Klein and Montebello ease Stripes pressure
A return of 16 points from 12 Premier League matches might be not good enough for a club that has invested heavily this year and had ambitions to challenge at the top of the table not scrap in the lower half.
But this win against struggling opponents St Andrews might inject into Birkirkara some new lease of life.
Birkirkara were not at their most fluent in a goalless first half, with a weak attacking display, but after making the breakthrough through Martin Klein past the hour, they took complete control, scored a second through Luke Montebello, for a deserved victory, with St Andrews displaying no belief in terms of hauling themselves back into the game.
St Andrews’ troublesome sequence in Premier League matches was extended as Birkirkara inflicted a fifth defeat out of their last six outings. Their own gap from Birkirkara is now nine points.
Following two consecutive defeats against Balzan and Hibernians, coach Paul Zammit was forced to make changes, even because both Kurt Zammit and Lucas Maia were suspended yesterday.
Edward Herrera, Martin Klein, Mulemo Landry and Luke Montebello were given starts, as even Cain Attard and De Brito were dropped.
The Saints had won their first point in five matches against Lija Athletic the previous week. Yesterday they replaced Marcus Grima and Atkinson with Ricardo Martin and Tano Azian.
They showed a sense of team organisation as both teams continued to find momentum elusive for a whole hour.
St Andrews made the brighter start to the game, with Joseph Farrugia their pivot in midfield and Davis and Butler their wide players. A Davis’ shot was footed out by the Stripes keeper Philip Schranz.
Birkirkara’s first chance came after 20 minutes from a Grech corner which Klein headed straight at goalkeeper Calleja Cremona. Grech then tried his luck from a distance but his shot was easy prey for the St Andrews’ keeper.
But even after they started to take a grip on the proceedings, the Stripes lacked penetration in the final third.
Montebello was blocked by Walker when making his way inside the St Andrews area and later Grech chested a good ball, ran inside the area but his shot missed the target.
The second half was played with more intensity although quality remained in short supply. St Andrews looked better through the lively runs of Friggieri, who was soon to test keeper Schranz with a low drive from the edge of the area.
On the other end, Concalves ran down the right but keeper Calleja Cremona rushed out to block his cross.
Past the hour, Montebello passed the ball towards Concaleves, but keeper Calleja Cremona saved into a corner. From Grech’s flag kick, Martin Klein headed the Stripes in font.
Alex Nilsson made a rare appearance, replacing Fabiano De Oliveira who was largely anonymous.
Suddenly Birkirkara were driving the game against a St Andrews team struggling to raise their levels.
St Andrews could not recover their composure and were hit by Birkirkara’s second ten minutes from time. Luke Montebello was on hand to hit in Concalves’ cross from the left to expose the Saints’ weakness in defence. Valletta Gzira Balzan Floriana Hibernians Sliema Hamrun Birkirkara Mosta Senglea A. St. Andrews Tarxien Naxxar Lions Lija Athletic P W D 11 7 3 11 7 3 11 7 3 11 6 5 11 6 3 11 6 2 11 5 2 12 5 1 11 4 2 11 2 3 12 2 1 11 2 1 11 1 3 11 1 2 L F APts 1 20 4 24 1 26 12 24 1 21 10 24 0 22 7 23 2 17 6 21 3 17 7 20 4 16 12 17 6 14 16 16 5 15 23 14 6 10 17 9 9 9 27 7 8 11 30 7 7 11 22 6 8 13 29 5
Standings