Newly promoted Birzebbuga registered their second victory of the season beating St George’s by the odd goal in three to go temporarily on top of the standings together with Vittoriosa and Pieta Hotspur.

On the other hand St Georges slumped to their third consecutive defeat and are firmly anchored at the bottom of the table.

Birzebbuga had their first attempts through Kevin Borg and Mead Mifsud inside the opening 10 minutes. On 15 minutes the Saints missed a good chance with Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ivan Casha denying Mercieca.

The Saints were now playing better and missed some chances through Glenn Bonello and Gary Inguanez. Six minutes from the break Emeka missed a golden chance for Birzebbuga following a solo run, but the same player made amends a minute later when he scored from close range off a Sciortino pass from the right.

The Saints could have obtained the equaliser in the dying seconds but Dylan Zarb missed the target from an ideal position.

In the second period Birzebbuga doubled the score on 58 minutes when Ronnie Celeste hit home from close range following some good work by Emeka.

The Saints dominated the last part of the match and pulled one back 12 minutes from time through Dylan Zarb. Their efforts to save the match however proved to be futile.

Birzebbuga: I. Casha; K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, D. Milovic, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, K. Borg, M. Sciortino (F. Peplow), M. Mifsud (A. Cutajar), B. Onuta Emeka, R. Celeste (B. Farrugia)

St. George’s: T. Galea, E. Sevasta, C. Grech (V. Bouvette), B. Reda, G. Inguanez (E. Amaira), D. Zarb, H. Schembri, A. Abela, A. Bonello (D. Zahra), G. Bonello, A. Merceica

Referee: Sandro Spiteri