Birkirkara close in on Blues

Valletta 1
Birkirkara 3

Birkirkara's aspirations to make it a fruitful league season with the wresting of the championship prize from Hibernians, soared immeasurably. As a result of the Wanderers' defeat at the hands of the Paolites in the previous match and their victory over sporting rivals Valletta, they went a long way towards legitimising their claim for the title.

Their success helped them close in on league leaders Sliema and maximum spoils from their game in hand on the Blues would narrow the gap to a mere point.

The Stripes' direct clash with the Wanderers in the last match before the teams split up is bound to be a mouth-watering affair.

Yesterday, their win was totally deserved. They were the more positive team and I thought they won because they had a thicker, more constructive midfield and a player in the shape of Michael Galea, who hit a brace and was a constant threat to his opponents with his incisive runs.

Valletta would want to forget yesterday's outing. They are now a distant third from the topmost pack and only an extraordinary comeback could see them winning back their spurs.

The allure surrounding clashes between Birkirkara and Valletta in recent years is exclusive. To the point of being the solitary shining beacon against a backdrop of gloom as interest in domestic football keeps dwindling. Vide attendances.

Although these two protagonists of the local game are not occupying the topmost berth in the league table, the 'plum fixture' tag is invariably always affixed when the city team and the yellow reds cross swords.

Yesterday was no exception. Need for points, never mind prestige, was high on the agenda of both teams. If anything, a burning desire to keep up the challenge for the honours was the principal driving force.

Stephen Azzopardi on one hand and Denis Fenech on the other were bent on leaving no stone unturned when charting their respective tactical courses to outfox each other.

William Camenzuli and Chucks Nwoko were duly in the plans of Birkirkara coach and unlike in their midweek match against Mosta these two performers were in the starting XI.

Valletta had Milen Penchev back into their fold following his suspension. His inclusion added more midfield guile to the team's collective mechanism. Nicky Saliba was again asked to do duty as libero.

Prospects looked intriguing as both teams were about to take to the pitch.

A heavy downpour prior to the kick-off conjured visions of a possible delay to the start of the match. Fortunately the rain eased off and the exchanges lifted off on scheduled.

Bogdanovic was first in action but his effort was neutralised by Justin Haber. However, the Stripes were the first to forge ahead in their first telling raid.

Galea was on hand to serve Mallia. The Birkirkara midfielder ran down the left and when everybody was expecting a cross his angled shot had the beating of Sullivan. It was a fine piece of opportunism.

The Lilywhites tried a reaction, but the yellow-reds' engine-room with Chucks Nwoko and Jaroslav Marx supplying the pumping graft, Valletta never looked like making inroads.

Birkirkara threatened to increase their advantage but hesitancy in the penalty box and dour defensive work by the Whites' rearguard kept them at bay.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Penchev marked his return after suspension when he made space for himself on a Carabott cross, to rifle past Haber from barely four metres out.

The Stripes were stunned, with the result that their earlier drive went somewhat missing. They tried to put pressure on their opponents, but Valletta were equal to them.

The pressure again came from Birkirkara as the second period took off. Mallia went on a surging run but his shot took a deflection and Sullivan was relieved to see the ball roll to a corner-kick.

Rod. Briffa was on for Arsic, while Valletta had been forced to bring in Jonathan Bondin for the injured Carabott midway through the opening half.

Almost midway into the second half, the Birkirkara fans again went into singing mood when Galea, their ace striker, put the Stripes ahead for the second time.

In an effort to play the yellow-reds' hit-man offside, Darren Debono allowed his opponent too much space as Briffa's cute pass came in. Galea expertly side-stepped the onrushing Sullivan, before sliding in from an acute angle.

The chanting from the Birkirkara end went on as their favourites kept pressing the accelerator. Valletta were unable to move forward coherently and it was no surprise that Oretan and Bogdanovic could not get the right ball up front.

Camenzuli was out by a whisker after pouncing on a loose ball. Valletta were practically down and out, even if only one goal separated the teams.

Set-piece followed set-piece with the Lilywhites' fort passing through some anxious moments. Briffa was through in the dying minutes, but he elected to pass to a colleague who was in an offside position.

Man-of-the-match Galea showed how it should be done when he hit in goal number three deep into added time.

Valletta: S. Sullivan, D. Theuma (B. Pace), R. Forace (D. Trasokopoulos), N. Saliba, K. Fenech, D. Carabott (J. Bondin), C. Oretan, I. Zammit, M. Penchev, D. Debono, D. Bogdanovic.

Birkirkara: J. Haber, M.A. Bonnici (C. Micallef), L. Galea, W. Camenzuli, J. Marx, M. Galea, C. Nwoko. B. Arsic (R. Briffa), L. Dronca, K. Scicluna, G. Mallia.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Mallia 8th; Penchev 34th; Galea 65th, 90th.

Player of the match: Michael Galea (Birkirkara).