Highlights

Birkirkara and Valletta stayed on the winning trek in Day 15 of the Premier League campaign but Qormi succumbed to a second successive defeat to fall off pace as did champions Hibernians who finished on the losing end of an entertaining match against the Citizens on Saturday.

Hibs were left dumbfounded by rampaging Valletta who scored three goals in the last 20 minutes of the weekend's biggest match through Gilbert Agius, Kevin Sammut and Doding Priso for a 4-2 victory.

The Paolites had cancelled Agius's opener when scoring twice in quick succession soon after the restart following goals by Jonathan Caruana and Andrew Cohen.

However, Valletta, with Agius and Roderick Briffa a cut above the rest, hit back to make up for their first-round upset to Hibs.

On Monday evening, Birkirkara, with new signing Carlo Mamo in the team, did just enough to beat Floriana 2-1 for their 10th victory of the season. They stay first on a better goal difference from Valletta.

Veteran striker Michael Galea was again among the scorers for the Stripes. He struck the winner after the Greens, who slid to third from bottom, had pulled level through Ryan Darmanin just after the restart. Clifton Ciantar had committed an own goal on 39 minutes to put Birkirkara ahead.

Mark Marlow had a positive debut as coach of Sliema Wanderers. He led the Blues to a 3-1 comeback win and three precious points as the race for Championship Pool places is set to intensify in the straight for home.

In another match, Ħamrun Spartans paraded newcomer Ian Zammit for the first time on Friday as the Reds went on to beat lowly Msida 2-0.

Ħamrun are firing on all cylinders lately but they are still positioned outside the top six with the last slot in the Championship Pool at present occupied by Tarxien Rainbows who stunned Qormi at the Hibs Stadium on Sunday.

Tarxien again relied on the prowess of Brazilian trio Denni, Everton and Ribeiro to beat Qormi 2-0.

Denni opened the score from a penalty on the half-hour and Tarxien caught their opponents napping late on to seal the issue with a well-taken Mark Tanti goal.