Birkirkara-Mosta 2-1    Birkirkara: J. Haber, D. Zerafa (G. Sciberras), A. Mendoza, N. Vukanac, P. Fenech, Jhonnattan, E. Herrera, S. Shodiya (R. Camenzuli), T. Vella (F. Temile), R. Muscat, J. Zerafa Mosta:O. Borg, K. Farrugia, T. Farrugia,  I. Grech, M. Micallef (J. Brincat), R. Grech, R. Ekani, C. Fernandes, Y. Messias, L. Duriska (R. Faria), G.M.  Piccioni   Referee:  M. Spiteri Asst.refs:  R. Vella, T. Debono   Additional asst.refs: A. Arciola, S. Spiteri   4th official: M. Borg   Scorers: L. Duriska 14, Jhonnattan 15, F. Temile 68   Yellow cards: L. Duriska, P. Fenech, T. Farrugia, J. Zerafa   Red cards: I. Grech, J. Zerafa Player of the match: Jhonnattan (Birkirkara) TMI top 3:  1. Jhonnattan  2. P. Fenech  3. R. Ekani   Birkirkara’s band wagon continued to roll with their eighth consecutive league win, this time against resilient Mosta, that rewards them with top spot for their consistency. It might not have been a polished performance from the Stripes yesterday but they got what they needed after substitute Frank Temile applied the winning touch with practically his first touch of the ball. Birkirkara made only one change from the side that beat Sliema Wanderers in midweek, Daniel Zerafa given the nod ahead of Ryan Scicluna. Mosta also won, against Vittoriosa Stars, in midweek but made three changes to their initial line-up yesterday. Tyrone Farrugia returned from suspension. Rodriguez Ekani and Lukas Duriska were given starts, replacing Ricardo Faria and Mark Brincat. Duriska immediately put his mark on the match as he gave Mosta the lead after 14 minutes, rising high to head Fernandes’ floating free kick past keeper Haber. That lasted only one minute though as Birkirkara restored equilibrium after Vella sent a deep cross from the byeline on the left and Jhonnattan connected well to steer the ball towards the roof of the net. Mosta remained mostly pinned inside their own half for the remaining half hour as Birkirkara exerted some pressure. The leaders showed moments of looseness in the early running and were erratic in their execution of set pieces though from Muscat and Shodiya. They only looked menacing on 36 minutes when Jhonnattan’s low drive was turned into a corner by Mosta keeper Borg. And three minutes before the break, Jhonnattan threaded a good pass to Joseph Zerafa on the edge of the area but the Birkirkara defender’s effort narrowly missed the target. The champions stepped up a gear after the interval and completely dominated their opponents who retreated further and ammassed their area. Fenech’s effort from the edge of the area, following a corner from the right, was saved by the Mosta keeper past the hour. Birkirkara broke the stalemate on 68 minutes and it was a badly needed goal that broke some of the tedium. Just 60 seconds after going in as a substitute for Vella, Frank Temile ran inside the Mosta area to connect to Jhonnattan’s low cross from the left, after Shodiya had missed, and beat keeper Borg with a low strike. Temile’s overdone celebrations, as he ran out of the pitch and in front of the Birkirkara fans in the Millenium stand, earned him a caution. The final 20 minutes were eventful as Ishmael Grech’s late tackle on the advancinmg Temile earned him a straight red on 69 minutes. Mosta immediately put in Ricardo Faria for Duriska. Birkirkara ought to have fashioned a little gloss to the scoreline towards the end but Shodiya’s long range shot was turned into a corner by keeper Borg. On 74 minutes, Birkirkara also had defender Joseph Zerafa sent off for two bookings but Birkirkara were not so naive to let their win slip away against opponents who knew their time was up.