BoV Premier League highlights

The Premier League trek is almost at its half-way stage but as normally happens since the format adopted by the Malta FA for the top-flight was introduced, at this time of the season things are already hotting up at both ends of the standings.

In a few weeks' time, the top six teams will qualify for the Championship Pool and the other four will fight it out to avoid the drop in the Relegation Pool.

As things stand at present, almost half the teams are still unsure of what the future holds for the rest of the season.

Qormi and Ħamrun Spartans will definitely play in the Relegation Pool, along with bottom-placed Tarxien Rainbows.

These three teams experienced mixed fortunes in their last outings but their spirited displays should be encouraging enough for the respective coaches in the fight to avoid the drop.

Qormi battled hard for a deserved point against champions Valletta on Monday and 24 hours before the Spartans edged Msida St Joseph 1-0, the winner coming from a Sylvano Comvalius penalty. The Saints are currently sixth but could be leapfrogged by Marsaxlokk who scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to beat a revitalised Tarxien side 2-1 on Sunday.

At the top echelons of the table, Birkirkara crept closer to leaders Hibs and Valletta after a 3-2 victory over Sliema in a fast-moving match that was resolved with a late Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza winner.

Sliema, perhaps, deserved more from Monday night's match at least for the battling performance produced.

Like Floriana, the Blues are still not sure of a place in the Championship Pool and their next match against Msida could be a tricky one for them with the Saints also eyeing the points to make the top-six cut.

Statistics

Scorers. red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 6, Galea 6; Hartvig 4; Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens), Bajada 2; Fenech. Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs); Holland (vs Msida).

Floriana: Darmanin 7; Anonam 4; M. Briffa 2, Madzar 2; Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara), Doffo (vs Hibs).

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

Hibernians: Scerri 14 (2 pens); Cohen 6 (2 pens); Failla 5, Mbongo 3; Galabov 2, J. Caruana 2, Farrugia 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Mbongo (vs Valletta), Scerri (vs Valletta).

Marsaxlokk: Pereira 7; Alcorse 5 (3 pens); Licari 3 (1 pen.); Cassar 2; Said, Mattocks, Barbara, Pullicino, Sammut, Kokavessis. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara); Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).

Msida: Calcado 11 (2 pens); Aurelio 4; Magro, T. Farrugia, Da Silva, Camilleri. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun); T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk), Vella (vs Valletta).

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

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

Tarxien: Bueno 13 (2 pens); Vella Critien, Buttigieg, Chircop, Tanti. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).

Valletta: Priso 9 (3 pens.); G. Agius 5; Zammit 4; Falzon 3; Frendo 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti, Monesterolo. Red cards - Giglio (vs Msida); Priso (vs Qormi).

Next fixtures

Friday (National Stadium): 18.00 Qormi vs Ħamrun Spartans; 20.00 Floriana vs Valletta.

Sunday (Hibs Ground): 13.30 Msida St Joseph vs Sliema Wanderers; 15.30 Tarxien Rainbows vs Hibernians.

Monday (National Stadium): 19.30 Birkirkara vs Marsaxlokk.