The Birkirkara youngsters were the better outfit in this game as they showed better ideas than Naxxar. The Stripes are in eighth place in the table on 21 points from 17 games while Naxxar are in bottom placing having only four points, also from 17 games and seem to be heading for a quick return to Section B next season.

The game was only five minutes old when Birkirkara took the lead as they won a corner kick on the right flank which was well-taken by Russel Gatt De Gabriele and Luigi Fenech scored with a hard rising shot from inside the area past a helpless Naxxar keeper Slayven Micallef.

Naxxar reacted and Clayton Falzon drove slightly over the bar from a freekick. Ayrton Azzopardi was then fouled outside the area and Falzon again drove out from the free kick while Lydon Camilleri was fouled on the right flank and from Falzon's free kick the ball was headed away.

In the next action by Birkirkara, Roderick Bonello floated a perfect high ball in the area from a free kick in mid-field and Leon Zammit missed the upright with his shot.

Naxxar then won a free kick on the left flank and from Falzon's kick, Stripes keeper Dylan Galea saved the ball to a corner which was taken by Azzopardi and David Vella headed slightly over the bar.

The last two actions before the break were both created by Birkirkara. A corner kick from the left flank by Gatt De Gabriele created havoc in Naxxar'a area but somehow the ball was cleared away to safety and Glenn Micallef outsped a defender on the right flank and served Leon Zammit with a cross in the area and Micallef saved his close-range shot.

The Stripes were all out to increase their lead soon after the restart as they created the first action.

Kurt Zammit was served from a long drop-kick by his keeper and after entering the area, a defender cleared the ball to a corner which was taken by Gatt De Gabriele and Kurt Zammit headed slightly over the bar.

In the 45th minute Birkirkara doubled their lead when Luigi Fenech served Kurt Zammit with a through pass who, after entering the area, scored with a hard grounder.

The woodwork denied Naxxar in the 52nd minute when Falzon served Lydon Camilleri with a through pass on the edge of the area and, from his hard rising shot, the ball hit the upper part of the bar with Galea completely beaten and the ball finished out.

Naxxar kept trying to get back in the game and created two more actions. Azzopardi served Daniel Agius with a perfect through pass in the area and Galea saved his close-range effort and he saved a free kick by Falzon after Agius was fouled outside the area.

Five minutes from the end Birkirkara scored a third goal with a good move between three players. Leon Zammit released Kurt Zammit on the left flank who, after advancing, served substitute Kieran Xuereb with a cross in the area and scored with a header.

Referee: Peter Abela

Player of the match: Leon Zammit (Birkirkara)