Hibernians obtained their second consecutive win yesterday, taking full points against a resolute Qormi side which again demonstrated a lot of will power but showed equal profligacy in front of goal. They are now the only team with maximum points from two matches.

After conceding an early goal, Qormi were undone midway through the second half. Having conceded a second goal, they had Chetcuti sent off and immediately after collapsed to Hibernians’s third.

Hibernians had Alexis Mbongo, a midfielder from Cameroon, making his league debut, taking Pearson’s place. Otherwise coach Lufi left the same team which demolished Msida SJ in the first match. Qormi, who left a very good impression upon their debut, with a 1-1 draw against Marsaxlokk, promised to offer the Paolites a sterner test.

Coach Zerafa also deemed it fit to make only one change – Joseph Chetcuti started instead of Anatole Debono.

Luckily for them, Hibernians took an early lead. After only eight minutes play, Clayton Failla beat keeper Farrugia with a well placed low free kick at the right hand side.

But, to their credit, Qormi were not the least demorilised and fought gamely, looking extremely dangerous on the break.

The Hibernians defence had to cope with the mobility of Effiong. His pacey runs from half pitch often required three players to stop. Meanwhile, he created open spaces for his team mates, especially Da Silva, to exploit. Twice, in the space of two minutes, Da Silva spurned opportunities to level matters, shooting tantalisingly wide.

But the half’s best chance for Qormi came on 37 minutes from Grima’s drilling free kick from the edge of the area, which hit the inside of the upright and rebounded in play.

At the start of the second half, Hibernians put in Tristan Caruana in midfield for Fleri Soler, as Herrera retreated further as half back.

But play remained rather chaotic, until the hour, when Terence Scerri roused the Hibernians supporters, scoring his side’s second goal. The striker chased a long ball forward, took it into his stride before shooting past the helpless Qormi keeper.

Within ten minutes Qormi lost their composure. On 65 minutes they had Chetcuti sent off for a violent foul on Jonathan Caruana and four minutes later, after the forced substitution of the injured Dos Santos, they succumbed to Hibernians’ third goal. Clayton Failla struck a fierce rising shot at the top corner, capitalizing on Qormi’s disjointed rearguard.

The post also held out Scerri’s firm header as the newly promoted side looked totally out of sorts.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Qormi pulled one back. Alfred Effiong raced in for substitute Debono’s pass and slid the ball past keeper Muscat at the near post.

With Scerri substituted, Failla continued to torment the Qormi rearguard. His shot on 80 minutes brought a notable save from keeper Farrugia. On the other end, Qormi, who also put in Nwoko in the late stages, continued to squander more chances. Effiong twice sent efforts wide but the game was already over for Qormi.

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Qormi: M. Farrugia, R. Forace, R. Dos Santos (P. Camilleri), M. Grima, K. Fenech (C. Nwoko), A. Effiong, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia (A. Debono), S. Tellus, R. Sammut, J. Da Silva

Hiberninas: M. Muscat, J. Caruana, E. Herrera, A. Pulis, A. Xurereb, T. Fleri Soler (T. Caruana), R. Galabov, C. Callejas, T. Scerri (J. Xerri), A. Mbongo, C. Failla

Referee: K. Azzopardi asst.refs: M. Debono, J. Spiteri 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: C. Failla (2), T. Scerri, A. Effiong

Yellow cards: R. Forace, A. Xuereb, A. Effiong

Red card: J. Chetcuti

Player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. C. Failla 2. A Effiong 3. J. Caruana