Birkirkara 3 Ħamrun Spartans 1

A well-taken double by Jorge and Shodiya's second goal for the club enabled Birkirkara to complete the first half of their 2011-2012 trek with 35 points, par with Sliema Wanderers.

After seven minutes, Shawn Bajada's exquisite pass inside the box towards Jorge – who hammered in – opened up Ħamrun and the game too.

The Stripes' early breakthrough rattled the Spartans but they gradually began to find their feet. In the 11th minute, Angus Buhagiar superbly cleared off the line to deny Dene Shields.

Further evidence of the Spartans' progress came on the half hour mark when Spiteri rifled a swerving shot narrowly wide.

That triggered an intense period of pressure from the Stripes with Jorge going close fron range before Shodiya bundled in the second.

Bajada was at the heart of everything in the opening period as he chased, passed well and importantly he became his side's provider again. In the 37th minute, Bajada whipped in a cross from the right which Shodiya evaded his marker to divert the ball past Borg from close range.

Within three minutes of restart, Jorge released Mifsud Triganza blazed the ball high over the crossbar.

But Ħamrun were handed a lifeline on 66 minutes to re-open the issue as Ribeiro headed past Ruben Gauci after meeting a cross from Shields.

Stefan Sultana withdrew the ineffective Calabretta and roped in Glen Azzopardi in a bid to bolster the team's chances to earn an equaliser.

Jorge was a constant thorn in the Spartans' side and on 68 minutes, he stormed down the right flank, to force Borg tip over his angled shot.

And seven minutes later, Birkirkara re-established their two-goal cushion, to seal the issue when Gauci blocked Shoidya's route on the left flank but he left the ball slip to Jorge who placed it past Borg.

Substitute Ryan Spiteri almost put his name on the score-sheet nine minutes from time but his firm volley crashed against the bar.