A barren week brought an end to the BOV Premier League first round although Hamrun Spartans and Valletta have still to play their last match tomorrow.
The five weekend games produced only three goals and plenty of sterility. The much awaited derby between Valletta and Floriana ended in a goalless stalemate but a point apiece ensured Valletta remain unbeaten on top, four points above Floriana in second place.
Only three points separate the six teams from second to seventh position.
Valletta have benefitted most as they remain the only unbeaten side, having scored most goals and conceded least, in eight matches. Valletta have only dropped six points in draws against Hibernians, Birkirkara and Floriana last weekend but have almost put to the sword all the rest of their opponents in equal measure. Their strength in depth is among the more obvious differences between the other teams as their myriad of local talent hardly makes them reliable on their foreigners, two of whom do not even command a first-team place. They have unquestionably played consistently the best football so far.
Having 14 points from their first nine matches is not a bad tally for Floriana, who are one of the few teams performing above expectations. They have only scored seven goals (only Sliema and Vittoriosa have scored less). But they have only lost to Hibernians, Tarxien and Marsaxlokk and have beaten Birkirkara and Sliema. They have a good mix of youth and experience. Ivan Woods has given them more attacking options – Brian Said more defensive security despite his age.
Tarxien Rainbows failed to capitalise on Floriana’s draw as they were also held to a scrappy goalless stalemate which lacked excitement against Birkirkara.
Tarxien recovered well from a mild start of the season, perhaps until their new foreign Brazilians started to integrate into their side, and embarked on a positive four-match run in which they collected ten points after their drubbing 5-2 against Valletta last month. Not for the first time, the Rainbows have recruited some of the best foreigners on display. Three new Barzilians – Costa, Pacheco and Rodriguez – complement the already tried and tested Everton and Bueno. The locals play around them, with Orosco Anonam another asset, and the results have been good so far.
Newly promoted Marsaxlokk are also going through a positive league campaign so far. Their already assembled team which played First Division football last season, did not change much and looks good enough to guarantee survival in the Premier League. A sound defence (third best in the Premier League) makes up for some lack of finishing up front. They may be too Alfred Effiong dependant for goals but, in turn, the league’s top scorer so far, needs space to exploit his forays as he becomes most dangerous with his explosive speed. Deprived of space, Effiong is less lethal as his former team Qormi made out against him on Sunday with a five-man defence.
Hamrun Spartans’ win on Friday against Vittoriosa brought back some harmony in the team, following the tempestuous defeat by Marsaxlokk which irked their disgruntled fans. It was not a convincing one, but nonetheless earned them three points which leave them on course for a top-six berth in the Championship Pool. The Spartans have strengthened their squad from last season and are now relying on experienced players back to their fold, like Massimo Grima and David Camilleri. Ryan Fenech however remains their most creative force.
Like Marsaxlokk and Hamrun, champions Birkirkara are also on 13 points after the first round. A disappointing haul by last season’s standards but the Stripes had their fair share of long term injuries and suspensions to many key players during this round. This is no excuse however to their lack of good results. They dropped points in embarrassing defeats against Floriana and Marsaxlokk and drew four of their other seven matches.
Qormi are seventh, two points behind them. They have changed a lot and need time for the new players to gel together under a new coach. They were also unlucky not to have bagged a couple of points more, especially in the undeserved last minute defeat against Floriana. Last Sunday’s win against Marsaxlokk, their first in five matches, was not obtained in attractive fashion but might serve inject some new life in their season, especially after the improving performances of Cleaven Frendo and Matthew Bartolo. Qormi are a less entertaining side than last season and need reinforcements up front to add that killer instinct.
Sliema Wanderers and Hibernians failed to take the expected protagonists’ role as Valletta’s main challengers. With every passing week both seem to slip further behind to what they aspire and now languish in eighth and ninth place respectively. They lack creativity in midfield and often show vulnerability in defence (having conceded 27 goals between them).
Sliema Wanderers’ search of a goal poacher continues as they have scored only a meager six goals in nine matches and only two wins to show.
Even worse, Hibernians, who have not played with the same enthusiasm of the past two seasons, have not won a league match since their first against Floriana in September. That was a false dawn as Miller’s team stumbled to one disappointment after another and failed to score in the last four matches.
Other newly promoted side Vittoriosa Stars remain anchored at the bottom of the table. Four straight defeats in the opening matches were followed by a draw against Floriana, a win against Hibernians and two consecutive draws against Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk until they succumbed again to defeat against Hamrun Spartans last weekend in rather unlucky circumstances after having hit the post twice. Although they might remain perennial relegation candidates, the Stars’ fight for survival is far from over.
Best player
Omar Borg (Hamrun S.)
Omar Borg played in the Hamrun goal for the first time this season after joining the Spartans in the summer and immediately left an impact. His superlative goalkeeping, especially in the first half, was influential for the Spartans’ win against Vittoriosa Stars.
When Vittoriosa looked superior and raided his fort, Borg frustrated them time and again with a string of good saves. Twice at least he stopped goalbound efforts from Brazilians Santos Silva and Campagnoli. His handling was immaculate as he instilled confidence in his defence.
And when Omar Borg was beaten, the woodwork twice came to his rescue holding efforts from Kevin Mifsud and Jonathan Xerri to preserve a clean shet.
On this form, it would be difficult for Ivan Casha to reclaim his place in goal.
Top scorers
7 goals Alfred Effiong (Marsaxlokk)
6 goals Terence Scerri (Valletta),
4 goals Paul McManus (Hibernians), Marcelo Pereira (Hamrun S.), Kevin Sammut (Valletta), E. Lattes (Birkirkara), Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun S.)
3 goals George Mallia (Qormi), Dene Shields (Hamrun S.), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Galea, T. Vella (both B’Kara), JP Mifsud Triganza (Sliema), A. Ewurum (Vittoriosa), S. Pacheco, R. Costa (both Tarxien R.)
2 goals T. Cilia, (Birkirkara), P. Anizoba, M. Grima, G. Spiteri (Hamrun S.), DM Bueno, C. dos Santos Rodrigues (Tarxien R.), Obinna Obiefule, (Sliema), D. Falzon, J. Pace, D. Rocha dos Santos (all Valletta), M. Mecerod (Floriana), Jorge S. Silva (Vittoriosa), Ivan Woods (Floriana)