BIRKIRKARA 1 TARXIEN RAINBOWS 0

The Stripes this afternoon earned a hard-fought victory over Tarxien Rainbows.

Bereft of any creative football and open scoring chances, Birkirkara still enjoyed the clear edge and were the brighter side in attack.

Their efforts reaped the desired rewards as the Stripes ground out a deserved 1-0 victory which would have been more pronounced had they not been so erratic in the final third

The early exchanges were balanced but Birkirkara gradually began to impose themselves on the game. Yet inside the first four minutes, Tarxien had an eye-catching opportunity to break the deadlock but Ronallie’s header was kept put by the lightning reflexes of Justin Haber, Birkirkara goalkeeper.

Clear cut scoring chances were something of a rarity in the opening half-hour as the two sides lacked fire power in the final third.

Birkirkara drew first blood after 36 minutes. Mendoza laid the groundwork as his long pass from midfield bypassed a host of Tarxien players and landed into the path of Herrera on the right flank, who burst clear past Sadowski. His cross flew cross Tarxien’s penalty and finished beyond the Rainbows defence at the far post where stand-in captain Joseph Zerafa unleashed a low drive behind Nicky Vella Tarxien goalkeeper.

The second period was largely bereft of goalmouth action but much of the activity still took place in the Tarxien half. Shy the hour mark, Birkirkara threatened to increase their lead, Potezica was beaten for speed by Jhonnattann but the Brazilian hammered wide.

Few minutes later, Miguel Ciantar emarked on a twisting run that took him into the box but the former Sliema winger scuffed his shot.

With Birkirkara still enjoying more possession, Tarxien were relying more on counter-attacks. Five minutes from time, substitute Karl Pulo lit up the game with a fulminating cross-cum-shot that was tipped over the bar by Haber.

At the death, it was Birkirkara who came close to administering the killer touch but Shodiya Haruna shot wide.