Birkirkara bounced back from the defeat to leaders Hamrun as they scored a goal in each half to beat rivals Valletta 2-0 at the National Stadium to move fourth.

The Stripes are now six points behind Gzira United and one ahead of Sliema Wanderers. Valletta, on the other hand, remain seventh, ten points behind Birkirkara.

Birkirkara took the lead on the 38th minute when Alex da Paixao Alves served Federico Falcone outside the area and the latter managed to pass the ball to Luke Montebello who hit low past Yenz Cini.

Valletta were unlucky not to equalise on the 62nd minute when an Enmy Pena Beltre effort from outside the area hit the crossbar and off the rebound, Matteo Piciollo’s attempt also hit the bar.

Six minutes from time, Birkirkara sealed the issue with a second goal when off a cross by Claudio Bonanni, substitute Caio Prado slotted the ball past the Valletta custodian.

B’KARA Alessandro Guarnone, Enrico Pepe, Luke Montebello, Paul Mbong (68′ Claudio Bonanni), Roderick Briffa (88′ Glending Farrugia), Kurt Zammit, Reginald Mbu Alidor, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Oscar Carniello, Alex da Paixao Alves (79′ Caio Henrique Prado Rocha).
Coach: Andre Paus

VALLETTA Yenz Cini, Triston Caruana, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciollo, Enmy Pena Beltre (76′ Kyrian Nwoko), Eslit Sala, Rowen Muscat, Leandro Aguirre, Ryan Fenech, Mario Fontanella, Lucas Campos (46′ Shaun Dimech).
Coach: Antonio Jose Cardoso Mendes

Referee: Alex Johnson
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Pepe, Briffa, Fenech
BOV Player of the match: Luke Montebello