Birkirkara boost top-six hopes

Birkirkara 5
Hamrun Spartans 0

Billed as a crucial top-six duel, the match between Birkirkara and Hamrun Spartans failed to live up to expectations of an even, action-filled encounter.

Having taken the lead through a Roderick Fenech own goal on the stroke of half-time, Birkirkara ripped their opponents apart in the second half, scoring four times without reply as the Spartans pushed the self-destruct button.

The Stripes, who have now moved above Hibs in fifth place with 26 points, had been the more enterprising side but there were no indications that they would enjoy such a comprehensive victory.

Although the Spartans were nowhere near their best in the first half, they fashioned a handful of chances and coped well with the pressure but after the break, they were awful.

Two quick goals by Alan Tabone drained the Spartans' morale but they only have themselves to blame for this humiliation as they showed no stomach for a fight, not to mention their defensive horror show.

On this evidence, Hamrun, whose erstwhile promising campaign was derailed by successive defeats to Msida and Valletta, have to be regarded as the likely candidates to fill the fourth spot in the dreaded Relegation Pool.

"Puppet Show" read one of the banners held up by the Birkirkara fans who wanted to show their disappointment at the team's performances of late. Surprisingly, given the high-stakes nature of this game, the attendance at the National Stadium was very poor.

Sean Sullivan, who had an unhappy one-year spell with Birkirkara last season, guarded Hamrun's goal as Michael Falzon was ruled out by injury. Stefan Sultana and Diego Cucciardi are also on the casualty list for the Spartans.

Birkirkara started brightly, Tabone denied an early goal by Roderick Fenech's clearance after the Birkirkara forward's volley had the better of Sullivan.

The Stripes shaded the early exchanges but Hamrun almost landed the first punch on 17 minutes. Ryan Fenech's free-kick looked destined to sail into the far corner of the net but Omar Borg leapt to his right to push the ball around the post.

"Handball" shouted the Birkir-kara faithful as Tabone's cross from the right appeared to come off Kevin Borg's outstretched hands but referee Paul Caruana waved play on.

On 26 minutes, the Spartans threatened to unlock Birkirkara's four-man defence as Alfred Effiong got on the end of a through ball from Evano Briffa and found Spiteri in an unmarked position on the edge of the box. The striker had ample time to calibrate his shot but his effort ended on the wrong side of the post.

At the other end, Birkirkara might also have seized the lead when Davy Amed Sylla floated a precise pass to striker partner Michael Galea but the Birkirkara captain's drive was repelled by Sullivan.

Effiong then skewed his shot wide after a good pass from midfield by Spiteri as the match remained generally balanced.

Possession-wise, Birkirkara had a slight edge but the Stripes looked susceptible when Hamrun directed quick, vertical balls to their strikers.

Gerada's men would have snatched the lead nine minutes from half-time but for an excellent piece of defending by Emil Yantchev who dispossessed the goalbound Spiteri with a timely tackle.

From the grim possibility of going behind, Birkirkara went 1-0 up a minute from half-time. Shaun Bajada spotted Sylla lurking in the box and duly served him with a dipping pass. The former B36 Torshavn man swept past a couple of defenders whose misery was compounded when Roderick Fenech appeared to get a decisive touch to the cross-shot which ended in the back of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, Hamrun suffered another setback as Briffa was carried away on a stretcher after he suffered what looked like a knee injury when tackled by Thomas Paris. Briffa was replaced by Steve Meilak at the start of the second half.

Eight minutes after the restart, Birkirkara doubled their lead thanks to a perfectly-executed free-kick by Tabone.

Tabone piled on the agony for the Spartans seven minutes later when, profiting from a slip by Bratislav Timotic and horrendous defending by the static Hamrun players, he advanced unchallenged before firing low past Sullivan.

Midway through the second half, Birkirkara increased their lead to four goals, Sylla pouncing on another glaring mistake by the Spartans' defence as he lobbed over Sullivan before flicking the ball home.

As the Spartans continued to play like strangers, Birkirkara seized the opportunity to add to their goals-for column.

With 13 minutes of the game left, Michael Galea put his name on the scoresheet with a grounder after racing clear to reach a pass from Paul Fenech.

Birkirkara: O. Borg-6, L. Galea-6, T. Paris-5.5, P. Fenech-6.5, M. Galea-6, A. Tabone-7 ('87 M. Anastasi), R. Hartvig-6, S. Bajada-6 ('69 J. Zerafa-5.5), D. Sylla-6.5 ('79 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), G. Mallia-6, E. Yanchev-7.

Hamrun: S. Sullivan-5, P. Monye-4.5, A. Attard-4.5, E. Briffa-6 ('46 S. Meilak), K. Borg-4.5, Roderick Fenech-4.5, Ryan Fenech-5.5, R. Mangion-4.5, B. Timotic-4, G. Spiteri-4, A. Effiong-4.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Rod. Fenech og 44; Tabone 53, 60; Sylla 68; M. Galea 77.

Yellow cards: Paris; Mangion; Attard.

BoV player of the match: Alan Tabone (Birkirkara).