BoV Premier League highlights

Hibernians have stolen a march on their title rivals thanks to their 4-1 rout of Floriana and Valletta's 3-1 defeat to Birkirkara at the weekend.

Going into the second round of Championship Pool matches with a one-point lead over Valletta, Hibs made sure of extending their tenure at the top of the standings by a couple of weeks after gaining their first win over Floriana this season.

Terrence Scerri, the Premier League's leading scorer with 24 goals, and new Portuguese signing Zeferino Soares Borges netted a brace each as Hibs cruised to another emphatic victory.

Dylan Zarb scored a consolation goal for Floriana who have lost their last four league matches.

With Hibs taking maximum spoils from Saturday's early kick-off, Valletta and Birkirkara were under increasing pressure to win their direct encounter.

The Stripes' need to get the three points was perhaps greater than that of their rivals as they started the game eight points behind the leaders and four adrift of the Citizens.

Birkirkara kept their title hopes alive with a 3-1 victory which materialised with two goals in the last five minutes.

Michael Galea gave the Stripes a 29th-minute lead but Jamie Pace equalised for Valletta six minutes before half-time.

The match looked heading for a 1-1 draw but Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, on as a second-half substitute, put Birkirkara ahead five minutes from time and Bulgarian striker Kirill Mihaylov-Dimitrov sealed their win with a last-gasp goal.

Sliema Wanderers bounced back from their 5-0 mauling to Valletta with a 3-0 win over the faltering Marsaxlokk. Miguel Ciantar, Ivan Woods and John Mintoff scored Sliema's goals.

In the Relegation Pool, Ħamrun Spartans strengthened their salvation hopes with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Msida St Joseph.

Sylvano Comvalius and Gaetan Spiteri gave the Spartans a headstart by scoring in the opening 13 minutes.

Zoran Levnaic made it 3-0 eight minutes from half-time before Ħamrun were reduced to ten men after defender Roderick Fenech was dismissed for two bookings.

Despite being a man short, the Spartans easily controlled Msida's tame attempts at a comeback to go top of the four-team Relegation Pool.

Statistics

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 7, Galea 7; Hartvig 4; Bajada 3, Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3; Dimitrov-Mihaylov 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens); Fenech, Sokolov, Anastasi. Own goal - Caruana (vs Hibs). 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, Zarb. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara); Doffo (vs Hibs); Eboh (vs Tarxien).

Ħamrun: Comvalius 7 (1 pen.); Cucciardi 5 (1 pen.), Spiteri 5; Micallef 3; Kokavessis 2, Levnaic 2; Ortega (penalty), Sultana, Ryan Fenech. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana); Rod. Fenech (vs Marsaxlokk), Rod. Fenech (vs Msida SJ); Bondin (vs Valletta).

Hibernians: Scerri 24 (3 pens); Cohen 7 (2 pens); Failla 6; Camilleri 3, Caruana 3, Mbongo 3; Galabov 2, J. Farrugia 2, Soares Borges 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Mbongo (vs Valletta), Scerri (vs Valletta), Galabov (vs Birkirkara).

Marsaxlokk: Pereira 9; Alcorse 8 (4 pens); Licari 3 (1 pen.); Cassar 2, Said 2; Mattocks, Barbara, Pullicino, Sammut, Kokavessis. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara); Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).

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

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

Sliema: Woods 6 (1 pen.); Muscat 4; Bjedov 3, Dronca 3 (1 pen.), Coto 2, Bajada 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa, Turner, Ciantar, Mintoff. Red cards - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun), Scerri (vs Hibs).

Tarxien: Bueno 18 (2 pens); Chircop 2, Vella Critien 2; Buttigieg, Tanti. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).

Valletta: Priso 12 (3 pens.); Zammit 6, G. Agius 6 (1 pen.); Falzon 4; Frendo 2, Pace 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti, Monesterolo, Grioli. Red cards - Giglio (vs Msida); Priso (vs Qormi).

Next fixtures

Saturday, April 4 (National Stadium): 15.00 Tarxien Rainbows vs Ħamrun Spartans; 17.00 Valletta vs Floriana.

Sunday, April 5 (National Stadium): 15.00 Msida vs Qormi; 17.00 Birkirkara vs Marsaxlokk.

Monday, April 6 (National Stadium): 19.30 Sliema vs Hibernians.