BoV Premier League Highlights

Valletta and Birkirkara kept up the pace at the top of the Premier League after both recorded their second win as in as many Championship Pool matches last weekend.

In Saturday's opening game, Birkirkara scored twice in the second half to complete a treble of victories over the faltering Qormi.

The Stripes were the better side throughout but had to wait until three minutes into the second half to take the lead, captain Michael Galea heading home from Sylvano Comvalius's quickly-taken corner.

George Mallia came off the bench to wrap it up for Birkirkara with a well-struck free-kick deep into stoppage time. The free-kick was given after Jonathan Bondin tripped the goalbound Trevor Cilia, a foul that cost the Qormi defender a straight red card.

Victory for Birkirkara took them three points clear of Valletta but by 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Citizens had rejoined their rivals at the top after a 2-1 win over champions Hibs.

Terrence Scerri was Valletta's hero after plundering two goals in the opening 23 minutes to give his side a headstart. Hibs reopened the issue when Ben Camilleri pulled one back on 28 minutes but Mark Miller's men failed to find an equaliser in an error-strewn second half.

Hibs finished the match with 10 men after Miguel Lopes de Pina was red-carded for lunging at Valletta defender Luke Dimech five minutes from the end.

This defeat has dealt a serious blow to Hibs' hopes of retaining the title as the Paolites are now nine points behind the joint-leaders.

Sliema Wanderers made the most of the upsets suffered by Qormi and Hibs as their 2-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows pushed them up to third in the table, level with Qormi on 18 points.

Lucian Dronca fired Sliema ahead after 23 minutes and Argentine striker Julio Alcorse sealed the issue when he put the Blues 2-0 up in the first minute of the second half.

Ħamrun Spartans boosted their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-1 victory over Floriana at a rainswept Hibs Stadium on Sunday.

Gaetan Spiteri lifted the ball over Floriana goalkeeper Bernard Paris to give Ħamrun a deserved lead after 20 minutes. Having spurned several chances to increase their lead in the first half, the Spartans were pegged back by the depleted Greens who made it 1-1 on 69 minutes when Ryan Darmanin's shot took a decisive deflection off Roderick Fenech.

The Spartans defender made up for his mistake as he scored his side's winner three minutes from time, tapping the ball home after Ian Zammit's low shot had come off the base of a post.

Sunday's Relegation Pool match featured two debutants as Nigerian Obinna Obifuele and German-born Michael Ghebru made their first appearances for Ħamrun and Floriana respectively.