BoV Premier League highlights

The erstwhile fierce race for the final three top-six berths was settled last weekend. Sliema Wanderers, Hibs and Tarxien Rainbows have joined leaders Valletta, Birkirkara and Qormi in the Championship Pool while Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana have slipped into the Relegation Pool alongside Msida St Joseph and Dingli Swallows.

Sliema's emphatic dismissal of Old Firm adversaries Floriana on Sunday proved decisive as victory guaranteed the Blues, Tarxien and Hibs a top-six slot and knocked the Greens out of contention.

Ryan Fenech, Lucian Dronca, from a penalty, and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored the goals for Sliema who played for 50 minutes with a man less after Brazilian midfielder Pedrinho was sent off for two bookings. Floriana also finished the match with 10 men after Pablo Doffo was dismissed for a crude tackle on John Mintoff 10 minutes from time.

On Saturday, Valletta inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Ħamrun Spartans to return to the top and condemn their victims to the Relegation Pool.

Jamie Pace put the Citizens ahead late in the first half and captain Gilbert Agius secured the points with a second goal 15 minutes from the end. Striker Terrence Scerri hit a quickfire brace in the dying moments to put added gloss on Valletta's success.

Valletta's win was slightly marred in stoppage time when Cameroonian winger Doding Priso was shown a straight red card after he appeared to push Gaetan Spiteri in retaliation.

In Saturday's opening game, Tarxien Rainbows achieved their first win over neighbouring foes Hibs in 23 years thanks to Denni's goal on the stroke of half-time. Victory for the Rainbows edged them closer to the Championship Pool and kept Hibs' chances in the balance but Sliema's win on Sunday secured the two rivals a top-six finish.

Birkirkara came from a goal down to see off strugglers Msida St Joseph 2-1 on Sunday.

Ndayi Kalenga fired Msida ahead after 20 minutes but goals from Michael Galea and Karl Pulo in the space of two second-half minutes eased Birkirkara's nerves as Paul Zammit's team reclaimed second place in the table, one point behind Valletta.

On Friday, Qormi had temporarily moved back to the top after an easy 4-0 win over bottom team Dingli Swallows who already look doomed.

Qormi's goals came from Ryan Deguara, Matthew Bartolo, Stefan Giglio and Alfred Effiong.

Scorers

Birkirkara: Comvalius 11 (2 pens); Galea 7; Cilia 4, Pulo 4; Mallia 3, Bajada 3; Fenech, Buhagiar, Vukanac, Nisevic. Own goals - Wellman (vs Qormi); Ciantar (vs Floriana). Red cards: Paris (vs Hibs), Zerafa (vs Qormi).

Dingli: Okonkwo 9 (2 pens), Borg, Da Silva. Own goals - Tabone (vs Birkirkara); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun). Red cards: Fiteni (vs Ħamrun), Cachia (vs Tarxien), Tellus (vs Sliema, vs Qormi), Caruana (vs Msida).

Floriana: Darmanin 7; Wasiu 3; Anonam 2, Caruana 2; Simmonds, Ciantar, M. Briffa, Doffo. Own goal - Herrera (vs Hibs). Red cards - J. Briffa (vs Hibs, vs Qormi); Said (vs Dingli); Doffo (vs Sliema).

Ħamrun: Pereira 8 (3 pens); Spiteri 3, Mawete 3, Fenech 3; Cucciardi 2, Micallef 2. Own goal - Magro (vs Tarxien). Red cards - Micallef (vs Birkirkara), Pereira (vs Floriana), Fenech (vs Tarxien).

Hibs: Cohen 5 (2 pens.); Malasenoks 4; Galabov 3, J. Caruana 3, Pulis 3, Callejas 3; Herrera 2, Barbara 2; Cauchi, B. Camilleri. Own goals - Conceicao (vs Dingli), Fenech (vs Ħamrun). Red cards - Grech (vs Msida SJ), Muscat (vs Tarxien), Barbara (vs Qormi).

Msida: T. Farrugia 3, Spiteri 2, Lattes 2; Aganun, Formosa, Kalenga.

Qormi: Camilo 17 (1 pen.); Effiong 8; Grima 3; Farrugia 2 (1 pen.), Deguara 2, Bartolo 2; Chetcuti, Wellman, Giglio. Red card - Fenech (vs Hibs)

Sliema: Mifsud Triganza 10; Woods 4 (1 pen); Bartolo 2, Dronca 3 (3 pens); Failla, Isaac, Mintoff, Pedrinho, Alcorse, Azzopardi, Fenech. Own goal - T. Farrugia (vs Msida). Red card - Gatt Baldacchino (vs Floriana), Pedrinho (vs Msida).

Tarxien: Ribeiro 10; Denni 9 (1 pen); Tanti 2, Calabretta 2; Shead, Everton, Decesare, Camilleri. Own goal - Gatt Baldacchino (vs Sliema). Red cards - Ribeiro (vs Dingli, vs Ħamrun), Camilleri (vs Sliema).

Valletta: Scerri 12; Priso 7 (3 pens); G. Agius 5; Cruyff 4; Pace 4; Sammut 3; Zammit 2; Den Ouden, Briffa. Red cards - G. Agius (vs Sliema), Priso (vs Ħamrun Spartans).

Next fixtures

Saturday: (National Stadium) 2 p.m. Birkirkara vs Qormi; 4 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs.

Sunday: (Hibs Stadium) 2 p.m. Floriana vs Msida; 4 p.m. Ħamrun vs Tarxien Rainbows.

Monday: (Tedesco Stadium) 7.30 p.m. Dingli Swallows vs Valletta.