The third barren match of the weekend, not only failed to produce any goals, but also any hint of them. It was an encounter devoid of incident as the big sleep that threatens Maltese football descended yesterday over the Hibs Stadium.

Buoyed by their derby success against Hibernians, Tarxien Rainbows were expected to go into this match with more self belief.

Birkirkara had also beaten Qormi in the previous match but both sides looked woefully short of class and conviction for too long and lost further ground to leaders Valletta.

It was a messy affair and the teams’ performance, suffocated by too much chaotic play, reminded everyone just how little quality there sometimes is in the Premier League.

Despite their previous win, coach Coleiro deemed it fit to make changes in the Tarxien line-up. Pacheco was not included in the squad but Daniel Bueno started in attack. Anonam played in midfield as Ryan Grech, Luke Vella Critien and Manuel Caruana were given starts. Calabretta, Sadowski and Tanti were relegated to the bench.

Birkkirkara kept faith in the same team which won the previous match but failed to take a stranglehold on the proceedings as Tarxien, who might have started the match in an unexpected role of favourites, never allowed the chmpiosns any comfort on the ball.

There were half chances for both sides but the two goalkeepers remained mostly untroubled in the first half.

After a Lattes shot was deflected into a corner, Anonam went for goal from midfield. Keeper Fraser blocked well on the ground.

Towards the half hour, Bueno took possession on Zerafa’s erratic back header but his diagonal shot sailed across the face of the Birkirkara goal.

On the other end, Pulo’s shot was blocked by Caruana into Lattes’ path. Keeper Cassar stretched himself to save.

Before halftime, Zerafa did the work on the left. His low cross from the byeline fell to Pulo who skied the ball.

Goalmouth action remained scarce and far between in the second half as both teams hardly threatened to break the high sterility, which reminds everyone how little quality there is in the Premier League.

Efforts grew more laborious as the match wore on. On the hour. Pulo’s goof work from the byeline did not produce anything as the innocuous Galea’s low shot was blocked.

Even after Birkirkara effected a double substitution on 75 minutes, the champions continued to squander the chances. Bajada’s long free kick sailed wide.

On 80 minutes, Lattes presented the unmarked Terence Vella with a perfect ball for him to tap in but the Birkirkara substitute contrived to loft the ball over.

Two minutes later, Rodriguez also missed the target by a whisker for Tarxien and on the stroke of full time, Anonam’s header from inside the eight-yard box was fumbled by keeper Fraser but Zerafa blocked and cleared the danger to make sure the stalemate prevailed.

Birkirkara M. Fraser, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, P. Borg, S. Bajada, R. Harding, R. Muscat (S. Zahra), K. Pulo (T. Vella), E. Lattes, M. Galea (T. Cilia), A. Buhagiar

Coach P. Zammit

Tarxien R D. Cassar, M. Caruana (R. Mintoff), E. Pereira, R. Costa (J. Vella), C. Rodriguez, D. Bueno, L. Vella Critien, O. Anonam, R. Grech (M. Tanti), L. Galea, J. Grioli

Coach N. Coleiro

Referee F. Zammit

Asst.refs A. Camilleri, W. Debattista

4th official G. Tonna

Yellow cards L. Vella Critien, R. Harding

Player of the match E. Lattes (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3 1. E. Lattes 2. O. Anonam 3. L. Vella Critien

Attendance 823