Valletta remained firmly in command at the top of the Premier League after beating Marsaxlokk in last Sunday’s top of the table clash.

It was a dramatic victory for the citizens who came from behind to snatch the three points in dramatic fashion after Marsaxlokk failed to convert a last-gasp penalty which would have earned them a point and enabled them to stay only two points away from the leaders.

The citizens now enjoy a four-point lead over second placed Birkirkara who have overtaken Marsaxlokk.

In the process, the outgoing champions received a major setback to their hopes of winning a second title in succession.

Valletta have therefore become firm favourites to win the title even if they still have to play five more matches.

They can even go on to extend their lead in the first batch of matches in the second round on 19 April, when they will be facing Hamrun Spartans and Birkirkara have to play against Sliema Wanderers.

However, they will have to be consistent every time they are in action. On Sunday, apart from their great fighting qualities, they also had goalkeeper Andrew Hogg to thank.

It was this young goalie who thwarted Marsaxlokk on several occasions as the southern seasiders threatened to crush the leaders in their often dangerous counter-attacks when the score was still 1-0 in Marsaxlokk’s favour.

At that stage, Brian Talbot’s men appeared heading for a resounding win which they simply lost through their own fault, as they missed some gilt-edged chances to consolidate their lead before Valletta scored an equaliser.

The great culprit was Alexsander Madzar who squandered two very easy chances when face to face with Hogg. Later, Malcolm Licari also joined the list of failures. First he had a close-range effort blocked by Hogg; later he missed the chance for his side to draw level by missing a last-gasp penalty.

Having overcome such a precarious situation, Valletta hit back first to equalise and then to take the lead with which they eventually secured the three points.

On Saturday, Birkirkara maintained their challenge as they scored four times without reply in the second half against Hamrun Spartans.

The Stripes were obviously frustrated by a well organised Hamrun side in the first half, and although they dictated play for most of the time, they were afforded little space and could never show the form they had been showing in recent matches.

Only until they scored their first goal in the second half, however. From then on, there was no holding them, or rather, striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, who scored a hat-trick.

The victory, however, only enabled them to move one place up the table from third to second, just above Marsaxlokk, after the latter were defeated by Valletta on Sunday.

Birkirkara would have preferred a Marsaxlokk win or a draw in the match between Valletta and the outgoing champions. That would have left them just two points adrift of the lead.

However, despite remaining four points behind Valletta, John Buttigieg’s boys have become City’s main challengers for the title. And I am sure they will be on the lookout for a slip up by Valletta so that they can pounce and take the chance to get nearer before the direct clash between the two teams.

Also on Saturday, Floriana provided more woe for the beleaguered Sliema Wanderers as they beat their rivals 2-0 in the ‘Old Firm’ derby.

The Greens were definitely the better team on the day as Sliema continue to struggle.

Unless the Blues roll up their sleeves and manage to do well in the Trophy quarter-final against the same Floriana this weekend, they will certainly be heading towards one of their most disastrous seasons in recent history.

For the Greens, the victory was the perfect tonic just one week ahead of their Trophy quarter-final match which could also save their season. Also, it was the Greens’ first win in the Championship Pool.

And on Sunday, as widely expected, Hibernians made sure of their place in next season’s Premier League when they overcame bottom placed Mqabba 4-2.

The Paolites have now opened an unassailable lead over third from bottom Pieta Hotspurs, thus leaving Msida and Pieta to fight it out between them as to who will join No. 1 candidates Mqabba into next year’s first division.