BoV Premier League highlights

The jockeying for positions in the upper part of the BOV Premier League standings persisted in the past week.

Birkirkara regained top spot after bouncing back from their midweek 6-0 hiding to Hibernians with a nervy 1-0 win over relegation strugglers Tarxien Rainbows, courtesy of an Alan Tabone penalty early in the second half.

The Stripes have 20 points from 10 matches, one more than Hibs and Sliema Wanderers. The Blues had the chance to pull clear at the top, irrespective of the result of Sunday's match involving Birkirkara, but their keynote match against Valletta on Saturday ended goalless.

Valletta, who had won their last three matches before their meeting with Sliema, are fifth on 17 points, one behind rivals Floriana but with a game in hand.

The Greens made a significant step towards clinching a place in the Championship Pool after edging bottom team Ħamrun Spartans 1-0 on Saturday.

Christian Caruana struck Floriana's winner a minute past the hour. Ħamrun finished the match with ten men after Gaetan Spiteri was sent off in the dying stages, his third red card in 10 league matches this season.

The other match played last weekend was a direct confrontation between Marsaxlokk and Qormi, two teams languishing in the bottom half of the standings.

In a keenly-contested clash, Marsaxlokk overcame Qormi 3-1 after Argentinian striker Julio Alcorse scored twice from the penalty spot in a dramatic finale.

Qormi had taken an early lead through Nigerian Alfred Effiong whose afternoon at the Tedesco Stadium was cut short by injury after 28 minutes.

Marsaxlokk equalised thanks to midfielder Christian Cassar five minutes into the second half and forged ahead for the first time 10 minutes from time when Alcorse put away his first penalty.

Qormi should have gained a deserved equaliser when they won a penalty just three minutes after Marsaxlokk's second goal but Brazilian Ivan Da Silva fired his shot over the bar.

In stoppage time, Marsaxlokk made sure of their victory when Alcorse again hit the target from the penalty spot.

Statistics - scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 3; Galea 3; Buhagiar 2, Mallia 2, Tabone 2 (2 pens), Bajada, Fenech, Hartvig. Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs).

Floriana: Anonam 4; M. Briffa 2, Darmanin 2; Madzar, Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun), Caruana (vs Valletta).

Ħamrun: Cucciardi 3; Spiteri 2, Kokavessis 2; Ortega (penalty), Micallef. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana).

Hibernians: Scerri 9; Failla 4; Galabov 2, J. Caruana 2, Farrugia 2, Cohen 2 (1 pen); Grech, Callejas, Pulis, Mbongo. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red card - Mbongo (vs Valletta).

Marsaxlokk: Alcorse 5 (3 pens); Pereira 3; Licari 2 (1 pen), Said, Mattocks, Barbara, Cassar. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara), Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).

Msida: Calcado 6 (1 pen.); Aurellio 4; Magro, T. Farrugia, Da Silva. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun), T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).

Qormi: Effiong 4; Da Silva 3; Farrugia, Grima, Chetcuti. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians), Nwoko (vs Ħamrun).

Sliema: Woods 5 (1 pen.); Bjedov 3; Bajada 2, Muscat 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa. Red card - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun).

Tarxien: Bueno 9 (1 penalty); Chircop. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).

Valletta: Priso 6 (3 pens.); Zammit 3; Falzon 2, G. Agius 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti.

Next fixtures

Tomorrow (National Stadium): 6.30 p.m. Valletta vs Qormi.

Thursday (Centenary Stadium): 6.30 p.m. Hibernians vs Tarxien Rainbows.

Saturday (National Stadium): 2 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Ħamrun Spartans; 4 p.m. Floriana vs Birkirkara.

Sunday (Hibs Ground): 12.45 p.m. Tarxien Rainbows vs Msida SJ; 2.45 p.m. Hibs vs Qormi.