Birkirkara 2
Comvalius 13, 87
Dingli Swallows 0
Birkirkara have joined Qormi at the top of the Premier League on 29 points after they breezed past bottom-placed Dingli Swallows in a one-sided encounter.
Two goals from Dutch forward Sylvano Comvalius were enough for the Stripes to bag maximum spoils and stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Paul Zammit's side dominated possession for long stretches but their erratic finishing kept the Swallows in contention until the final stages.
The Swallows produced another battling display but once again they were short of ideas in the build-up phase as they conceded another defeat that further dampens their chances of avoiding the drop.
Zammit could not field his strongest team as midfielder Shaun Bajada was serving a one-match ban while Angus Buhagiar and George Mallia are injured. On a more positive note, Trevor Cilia recovered from the knock he picked up against Ħamrun last week.
Jesmond Zammit, the Dingli coach, had no injury problems and picked his strongest formation with Joseph Okonkwo spearheading their forward line.
The Stripes were on the offensive right from the start. After nine minutes, Cilia should have put his team ahead when he was put through by Paul Fenech's flick but the winger fired wide with only goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia to beat.
The Swallows failed to heed this early warning and after 13 minutes, the Stripes forged ahead. Michael Galea made space for himself on the right before sending in a low cross that Farrugia failed to hold and Comvalius nipped in to fire home.
Dingli responded six minutes later when Renato Conceicao's free-kick sailed towards Okonkwo but the latter's header was blocked by Jorge Mora, the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Galea should have doubled Birkirkara's advantage when Cilia's cross found him unmarked at the far post but he headed the ball just over.
It was all Birkirkara now and on 29 minutes Fenech did well to keep possession just outside the area but his low shot was wide of the far post.
On the half hour, Dingli coach Zammit effected his first change when he withdrew Dino Cachia and roped in Haruna Doda. Seven minutes later, Conceicao also left the field after suffering an injury. He was replaced by Roderick Spiteri.
A minute later, Dingli came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Doda freed Andre Rocha Da Silva in the area but the Brazilian midfielder's drive hit the bar.
The second half followed the same script as the first with the Stripes retaining the initiative.
Chances remained few and far between as the gusty winds were making it difficult for both sides to find any sort of fluency.
On 64 minutes, Cilia sped past his marker on the right before sending a teasing cross that was volleyed over by Alan Tabone.
Two minutes later, Farrugia had to be alert to tip over Joseph Zerafa's long-range striker. From the resultant flag-kick, Fenech floated the ball into the area and Nikola Vukanac nodded the ball towards Galea whose close-range shot was pushed away by the Dingli keeper.
The Stripes kept creating chances without converting them. Thirteen minutes from time, Galea got on the end of Zerafa's cross but his effort was blocked by Farrugia.
Birkirkara finally killed off the match three minutes from time when Fenech surged forward before finding Galea who quickly turned the ball towards Comvalius who made no mistake.
Birkirkara
J. Mora-6, T. Cilia-7, N. Vukanac-6.5, B. Nisevic-6.5, T. Paris-6.5, A. Tabone-5 ('78 K. Pulo), R. Muscat-5.5, J. Zerafa-7 ('88 M. Camilleri), P. Fenech-7.5, M. Galea-6, S. Comvalius-7.5 ('90 R. Scicluna).
Dingli Swallows
J. Farrugia-5, R. Briffa-5.5, R. Conceicao-4.5 ('37 R. Spiteri-5), S. Tellus-5, K. Formosa-6, C. Muscat-5, D. Cachia-4 ('31 H. Doda-6), K. Borg-6, M. Borg-6, A. Rocha Da Silva-6 ('75 D. Zarb), J. Okonkwo-5.5.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Yellow cards: Zerafa; Briffa.
BoV player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).