BoV Premier League higlights

The last match from the second round of the BOV Premier League on Monday brought together two former Malta champions, Hamrun Spartans and Hibernians, battling it out to secure a berth in the top six.

The Spartans reached their objective in the end following a hard-earned one-all draw that left the Paolites out of the reckoning and pondering on a very inconsistent first phase of the campaign during which they only managed to chalk up six wins from 18 matches.

Nothing short of a victory suited Hibs and, not surprisingly, they looked more adventurous on the day but Marco Gerada's Spartans fought bravely and held on to the point after veteran Hibs forward Adrian Mifsud had cancelled Bratislav Timotic's opener, both goals coming midway through the second half.

In Monday's opening match, Mqabba recorded their second victory of the season when surprising Msida St Joseph 2-1.

Mqabba, who had coach Bobby Giorev making his debut after replacing Joey Falzon earlier this month, scored twice in the second half to turn the tide in their favour after Adrian Farrugia had given Msida a 1-0 half-time lead.

The goals for Mqabba came from Mauro Bonnici and a Marcelo Pereira bombshell.

The two matches on Friday night saw Birkirkara making sure of their place among the heavyweights of the Premier League thanks to the point won from a goalless draw against Floriana.

Valletta and Marsaxlokk also figured in a 1-1 stalemate but the fare was much better as the Citizens made sure to avoid defeat and retain the top placing before crunch time begins in the Championship Pool.

David Camilleri, so influential for Valletta these last few matches, put his team ahead from a free-kick early on but the champions hit back in style and scored a deserved equaliser on 57 minutes through Kevin Sammut.

As all tallies were halved, the top six teams in the standings are only separated by four points with pole-setters Valletta leading with 18 points.

At the other end, despite Giorev's influence it will be difficult for Mqabba to retain their status after a poor showing in the first two rounds. The team to join them in Division One will probably be decided between Msida and Pietà even though 'big guns' Hibs will have to be wary not to get involved in a skirmish to avoid the dreaded drop.

Premier League statistics

Birkirkara: M. Galea 4, Tabone 4 (1 pen.), Hartvig 4, Mifsud Triganza 4 (1 pen); Bajada 3; Sylla 2; Tamboulas, Yanchev, T. Paris, Fenech, Anastasi. Own goal: Rod. Fenech (vs Hamrun). Missed penalty: Tabone (vs Floriana).

Floriana: Darmanin 8; Micallef 4; Bolasie 3, C. Caruana 3, Mifsud 3 (moved to Hibernians), Krsteski 3 (1 pen.); Brincat 2, Cilia 2, Cassar 2; M. Caruana, Sevasta, Levnaic. Red cards: M. Brincat (vs Mqabba); Krsteski (vs Sliema); Gauci (vs Hibs); Cassar (vs Mqabba); Bugeja (vs Marsaxlokk). Missed penalty: Mifsud (vs Msida).

Hamrun: Spiteri 7; Sultana 6 (2 pens), Effiong 6; Rod. Fenech 2, Ryan Fenech 2, Mangion 2; Briffa, Cucciardi, Timotic. Own goals: Conceicao (vs Marsaxlokk); Scicluna (vs Valletta). Red cards: Ryan Fenech (vs Pietà); Timotic (vs Birkirkara); Briffa (vs Pietà), Rod. Fenech (vs Hibs).

Hibernians: Scerri 6; Cohen 5 (1 pen.); Mifsud 2, Agius 2, Alcorse 2 (moved to Marsaxlokk); Doffo, Edafe, Chukunyere, Failla. Own goal: Said (vs Sliema). Red cards: Failla (vs Floriana), Edafe (vs Floriana), Edafe (vs Marsaxlokk).

Marsaxlokk: Licari 7 (1 pen.); Barbara 6; Alcorse 4, Frendo 4, Sammut 4 (1 pen.); Gomes 2, Pace 2; Pullicino, Da Silva, Camenzuli, Templeman. Own goals: Borg (vs Msida); Agius (vs Floriana). Missed penalty: Gomes (vs Sliema). Red cards: Conceicao (vs Pietà); Alcorse (vs Sliema); Frendo (vs Valletta).

Mqabba: Pereira 7 (1 pen); Zarb 2, Silva 2 (2 pens); Gatt Baldacchino, Calleja, Nogueira, Bonnici. Red cards: Pereira (vs Birkirkara); M. Psaila (vs Birkirkara); P. Psaila (vs Pietà).

Msida SJ: Doding 8 (2 pens); Pedrinho 5; A. Farrugia 4; T. Farrugia 2, Borg 2; Baldacchino, Ogbonna, Magri, Gilberto dos Santos 1 (pen). Red cards: A. Farrugia (vs Birkirkara); Brincat (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Mqabba); Spiteri (vs Marsaxlokk); Doding, Cachia, Grima (all vs Sliema); Bartolo (vs Valletta), T. Farrugia (vs Mqabba). Missed penalties: Doding (vs Hibs); Pedrinho (vs Marsaxlokk).

Pietà Hotspurs: Herrera 5, Deanov 5; Kondev 4 (3 pens); Q. Refalo 2, Deliminkov 2; Galabov, Goodlip, Pulo. Red cards: Aquilina (vs Valletta); Kondev (vs Marsaxlokk); Montfort (vs Msida); Q. Refalo (vs Hamrun). Missed penalties: Kondev (vs Msida), Herrera (vs Hibs).

Sliema: Barbara 6 (1 pen.); Woods 6 (3 pens), Madzar 4, Said 3; Anonam 2, Briffa 2; Milovanovic, Muscat, Bajada, Bartolo, Da Silva, Turner. Own goals: Bonnici (vs Mqabba); Sciberras (vs Pietà). Red cards: Bajada (vs Hamrun); Pace (vs Birkirkara); Da Silva (vs Marsaxlokk). Missed penalties: Woods (vs Birkirkara); Barbara (vs Floriana).

Valletta: Monesterolo 14 (3 pens); Zammit 8; Giglio 3 (1 pen.), Temile 3; Camilleri 2, Scicluna 2, Agius 2, Backhaus 2; Mattocks, Bondin, Mifsud. Own goal: Mallia (vs Birkirkara). Red cards: Zammit (vs Pietà); Mattocks (vs Mqabba); Monesterolo (vs Floriana); Bezzina (vs Hibs). Missed penalties: Monesterolo 2 (vs Pietà).

U-bet FA Trophy 2nd round

Saturday (National Stadium)
Hamrun vs Pietà 14.00
Valletta vs Tarxien 16.00

Sunday (Tedesco Stadium)
Mqabba vs Dingli 09.00
Floriana vs Senglea 11.00