Hibernians provided further proof of their title credentials on Sunday as they followed up the 2-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows in midweek with a 3-0 defeat of struggling Qormi.
Andrew Cohen's acrobatic strike and second-half goals from Terrence Scerri, a penalty, and Alexis Tekumu Mbongo, extended Hibs' positive run and shot them back to the top of the standings on 25 points, two more than Birkirkara.
The Stripes had moved one point clear of the Paolites on Saturday following a 2-1 victory over Floriana. A scrappy opening goal by Angus Buhagiar, after only three minutes, set the tone for a generally tepid match.
Birkirkara sealed the issue 13 minutes from time when George Mallia rammed a powerful shot past Dejan Maksic.
Aleksandar Madzar, on as a second-half substitute, scored a late consolation goal for Floriana who had Joseph Borg dismissed for two bookings 20 minutes into the second half.
Sliema Wanderers squandered the chance to keep up the pace at the top after crashing to an unexpected 3-0 defeat to Ħamrun Spartans.
The Spartans had only won once in 10 matches but a fluid performance enabled them to double their tally of wins and climb off the bottom of the table.
The returning Zoran Levnaic set Ħamrun on their way with an early opener.
Man-of-the-match Diego Armando Cucciardi doubled their lead, just before half-time, and Manolito Micallef killed off the sluggish Blues who are now fourth with 19 points.
Msida St Joseph shrugged off all the controversy surrounding the resignation of coach Patrick Curmi when they turned in a bold display to achieve a 2-0 win over lowly Tarxien.
Chris Camilleri put the Saints ahead on 21 minutes. Goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri then took centre stage for the Saints with a string of outstanding saves to deny the Rainbows an equaliser and Brazilian Pedro Dos Santos Calcado secured victory with a headed goal 15 minutes from time.
Msida went on to consolidate sixth place in the standings on 14 points, four behind Floriana and four ahead of Marsaxlokk, who have a game in hand.
Tarxien stayed bottom with five points from 11 matches, one fewer than Qormi and three behind the Spartans.
Statistics - Scorers, red cards
Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 3, Galea 3, Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens); Bajada, Fenech, Hartvig. Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs).
Floriana: Anonam 4; M. Briffa 2, Darmanin 2, Madzar 2; Brincat (penalty), Doffo, Caruana. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun), Caruana (vs Valletta), Borg (vs Birkirkara).
Ħamrun: Cucciardi 4 (1 pen.); Spiteri 2, Kokavessis 2, Micallef 2; Ortega (penalty), Levnaic. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida), Spiteri (vs Floriana).
Hibernians: Scerri 10 (1 pen.); Failla 5; Cohen 4 (2 pens); Galabov 2, J. Caruana 2, Farrugia 2, Mbongo 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis. Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red card - Mbongo (vs Valletta).
Marsaxlokk: Alcorse 5 (3 pens); Pereira 3; Licari 2 (1 pen), Said, Mattocks, Barbara, Cassar. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara), Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).
Msida: Calcado 7 (1 pen.); Aurelio 4; Magro, T. Farrugia, Da Silva, Camilleri. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun), T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).
Qormi: Effiong 4; Da Silva 3; Farrugia, Grima, Chetcuti. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians), Nwoko (vs Ħamrun).
Sliema: Woods 5 (1 pen.); Bjedov 3; Bajada 2, Muscat 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa. Red card - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun).
Tarxien: Bueno 9 (1 penalty); Chircop. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).
Valletta: Priso 7 (3 pens.); Zammit 3; G. Agius 3; Falzon 2; Dimech, Bondin, Tolomeotti.
Next fixtures
Saturday (National Stadium): 2 p.m. Msida St Joseph vs Birkirkara; 4 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Valletta.
Sunday (Tedesco Stadium): 12.45 p.m. Qormi vs Tarxien Rainbows; 2.45 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Floriana.