Two second-half goals assured leaders Birkirkara of a 3-0 win over Raiders Għargħur in their first game of the season of the new year.
The Stripes remain on top with 24 points after eight games, two points ahead of title rivals Mġarr United and five ahead of Swieqi United, and with a game in hand.
For this game, coach Melania Bajada deployed the best possible formation with skipper Stephania Farrugia at the heart of the backline.
Raiders, on their part, had newly-signed goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono featuring among the substitutes.
It was Malta international defender Farrugia who broke the deadlock for the Stripes from the penalty spot after 36 minutes, for her fourth goal of the season. The Stripes had to wait until minute 65 to double their lead through midfielder Tracy Teuma as she also grabbed her fourth goal in this campaign.
Mġarr retained their second spot with a comfortable 8-0 win over Mtarfa with forward Francesca Chircop scoring five goals and cementing her lead in the league’s top scorer list with 17 goals.
Captain Brenda Borg has reached the nine-goal tally with a brace while the other goal arrived from a Darya Attard own goal.
Swieqi United registered the biggest win of the week after beating Mosta 10-0, as they keep their slim title hopes alive.
Captain Dorianne Theuma grabbed a hat-trick while young forward Demi Magrin netted twice to remain the club’s top scorer with 8 goals. The other goals came from Ruth Steer Chetham, Chloe Ann Ellul, Emma Xuereb, Shona Zammit and Charlene Zammit.
STANDINGS
Birkirkara (8 games) 24 points; Mġarr United (9) 22; Swieqi United (9) 19; Kirkop United (8) 12; Raiders Għargħur (8) 6; Mosta (9) 6; Mtarfa (9) 0.
