Hibernians            2
Birkirkara              1

Hibernians :   A. Hogg, D. Vella, N. Radojevic, J. Mbong, M. Dias, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen, T. Marcolino ( D. Xuereb 90' ), A. Agius, T. Tabone Desira ( C. Zammit 89') , T. Fonseca ( F. Costa Tenorio 82')

Birkirkara:    K. Naumovski, A. Mrsulja, M. Giullaumier, M. Andelkovic, P. Orlandic ( C. Rodriguez 72'), J. Grech ( M. Beerman 83' ), K. Zammit ( G. Zammit 89'), E. Ferreira Dos Santos, M. Mifsud, C. Attard, M. Franca de Siqueira

Referee:  Emanuel Grech  

Asst refs:    Luke Portelli, Mitchell Scerri

4th official:   Malcolm Spiteri  

Scorers: og Naumovski 9' , J. Grech 57 ', T. Fonseca 75'

Yellow cards:   J. Grech, T. Tabone Desira, B. Kristensen, T. Fonseca, K. Zammit

Player of the match:   Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians)

TMI Top 3:  1. M. Guillaumier   2.   T. Marcolino    3.  J. Degabriele

Attendance:  874

Hibernians joined Gzira at the top of the table after defeating Birkirkara by the odd goal in three. After a drab first half the match came to life in the second period with goal scoring chances coming in regular intervals at both ends.

Hibernians were in search of another win, their sixth win on the trot in order to join Gzira at the summit. This after the latter and Valletta figured out a goaless draw in the top of the table match on Friday to give the Paolites this bonus.

The Stripes could not count on the suspended Danilo Chapoval. They were coming from a win over Sliema in their last match but were rather inconsistent all throughout losing four matches so far.

Both coaches went for a prudent plan and it had to be a soft goal following a defensive blunder which opened the accounts.

Hibernians drew first blood on 10 minutes when off a Degabriele corner a misunderstanding ensued between goalkeeper Naumovski and Orlandic with the ball finishing at the back of the net.

The Paolites went near once again four minutes later through a Radojevic shot which was cleared off the line by Andelkovic. Twenty minutes had to pass to record an action when it was Birkirkara who went near for the first time through Orlandic off a Guillaumier pass but Hogg anticipated on time.

Five minutes from the end of the first half Hibernians had two consecutive shore from Fonseca and Marcolino blocked by the Stripes defenders.

Following a rather dull first forty five minutes Birkirkara started the second half brightly and in the 47th minute an Andelkovic shot from outside the area just missed out.

In the 54th minute Fonseca crossed from the right with Marcolino just missing to  hit home with only Naumovski to beat. Just a minute later a low acute show by Fonseca went inches wide.

Birkirkara drew level on 57 minutes with Guillaumier sending a cross into the opponents area with Radojevic failing to clear the ball which fell into Jake Grech's path who slotted home from close range.

Birkirkara were now holding the upper hand and in the 70th minute a low diagonal drive from Franca de Siqueira ended just off the upright. But it was Hibernians who took the lead once again but against the run of play. It was the 76th minute when Marcolino set Tiago Fonseca who after chesting the ball fired past a helpless Naumovski.

In the 85th minutes substitute Costa Tenorio made a solo run and entered into the Stripes area but preferred to shoot rather than pass to his unmarked team mates with Naumovski saving without any sweat.

And in the 87th minute Mifsud's shot was saved by Hogg. With Andelkovic testing the Hibernians custodian with a long range shot on the stroke of time. Till the end Hibernians controlled their opponents to gain three valuable points which put them at the summit of the BOV Premier League.