An early goal handed Hibernians a narrow win over Senglea Athletic at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday. A win which puts the Paolites back on track following a disappointing draw with Naxxar.

On the other hand, for Senglea, this was a second consecutive defeat which leaves them in joint-seventh place.

Hibs scored the all-important goal on the 13th minute when off a Clayton Failla cross from the left, Dunstan Vella’s header was deflected by a defender to end at the back of the net.

SENGLEA Timmy Aquilina, Jonathan Bondin, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Steve Bonnici, Sergio Uyi, Terence Vella, Matias Garcia, Hubert Vella (65’ Miguel Escobar), Nicola Palmieri, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Ivan Edgardo Paz.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Randall Vella, Jurgen Farrugia, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Dalli, Mattia Del Negro.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

HIBS Andrew Hogg, Martin Kreuzriegler, Jurgen Degabriele, Dunstan Vella, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias, Clayton Failla, Johann Bezzina, Jorge Elias dos Santos, Andrei Agius, Marco Sahanek (69’ Jackson de Lima Siqueira).
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Daniel Buckle, Timothy Tabone Desira, David Xuereb, Conner Zammit, Rui da Gracia Gomes.
Coach: Mark Miller

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: H. Vella, M. Garcia, Jackson Lima, T. Aquilina
BOV Player of the Match: Jurgen Degabriele

Tarxien Rainbows registered a second consecutive win as they defeated Naxxar Lions 2-1 at the Centenary Stadium. The Lions therefore continue to chase their first win, remaining second from bottom on three points.

The Rainbows managed to break the deadlock on the 32nd minute thanks to Ricardo Silva Faria who hit home from close range after a cross by James Brincat was not held by the Naxxar custodian.

Tarxien doubled the score through Ricardo Silva Faria who slotted the ball past Nicht off an assist from the right by Artur Benes.

Naxxar were awarded a penalty after Andre Scicluna brought Daren Falzon down inside the area and Scott James Fenwick converted from the penalty spot.

NAXXAR Christoph Nicht, Scott James Fenwick, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef (71’ Mark Fenech), Daren Falzon, Duane Bonnici, Jurgen Debono, Daniel Mateo Bustos, Angus Buhagiar, Oussenyou El Hadji Ndoye, Adrian Cascaval.
Subs not used: Omar Borg, Tristan Nappa Licari, Marco Botta, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Go Nagaoka, Joel Ellul.
Coach: Stuart Watkiss

TARXIEN Christian Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Ayrton Azzopardi (68’ Andrew Agius), James Brincat, Luke Grech, Andre Scicluna, Ryan Darmanin (81’ Godwin McKay), Artur Benes (90’ Matthew Spiteri), Eduard Calin, Ricardo Silva Faria, Sean Cipriott.
Subs not used: Antonio Chetcuti, Matthew Brincat, Seyown Zammit, Arsenne Rye Cilia Mumford.
Coach: Jose Borg

Referee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Ndoye, Baker, Agius, Falzon
BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Silva Faria
Attendance at the Centenary Stadium: 208

Meanwhile in another match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Valletta defeated Lija Athletic 4-2 to join leaders Gzira United on top the BOV Premier League table although the Maroons have a game in hand.

Matteo Piciollo put Valletta ahead on the 11th minute when he headed the ball home following a cross by Denni.

The Citizens doubled the score on the 32nd minute thanks to Denni Rocha dos Santos who concluded a fine run on the right with a powerful shot which gave goalkeeper Luke Bonnici no chance.

Lija pulled one back three minutes from the end of the first half thanks to an Erjon Beu penalty after Kooh Sohna was brought down by Ryan Camilleri.

One minute in the second half, Kyrian Nwoko made it 3-1 for Valletta as he headed the ball home off a cross by Matteo Piciollo.

Erjon Beu reduced the gap once again for Lija on the 55th minute with a fine shot when served by Bello Osagie.

However Matteo Piciollo, served by Nwoko, sealed the issue with a fourth goal deep into stoppage time in a counter-attack.

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri, Juan Cruz Gill, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciollo, Kyrian Nwoko, Jean Borg, Joseph Zerafa, Raed Ibrahim Saleh (83’ Russell Fenech), Denni Rocha dos Santos (90+2’ Nicholas Pulis).
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Jeremy Micallef, Miguel Ghigo, Nikola Asceric, Daniel Camilleri.
Coach: Zoran Popovic

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Leon Muscat (85’ Patrick Borg), Daniel Scerri, Erjon Beu, Leejoe Schembri (78’ Aiden Galea), Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Carl Cassar, Ousmane Sidibe, Djamel Leeflang (66’ Nigel Spiteri).

Subs not used: Jonathan Martinelli, Adrian Caruana, McAllister Clinch, Joaquin Lores Varela.
Coach: Joseph Galea

Referee: Darryl Agius
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Fenech, Spiteri
BOV Player of the Match: Matteo Piciollo
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 879