Marsaxlokk-Birkirkara 1-4

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci, M. Licari, C. Mamo, E. Yanchev, R. Galabov, F. Raimy (R. Guerreiro), G. Sciberras, T. Templeman, M. Deanov, R. Darmanin (S. Eboh), J. Alcorse (A. Effiong)

Birkirkara: M. Bartolo, T. Cilia (E. Lattes), A. Agius, N. Vukanac, R. Scicluna, A. Decesare, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, A. Buhagiar (T. Vella), M. Galea (R. Kumbrevicius), I. Babutende

Referee: A. Arciola asst.refs: P. Agius, J. Camilleri 4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: R. Scicluna 35, I. Babatunde 44, M. Galea 77, A. Effiong 88, E. Lattes 89

Player of the match: A. Agius (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. I. Babtunde 2. A. Agius 3. M. Deanov

Attendance: 648

Birkirkara were back in the groove yesterday, hitting the in-form Marsaxlokk with two goals in each half to avert their crisis of form of late, at least for the time being.

Their game outpowered their opponents’ for the most part of the match with their crisp and incisive build-ups, in which a much improved Babatunde was almost always involved.

Birkirkara’s line-up showed a rift of changes following their defeat against Valletta, with Emiliano Lattes, Patrick Borg and Karl Pulo relegated to the bench. Shaun Bajada was absent and Manuel Bartolo deputised for the injured Fraser in goal. Andrei Agius again put up a solid performance in midfield, with Andrew Decesare wide on the flank.

Marsaxlokk, unbeaten in nine matches before yesterday, had Raimy returning in midfield after suspension, with Pullicino making way.

Alfred Effiong was named among the substitutes with Alcorse partnering Darmanin in attack. But they ended up with Malcolm Licari and Alfred Effiong as the striking pair after the latter went in for Alcorse on 55 minutes and Licari advanced after the inclusion of Eboh. Alcorse was displeased with the substitution and threw away his shirt as he made his way directly towards the dressing room.

Birkirkara made the more assertive start and pinned Marsaxlokk inside their own half for long stretches, putting shots at goal from Decesare and the volatile Babatunde.

Marsaxlokk, who had conceded only once in their last three matches, pride themselves on their buttress at the back and this was always going to be a keen examination of it.

The champions looked good enough for their comfortable two-goal cushion they built by halftime.

On 35 minutes Babatunde flicked Fenech’s pass towards the young Ryan Scicluna to pull off his opponent and shoot low past the helpless Gauci to score his first Premier League goal.

The second came six minutes from the break. Cilia’s header on a Buhagiar cross was palmed out by the goalkeeper, Galea crossed the loose ball and Ibrahim Babutende flicked it in.

Although Marsaxlokk went into the second half a little more fried up, they only looked menacing from set pieces, executed by Deanov. He forced keeper Bartolo into a difficult save direct from a corner on 53 minutes and past the hour, the Birkirkra custodian again turned his inswinging free kick into a corner.

Babatunde remained a constant menace to the Marsaxlokk rearguard. On 66 minutes he dribbled his way towards goal. His final shot was blocked by Mamo and then Fenech shot the loose ball wide. Babatunde then arrived late on an inviting Galea cross.

On 70 minutes keeper Bartolo spilled Raimy’s cross but recovered in time to block Effiong’s effort on the loose ball.

But as Marsaxlokk were trying to pull themselves back into the game, Birkirkara skipper Michael Galea hit them with a third goal, beating keeper Gauci with a well placed angled shot from the edge of the area.

With the points virtually secured for the champions, Marsaxlokk got a consolation goal two minutes from the end. From a Guerreiro corner from the left, keeper Bartolo fumbled Licari’s first effort and Alfred Effiong was quick to knock the ball over the line.

There was still time however for Birkirkara to score their fourth in the dying minutes. Emilian Lattes, who had gone in for Cilia, foraged down the right flank, went inside the area and beat the keeper with a low drive.