rodrigues, R. Costa (both Tarxien R.), Obinna Obiefule, JP Mifsud Triganza (both Sliema), J. Pace (Valletta), A. Ewurum (Vittoriosa)

Next matches

(at V. Tedesco Stadium)

Friday 29 October

7.30pm Hamrun S.-Birkirkara

(at V. Tedesco Stadium)

Saturday 30 October

3pm Qormi-Floriana

(at Hibernians Stadium)

Sunday 31 October

2pm Tarxien R.-Sliema W.

4pm Vittoriosa S.-Hibernians

(at V. Tedesco Stadium)

Monday 1 November

7.30pm Marsaxlokk-Valletta