Valletta moved a step closer to the title at the weekend after a narrow 1-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows. But the highly interesting battle for second place continues unabated as the merry go round involving three clubs – Floriana, Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara - seems to have no end. In the Relegation battle Vittoriosa Stars kept their slim hopes as they overcame Hibernians while Qormi lost against Sliema.

Henry Brincat analyses the situation with only the second round of the Championship Pool (five matches) still to be played.

Although there seems to be no story at all with regard to the winning of this year’s title – Valletta have been firmly at the top for several months now always extending their lead – a big battle is raging for second place.

That is where the interest really lies this season – possibly till the very end.

This contest is at present restricted to three teams, that is, Floriana, Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara. They are all engaged in a merry-go-round with all the three teams leading the trio at one time or another depending on the results of the weekend matches.

This time, it is Floriana who lead the pack one point ahead of Marsaxlokk and two over Birkirkara, but that runner-up placing which means an Europa League berth next season is still up for grabs considering that there are still five more matches to be played.

Valletta needed just one goal to beat the Rainbows and that is what they practically did on Sunday. Otherwise theirs was an indifferent performance which rarely aroused any interest on the stands at Ta’ Qali.

The citizens are now well on course for their 20th league title in their history. I have been saying all along that the citizens are in a class of their own – they have no equals. Their unbeaten record - not just their performances - goes on to show how superior they have been to all the others this season.

Not even a fully defensive-minded Tarxien could stop them from clinching the three points on Sunday. After scoring the goal early in the match, one might have thought that the citizens would be cruising home much more comfortably than they did.

But with several key players on the bench, they just plodded the ball from one side to the other of the field as Tarxien failed to put in a decent reaction.

The Rainbows must have been aware of the fact that it was difficult to beat the leaders and decided to save their energies for a possible final push for that second place, even if they are five points adrift at present.

Floriana and Marsaxlokk were the most impressive selections at the weekend, both registering comfortable victories against Birkirkara and Hamrun Spartans respectively.

The Greens notched a 5-1 win with their Nigerian striker Daniel Nwoke establishing himself as one of the league’s top strikers with four goals – he has now scored an impressive12 since joining Floriana in January.

It was an easy victory for the Greens who showed superiority from start to finish, especially after taking a 3-0 lead by the opening 30 minutes. If they can manage to maintain such form till the end, then they must be considered as firm candidates for that runner-up berth and a place in Europe next season after so many disappointing seasons.

For the Stripes it was another nightmare and coach Paul Zammit must be wondering what has happened to his side this season.

I consider this Birkirkara side as the most inconsistent of the whole lot, and that also includes bottom placed Relegation Pool side Vittoriosa Stars who are on the brink of relegation to next year’s first division.

On some occasions, Birkirkara can be lethal as they were against Marsaxlokk and Tarxien (4-1 and 3-1 respectively), methodical though unsuccessful (1-1 v Hamrun and 0-1 v Valletta) and mediocre as last Sunday.

On such form, I cannot see Zammit’s side back in Europe next season, at least through the League. This is simply because they are still semifinalists in the FA Trophy competition.

Unless they pull up their socks and beat both Floriana and Marsaxlokk in the second round of this Championship Pool, then they will have to forget all about second place in the league.

The defence was at sixes and sevens against the Greens as Nwoke pranced around on the lush green grass at Ta’ Qali.

In the other match, Marsaxlokk came from behind to beat the Spartans 4-2. And here, it was another player – Ryan Darmanin (a Floriana product) who was outstanding, scoring a great hat-trick to outgun the Spartans.

Yet, with two minutes till the end of the first half, Hamrun seemed to be comfortable leaders, albeit with just a one-goal lead. They seemed to be playing better than their opponents and capable of pulling off a win.

But Marsaxlokk, especially Darmanin, had other ideas. The former Floriana man scored two goals in the space of two minutes to put the southern seasiders in pole position by the interval.

And it was no surprise that they added two further goals on the changeover before the Spartans scored their second in added time through a penalty.

On Saturday, one expected Qormi to go all out and gain the victory they needed to secure their place among next year’s elite after Vittoriosa had beaten Hibernians on Friday evening.

But it was not to be. On the contrary, they lost heavily 4-1 against Sliema, although one must also say that they missed the services of several key players like Michael Mifsud, Jason Vandelannoit, Jonathan Bondin, Cleaven Frendo and Bello Osagie.

Qormi must now regroup and concentrate on beating Vittoriosa Stars next Saturday in a direct clash which means a lot for both sides.

With two matches, remaining, Qormi still have a five-point cushion, but that could be trimmed to just two on Saturday afternoon if the Stars win. On the other hand, a draw will be enough for the Yellow Blacks to save their bacon.

Best player

Daniel Nwoke (Floriana FC)

Floriana’s Nigerian striker Daniel Nwoke is again my choice after another impressive performance, this time against Birkirkara in a 5-1 win.

Nwoke claimed four of his side’s five goals as he mesmerized the Birkirkara weak defence with mazy dribbles and swiftness that must surely rank him as one of the best foreign signings by any club this season.

It is players like Nwoke who lift the standards of local clubs and local football. In three months, he has scored 12 goals – quite an impressive amount also considering that he was ruled out for three weeks through injury.

Top scorers

14 goals T. Scerri (Valletta), A. Effiong (Marsaxlokk)

14 goals D. Nwoke (Floriana)

11 goals G. Spiteri (Hamrun S.)

10 goals D. Rocha dos Santos (Valletta)

8 goals JP Mifsud Triganza (Sliema W.),