BoV Premier League highlights

Hibernians bounced back from their 2-0 defeat to champions Valletta in midweek with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ħamrun Spartans on Sunday.

Andrew Cohen, back in Hibs' starting XI after a bout of flu restricted him to a cameo appearance against the Citizens, broke the Spartans' resistance when flicking Edward Herrera's volley past Ivan Casha with 11 minutes to go.

Cohen's late flourish put an end to the Spartans' two-match winning streak and dealt a blow to their hopes of forcing their way into the Championship Pool.

Hibs, who had striker Terrence Scerri and Uruguayan midfielder Christian Callejas missing through suspension, reclaimed top spot in the table with 28 points from 13 matches, two ahead of Valletta who have a game in hand.

In Sunday's opening match, Sliema Wanderers snapped a run of two consecutive defeats with a 2-1 win over the beleaguered Marsaxlokk.

Young Costa Rican striker Victor Ortega Coto was on target 25 minutes into his Sliema debut but Marsaxlokk's reaction produced a 63rd minute equaliser from Peter Pullicino, the player of the match.

Pullicino's goal heralded a spell of Marsaxlokk pressure but their optimism was dashed when Renato Conceicao conceded a penalty for barging into Matthew Bartolo in the box.

Lucian Dronca, another of Sliema's new signings, made no mistake from the 11-metre spot to condemn Marsaxlokk to their third consecutive defeat.

Sunday's results provided a boost not only for the two winners but also for Msida St Joseph who have now edged closer to gaining a place in the Championship Pool after two of their main top-six rivals, Ħamrun and Marsaxlokk, both lost.

On Wednesday, champions Valletta maintained their unbeaten start in the league when goals by captain Gilbert Agius and Doding Priso earned them a 2-0 win over Hibs.

Statistics

Scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 4, Galea 4; Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens), Hartvig 2; Bajada, Fenech. Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs); Holland (vs Msida).

Floriana: Darmanin 5; Anonam 4; M. Briffa 2, Madzar 2; Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara).

Ħamrun: Cucciardi 4 (1 pen.); Spiteri 3, Micallef 3; Kokavessis 2; Ortega (penalty), Levnaic, Sultana, Comvalius. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana); Roderick Fenech (vs Marsaxlokk).

Hibernians: Scerri 10 (1 pen.); Failla 5, Cohen 5 (2 pens); Galabov 2, J. Caruana 2, Farrugia 2, Mbongo 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Mbongo (vs Valletta), Scerri (vs Valletta).

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

Msida: Calcado 10 (2 pens); Aurelio 4; Magro, T. Farrugia, Da Silva, Camilleri. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun); T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).

Qormi: Effiong 4; Da Silva 3; Chetcuti 2, Grima 2; Farrugia. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians); Nwoko (vs Ħamrun).

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

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

Valletta: Priso 8 (3 pens.); G. Agius 4; Zammit 3; Falzon 2; Dimech, Bondin, Frendo, Tolomeotti. Red card - E. Agius (vs Hibs).

Next Fixtures

Saturday (National Stadium): 2 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Floriana; 4 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs.

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