Highlights from the Premier League matches

Not for the first time this season, the script was again torn on Sunday when in-form Premier League newcomers Balzan Youths overcame high-flying Hibernians at the latter's home stadium in Kordin. Substitute Anthony Gera was the toast of Balzan when striking home the winner a minute from time.

Hibernians' defeat will have had the Birkirkara players and officials rubbing their hands with glee as the Stripes remained five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

On Friday, Birkirkara had moved further ahead of their title rivals after a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Marsaxlokk courtesy of a George Mallia goal.

Champions Sliema Wanderers have yet to fully underline their title credentials this season but a slim 1-0 victory over Msida St Joseph was enough to take them second, level with Hibernians on 22 points. Stefan Giglio was Sliema's goalscorer after two minutes of Sunday's game.

Valletta also failed to make inroads in the standings after scraping to 2-2 draw against Hamrun Spartans on Friday.

The Spartans looked to be well on their way to their first three-pointer of the season when they took a two-goal lead through Gaetan Spiteri but the Citizens saved their faces with two goals in two minutes. Daniel Theuma revived their hopes when converting a penalty and Gilbert Agius grabbed the equaliser.

Scorers

Balzan Youths - Zahra 4 (1 pen.); Valenzia 2, Evi Parker 2; Muscat, Arpa, Tellus, Gera - W. Attard (Hamrun) own goal.

Birkirkara - M. Galea 10; Calascione 7; Doda 6; Dronca 4 (2 pens.); Nwoko 3; Mallia 2; Camenzuli (pen.).

Floriana - Baldacchino 2, Do Nascimento 2, Cilia 2, Mifsud Triganza 2, Da Silva 2, Holland 2, Gango-Rtsa 2; Bajada, Mattocks.

Hamrun - Brincat 2, Spiteri 2; Bajada, Sultana.

Hibernians - Scerri 5; Paiber 4 (4 pens.); Chukunyere 3, Cohen 3; Schembri 2; M. Mifsud, A. Mifsud - S. Pace (Valletta) own goal.

Marsaxlokk - Barbara 9 (3 pens.); Slavtchev 3 (1 pen.); Licari 2; Bartes, Formosa, Buhagiar.

Msida - Nwoke 6, Aganun 6 (4 pens.); Tirchett, Sciberras.

Pietà Hotspurs - Debono 5, Woods 5 (1 pen.); Borg 2, Frendo 2; Okoh, Omam, Nisevic.

Sliema - Doncic 5; Veselji 2, Anonam 2, Brincat 2, Giglio 2; Sylla, Mangion, Sammut, Bogdanovic, Turner, Said - C. Magro (Marsaxlokk) own goal.

Valletta - G. Agius 4 (1 pen.), Sacco 3; Forace 2, Zammit 2 (1 pen.), Theuma 2 (2 pens.); Penchev, Tonchev.

Next fixtures

Sunday (Hibs Ground)
12.45 p.m. Pietà H. vs Hamrun S.
2.45 p.m. Sliema W. Balzan

Monday (National Stadium)
2 p.m. Birkirkara vs Msida
4 p.m. Valletta vs Floriana

Sat. Dec. 13 (National Stadium)
2 p.m. Pietà H. vs Valletta
4 p.m. Hibs vs Floriana

Sun. Dec. 14 (tba)
12.45 p.m. Hamrun S. vs Marsaxlokk
2.45 p.m. Balzan Y. vs Birkirkara