BOV Premier League Highlights

Qormi maintained top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Sliema Wanderers last weekend. With 25 points from 11 matches, the Yellows have all but sealed their pre-set objective of gaining a place in the Championship Pool.

Valletta and Birkirkara chalked up high-scoring victories over Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows to keep in touch with the leaders.

In Saturday's opening match, Qormi, without star striker Camilo, took the lead thanks to a Steve Wellman header seven minutes from half-time but Sliema, who were coming from a 1-0 upset to Msida, equalised through Ivan Woods 19 minutes from time.

Sliema's hopes of taking something from the match were ended by Joseph Farrugia. The Qormi captain punished his former club when stroking home his side's winner six minutes from time.

Valletta tore into the injury-ravaged Floriana from the outset in the derby. Roderick Briffa, Gilbert Agius, Kevin Sammut and Terrence Scerri were on target in the first half as the Citizens won 4-0 to trim the gap on Qormi to just one point.

On Sunday, Birkirkara emulated Valletta after beating Tarxien Rainbows with a four-goal margin.

Nikola Vukanac put the Stripes ahead nine minutes from half-time and Sylvano Comvalius doubled their lead from a penalty close to the hour mark.

Denni temporarily revived Tarxien's hopes when reducing the arrears on 63 minutes but Michael Galea restored Birkirkara's two-goal lead with a firm header 15 minutes from time. Comvalius converted his second penalty eight minutes from time and substitute Karl Pulo hit Birkirkara's fifth goal in stoppage time after Denni had missed from the spot for Tarxien.

Champions Hibs hit three goals in the second half to ease past Msida St Joseph and gain their first victory in three matches.

Christian Callejas, Ben Camilleri and Andrew Cohen got the goals for Mark Miller's team.

On Monday, Ħamrun continued to show signs of revival and joined Sliema on the 13-point mark following a comprehensive 3-1 win over bottom-placed Dingli Swallows.

For the Reds, man of the match Manolito Micallef scored twice and Diego Cucciardi added another before Mark Anthony Bonnici committed an own goal late on for Dingli's consolation goal.

Scorers

Birkirkara: Comvalius 9 (2 pens); Cilia 4, Galea 4, Mallia 3; Bajada 2, Pulo 2; Fenech, Buhagiar, Vukanac. Own goal - Wellman (vs Qormi). Red cards: Paris (vs Hibs), Zerafa (vs Qormi).

Dingli Swallows: Okonkwo 7 (2 pens), Borg. Own goals - Tabone (vs Birkirkara); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards: Fiteni (vs Ħamrun), Cachia (vs Tarxien).

Floriana: Darmanin 4; Wasiu 3; Anonam 2; Simmonds, Caruana, Ciantar. Own goal - Herrera (vs Hibs). Red cards - J. Briffa (vs Hibs, vs Qormi)

Ħamrun Spartans: Pereira 5 (2 pens); Spiteri 3; Cucciardi 2, Micallef 2; Fenech, Mawete. Own goal - Magro (vs Tarxien). Red cards - Micallef (vs Birkirkara), Pereira (vs Floriana), Fenech (vs Tarxien).

Hibernains: Malasenoks 4; Galabov 2, Herrera 2, J. Caruana 2, Callejas 2, Cohen 2 (1 pen.); Cauchi, Barbara, Pulis, B. Camilleri. Own goals - Conceicao (vs Dingli), Fenech (vs Ħamrun). Red cards: Grech (vs Msida SJ), Muscat (vs Tarxien).

Msida SJ: T. Farrugia 2, Spiteri 2; Aganun, Lattes.

Qormi: Camilo 16; Effiong 3; Grima 2, Farrugia 2 (1 pen.); Chetcuti, Deguara, Wellman.

Sliema: Mifsud Triganza 5; Bartolo 2; Dronca (pen), Failla, Isaac, Mintoff, Woods. Own goal - T. Farrugia (vs Msida). Red card - Gatt Baldacchino (vs Floriana).

Tarxien Rainbows: Ribeiro 6; Denni 5; Calabretta 2; Shead, Everton, Tanti. Red card - Ribeiro (vs Dingli).

Valletta: Scerri 7; Priso 5 (3 pens); Cruyff 4; Pace 2, Sammut 2, Agius 2, Zammit 2; Den Ouden, Briffa.

Next fixtures

Saturday: Hibs Stadium - 2 p.m. Qormi vs Msida St Joseph; 4 p.m. Dingli Swallows vs Hibernians

Sunday: National Stadium - 2 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Birkirkara; 4 p.m. Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers.

Monday: Tedesco Stadium - 7.30 p.m. Tarxien Rainbows vs Floriana.