Sliema W.-Hibernians 1-3
Sliema W: H. Bonello, J. Borg, K. Farrugia (A. Xuereb), J. Mintoff, M. Scerri (B. Muscat), S. Ohawuchi, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods, P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, S. Bianciardi
Hibernians: D. Balzan, T. Tabone Desira, S. Chircop (Z. Levnaic), I, Radusinovic, R. Camilleri, J. Lima, C. Failla, O. Obiefule, L. Edison, J.P. Farrugia (A. Cohen)
Referee: M. Apap
Asst.refs: S. Attard, R. Vella
Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, C. Lautier
4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: J.P. Farrugia 9, O. Obiefule 29, L. Edison 88, S. Ohawuchi 90+ pen
Yellow cards: J. Mintoff, S. Ohawuchi, I. Radusinovic, R. Camilleri
Player of the match: O. Obiefule (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. O. Obiefule 2. J. Lima 3. C. Gatt Baldacchino
Attendance: 626
Revived Hibernians beat Sliema Wanderers with two first half goals and another in the dying minutes to secure third place in the standings as the hunt for a place in European competition intensifies.
Hibernians showed more determination and richly deserved their win, which resembled a training exercise at times as they prised apart the Wanderers without performing anywhere near their destructive best.
Sliema laboured throughout the match and there was little fluency in their attacking play with Stanley Ohawuchi starved for service.
Winless in their previous two league matches, they might have suffered from fatigue after their FA Trophy semi final match in midweek, but they were playing opponents in a vein of good form, with back-to-back wins against Balzan and Birkirkara. Sliema were bereft of the suspended Vladavic and defender Alex Muscat but Trevor Cilia was left on the bench. Kane Farrugia played as central defender, with Clifford Gatt Baldacchino as right back and John Mintoff handed a more advanced role on the flank in a reshuffled defensive set up.
Hibernians could afford to use Andrew Cohen as a substiute once again, but had defender Ryan Camilleri back from suspension. With only 50 seconds on the clock, Zoran Levnaic had to be introduced to replace the injured Scott Chircop, who fell awkwardly after an aerial challenge with Ohawuchi and was stretchered off.
Hibernains always looked sharper on the ball and it was no surprise that they forged ahead after only nine minutes play. Failla played a long free kick from the right and Jean Paul Farrugia beat keeper Bonello with a looping header at the top corner.
Hibernians could have doubled their lead two minutes later but Obiefule’s shot was repelled by keeper Bonello.
Lima went close with a long range shot before Hibernians punished the slow Sliema defence once again towards the half hour. Obinne Obiefule reached for the ball before a static Bianciardi, on Farrugia’s cross, and hit the ball past the helpless Sliema keeper.
Although they put in Beppe Muscat for Scerri in the second half, the Wanderers failed to put up a decent reaction and never really troubled Daniel Balzan in the Hibernians’ goal.
In fact the Paolites remained the more potent going forward even in the second 45 minutes and their third goal, two minutes from time, was long overdue. Hibernians had gone close on 69 minutes as keeper Bonello repelled Lima’s powerful shot.
On 77 minutes Hibernians crafted their best move. Obiefule back-heeled the ball inside the area for Edison, whose shot was blocked by keeper Bonello and Lima’s effort on the loose ball was deflected into a corner.
On 88 minutes Hibernians deservingly scored their third. Substitute Cohen slipped as he tried tyo connect to Obiefule’s low cross but still managed to hit the ball against the foot of the post, only for Luis Edison to hit in the rebound.
Sliema had gone close six minutes before but Ohawuchi was unlucky when his long range drive clipped the bar.
They only gained some consolation, though not enough to lift their spirits, in added time when awarded a penalty, for Camilleri’s handling inside the area, and Stanley Ohawuchi tucked it away.