After two defeats and three draws, Birkirkara finally managed to register a first win as a goal by Federico Falcone late in the first half handed them a narrow win over Hibernians at the National Stadium on Saturday.

This win enables the Stripes to move to a more comfortable mid-table position as they now lie on the six-point mark.

For Hibernians, who were coming from back-to-back wins over Senglea and Mosta, this was the second defeat this season but they still stay four points clear of the Stripes.

Birkirkara scored the all-important goal on the 37th minute when off a cross by Caio Henrique Prado, Federico Falcone chested the ball down before hitting low past goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.

Four minutes in added time, the Paolites were reduced to ten men after Joseph Mbong was sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

HIBS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Timothy Tabone Desira (62’ Imanol Iriberri), Ferdinando Apap, Joseph Mbong, Jake Grech, Terrence Groothusen, Bjorn Kristensen (74’ Myles Beerman), Dunstan Vella, Gabriel Izquier (90’ Charles Atsina), Andrei Agius, Leonardo Nanni.
Subs not used: Marko Jovicic, Leandro Marcio Barbosa da Silveira, Matthew Ellul, Ayrton Attard.
Coach: Stefano Sanderra
Asst. Coach: Ryan Pulis

B’KARA Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Maurizio Vella, Kurt Zammit, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Caio Henrique Prado (90+2’ Edison Luis dos Santos), Oscar Matias Carniello, Miguel Angel Alba (70’ Michael Mifsud), Ryan Fenech.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Gianluca Bugeja, Glenn Attard, Terence Agius, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli.
Coach: Andre Paus
Asst. Coach: Jonathan Holland

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: K. Zammit, B. Kristensen, R. Fenech, L. Nanni, A. Agius, F. Falcone, M. Beerman, C. Attard
Red Cards: 90+5′ Joseph Mbong
BOV Player of the Match: Caio Henrique Prado
Attendance: 1,085