Birkirkara returned to winning ways when they held off a battling Qormi side by the odd goal in three at the National Stadium.

The Stripes surged ahead on 26 minutes when Paul Fenech unleashed a thunderous drive from outside the area that Farrugia failed to block and in came Joselito who after seeing his first attempt blocked by the Qormi custodian he somehow managed to bundle home the rebound.

Qormi’s response failed to arrive and Birkirkara added a second goal eight minutes from the break.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza showed great vision in sending a precise through-ball towards Jhonnattann who was clean through and cooly slotted the ball past Farrugia.

A minute from the break, Qormi should have pulled a goal back when Effiong released Zarate who sped round Haber but took too much time to conclude and was eventually closed down by Vukanac.

On the restart, Zerafa looked to add more firepower to his forward line when he roped in Moises Avila Perez and Leighton Grech, who both were on the books of Birkirkara last season, at the expense of Roderick Sammut and Joseph Chetcuti.

Qormi finally bridged the gap ten minutes from time when Kris Thackray’s precise throughball released Alfred Effiong who burst into the area and despite being in a close angle he beat Haber with a rising shot.

But that was too little too late as Birkirkara held on for the win.