BoV Premier League highlights

A high-octane encounter between leaders Hibs and Floriana brought the curtains down on last weekend's Premier League programme.

Hibs were seen as favourites to extend their winning run and their lead at the top with a victory over Floriana but the latter delivered a resilient display to gain a point.

Terrence Scerri put Hibs in front midway through the second half but barely two minutes later, Floriana were back on level terms courtesy of a stunning long-range strike by captain Ryan Darmanin.

Floriana finished the match with ten men after Pablo Doffo was dismissed for two bookings. Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, was also ordered off the bench for persistent protests.

On Saturday, Valletta returned to winning ways with a 2-0 defeat of Msida St Joseph.

Doding Priso, back from a two-match suspension, opened the scoring for the Citizens a minute past the half hour mark but the champions' growing confidence appeared to suffer a blow when Stefan Giglio was shown a straight red card on the stroke of half-time for retaliation.

Despite their numerical disparity, Valletta stayed in control and Sebastian Monesterolo, on as a substitute, sealed the points when hitting the back of the net with a minute to go.

Msida's Stacy Vella was sent off in the dying moments.

Birkirkara, who held Valletta to a one-all draw last week, twice came from behind to topple Ħamrun 3-2.

Sylvano Comvalius hit a well-taken brace for the Spartans but goals from Michael Galea (45), Ron Hartvig (69) and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (76) gave Birkirkara the final say.

Sunday's early kick-off produced a surprise as Tarxien Rainbows maintained their resurgence with a 1-0 win over Sliema. Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno netted the winner in the first half.

Sliema midfielder Mark Scerri was dismissed early in the second half for a second yellow card.

Statistics - scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 5, Galea 5; Buhagiar 3, Mallia 3, Hartvig 3; Tabone 2 (2 pens), Bajada 2; Fenech. Red cards - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk); Zerafa (vs Hibs); Holland (vs Msida).

Floriana: Darmanin 8; Anonam 4; Caruana 3; M. Briffa 2, Madzar 2; Brincat (penalty), Doffo. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun); Caruana (vs Valletta); Borg (vs Birkirkara), Doffo (vs Hibs).

Ħamrun: Cucciardi 4 (1 pen.); Spiteri 3, Micallef 3, Comvalius 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 6; Alcorse 5 (3 pens); Licari 3 (1 pen.); Cassar 2; Said, Mattocks, Barbara, Pullicino, Sammut. 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; Bajada 2, Muscat 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa, Coto, Dronca. Red cards - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun); Scerri (vs Hibs).

Tarxien: Bueno 12 (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 card - Giglio (vs Msida).

Next fixtures - U*Bet FA Trophy quarter-finals

Saturday (Tedesco Stadium): 1 p.m. Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara; 3 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs.

Saturday (National Stadium): 5 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Marsaxlokk; 7 p.m. Floriana vs Valletta.