Birkirkara returned to winning ways as they registered a fine 4-1 win over Balzan to join Valletta on top the BOV Premier League table although the Citizens have a game in hand.

For Balzan, this was the second consecutive defeat after last week’s 0-2 defeat to Floriana.

Balzan lacked foreigners Elkin Serrano Valero and Edison Bilbao Zarate apart from the injured Ryan Fenech and Bojan Kaljevic. The Stripes had two changes from the team which drew with Hibernians as Gareth Sciberras and Vito Plut replaced Liliu and Marcelina Emerson.

Balzan went close on the 4th minute through Alfred Effiong whose conclusion hit the upright with Haber beaten.

However Birkirkara forged ahead on the 14th minute when off a Fabrizio Miccoli freekick from the right, Zach Muscat flicked the ball home from close range.

Just before half-time, Balzan notched the equaliser when off a Dylan Grima freekick from the left, Maxim Focsa placed the ball at the back of the net.

The Stripes regained the lead on 62 minutes when off a corner from the left, the ball reached Paul Fenech who slammed the ball past Cassar.

Four minutes later, Birkirkara went 3-1 ahead thanks to another goal by Zach Muscat who hit home off a corner from the right by Ryan Camenzuli.

Five minutes from time, substitute Ryan Scicluna sealed the issue with a fourth goal, hitting home from close range.

B’KARA Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras (79′ Ryan Scicluna), Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat, Fabrizio Miccoli (83′ Frank Temile), Vito Plut (68′ Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais).
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Cain Attard, Edmond Agius, Juan Quero Barroso.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

BALZAN Christian Cassar, Dylan Grima, Maxim Focsa (80′ Ryan Darmanin), Steve Bezzina, Lydon Micallef (50′ Godwin Mensha)(73′ Terence Agius), Clive Brincat, Alfred Effiong, Samir Arab, Luke Sciberras, Aleksandar Vujacic, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Mikhail Sciberras, Sean Cipriott, Paul Lapira, Juan Corbalan.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Martin Borg
Fourth Official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: L. Micallef, P. Fenech, A. Vujacic, A. Effiong
Scorers: 14′ Zach Muscat, 45′ Maxim Focsa, 62′ Paul Fenech, 66′ Zach Muscat, 85′ Ryan Scicluna
BOV Player of the Match: Zach Muscat