Limassol will firmly hold the top of the football rankings through the Christmas holidays, after AEL’s win over Ethnikos Achnas yesterday, secured them top spot on 33.
Apollon has fallen two points behind however, following a goalless draw at Ermis. APOEL continued their steady rise up the table with an away 3-0 drubbing of strugglers Enosi Neon Paralimniou, their fourth victory in a row.
The champions are now in third place on 29, after being as low as seventh due to a string of bad results that saw a change in management and Greek Yiorgos Donis taking the helm.
Omonoia and Ermis share fourth on 27, with the Nicosia club finally taking a derby, beating Anorthosis 3-2 in a dramatic and rather nervy encounter that saw two red cards, one for each team and two penalties, the last of which was missed.
Ermis, despite drawing with Apollon, remain unbeaten for 13 games as their only loss came in the very first match of the championship.
Anorthosis make up the top six, staying on 26 through a derby loss that has them reeling over what they say was unfair refereeing, particularly the sending off of one of their top players, Alexa, on a first offence.
After sacking their manager, AEK Kition, who had started out with an ambitious top five target, but have slipped to a lowly ninth, eased some of the pressure with a mature 3-1 home performance over AEK Kouklion, a team of smart and able players who perhaps deserve a little more than the current 10th spot.
Today sees the last game of match day 14th and 2013, in a mid-table Larnaca clash between Nea Salamina and Doxa, seeking to establish themselves in the safety zone, but also looking to get closer to the top six.
Admittedly this is turning into one of the most competitive championships in years, as first to sixth place are separated by just 7 points.
Its resumption in the first week of January will be eagerly awaited, as APOEL meets AEL in Nicosia.