Hamrun Spartans moved three points clear of Floriana as they defeated Hibernians 2-1 at the National Stadium on Saturday. The Greens, however, have a game in hand.
The Paolites, on the other hand, remain seventh on 18 points, as they have now gone three matches without a win.
Hamrun thought they had taken the lead on the 13th when Uros Djuranovic hit the crossbar with a powerful freekick with the ball bouncing onto the goal line before being cleared into safety.
However on 22 minutes, off a Luke Montebello corner, there was a short clearance and Steve Borg’s powerful drive gave goalkeeper Hugo Sacco no chance.
The Spartans doubled the score five minutes from time thanks to Ryan Camenzuli, served on the left by Jonny whose angled shot beat the Malta Under-21 international goalkeeper.
Four minutes in added time, Hibernians were awarded a penalty after Steve Borg pulled an opponent from the shirt inside the area and Jurgen Degabriele converted from the penalty spot.