Birkirkara registered their eighth win on the trot after a hard-fought victory over Mosta.
Two minutes into the game, Yuri Messias surged down the right before picking out the unmarked Manolito Micallef but his effort was saved by Justin Haber.
Their early enterprise augured well for Mosta. In fact, the scoreboard marked 13 minutes when Martins swung in a measured free-kick from the right and Duriska headed home.
Yet, Mosta’s lead was short-lived as the Stripes jolted their opponents with an instant equaliser. Vella muscled his way down the left and Jhonnattann met his cross on the volley, the ball bouncing down into the ground and whistling into the net with Omar Borg helpless.
The stripes gained territorial edge but Mosta’s tigerish defensive line annulling Birkirkara’s attempts to gain their typical grip on the flow of play.
So it was inevitable that the champions relied on set-pieces to apply some pressure on the Mosta goal. In the 22th minute, Jhonnattann’s teasing free-kick sailed over the bar.
The Brazilian tried to to get his team going and on 37 minutes, the nippy striker embarked on a surging run through the middle but his shot was deflected away for a corner.
Birkirkara were again smarter early in the second half but a series of cross was all they could master with the Mosta rearguard dominant in the box.
But the match shifted decisively towards Birkirkara few moments later with Temile coming on for Vella. A change intended to supply the Stripes with fresh ideas and the move reaped its dividends instantly as Temile got himself on the end of a low Jhonnattann cross with Haruna’s dummy fooling the Mosta defence in a cute traingular movement.
The Nigerian’s qualities was proving to be effective for Birkirkara and three minutes later, Grech had to restore to a last-man foul to tame Temile leaving Mosta with ten man. Birkirkara suddenly rediscovered inspiration and confidence. In the 73rd minute, Haruna who stepped up his game with introduction of Temile, hit a delightful left-foot volley which Borg parried away in corner.
Despite surrendering their numerical advantage – as Zerafa given the marching orders for two bookable offences- Birkirkara still held more possession and ten minutes from time, the pacey Jhonnattann showed great skills to produce a cheekly lob over Borg from a tight angle but the ball finished wide off the far post.