Mosta 0
Hibernians 4
Mosta: A. Vella, A. De Cerchio (K. Frendo 73), M. Dos Santos Goncalves, R. De Oliveira (J. Brincat 65), M. Sammartino, D. Xuereb, T. Farrugia, J. Grech (M. Vicaroni 67), Z. Brincat, J. Cisotti, F. Mazzavillani
Hibernians: A. Hogg, D. Vella, N. Radojevic, E. Mbong, M. Dias, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen (J. Bezzina 76), T. Marcolino (F. Costa Tenorio 68), C. Zammit (I. Bubnjic 57), A. Agius, T. Fonseca
Referee: S. Pace
Asst refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic
4th official: A. Johnson
Scorers: T. Marcolino 21, T. Fonseca 38, B. Kristensen 66, F. Costa 90
Yellow cards: M. Dias 17, T. Marcolino 58, D. Vella 64, D. Xuereb 72, J. Cisotti 80
Player of the match: T. Marcolino
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Mbong, 2. J. Degabriele, 3. A. Agius
Attendance: 415
First half goals by Taylon Marcolino and Tiago Fonseca paved the way for a Hibernians easy win over lowly Mosta.
It was the Paolites' seventh win from nine matches as they moved into second place on 21 points, two below leaders Gzira United. They could be joined by Valletta this afternoon if the citizens win the derby against Floriana.
Mosta remained in the danger area on seven points, three above bottom placed Qormi and Senglea.
The Paolites dominated the first half and they richly deserved the 2-0 lead.
They were a superior outfit with Mbong and Degabriele running miles and miles of ground and with Marcolino and Fonseca delivering the goods.
On their part, Mosta were forced on the defensive for most of the time. They had one good scoring opportunity after a fine breakaway, but they faced a veritable challenge to get past the strong Paolites' defence in which Andrei Agius was, as usual, outstanding.
In the second half, the Paolites slowed down considerably but after a rare scare from Mosta, they were still good enough to add two other goals to their tally apart from missing a penalty.
Hibs were first to threaten in the 6th minute. Jurgen Degabriele's solo move ended when he tried to side step goalie Vella, but he lost control of the ball.
In the 11th minute, Andreas Vella was called into action saving a Radojevic header. Two minutes later, it was Mbong who had a fine shot from 20 metres going just over.
In the 19th minute, Hibs went very close through a Marcolino header which beat goalie Vella, but the ball was cleared from over the line by Tyrone Farrugia.
Two minutes later, Hibernians took the lead. It was Degabriele who set Marcolino in the Mosta area. He avoided a tackle before hitting past the helpless Vella.
Mosta missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise on 28 minutes when Zachary Brincat was put through in the Hibs area, but with only Hogg to beat, he saw his effort blocked by the onrushing Hibs goalie.
In the 31st minute, Marcolino also missed a sitter for the Paolites. Receiving a long ball from the defence, he outsped the Mosta defenders, but his lob over goalie Vella finished well wide of the Mosta goal.
Hibernians added a second goal on 38 minutes when off a fine Mbong cross, it was Thiago Fonseca who beat Vella with a neat header.
Soon after the start of the second half, Zachary Brincat blasted the ball over the bar after being set by Cisotti.
In the 55th minute, Brincat again entered the Hibs area on the right, but goalie Hogg denied him with a good save.
The score became 3-0 on 66 minutes when Degabriele squared the ball for Bjorn Kristensen to fire home a fine 25 metre shot which beat goalie Vella all ends up.
Four minutes from the end, Dexter Xuereb floored Degabriele in the area and the official showed no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot. Fonseca, however, saw his shot hitting the upright and rebounding out.
However, the Paolites scored their 4th goal in added time as substitute Costa found the net with a shot from the edge of the area.