For all its merits, the U*BET FA Trophy rarely surprises us. The Premier sides have been consistently knocking down opponents from the First Division without shredding much sweat and nobody argues about how it is going to end.

Yesterday's first match of the afternoon between Premier side Hibernians and First Division side St George's was a case in point.

St George's competed in their gutsy and athletic way for almost 45 minutes but ultimately sheer ability told.

Keeping the score goalless for nearly the whole first half, the Saints caved in after conceding a penalty on the stroke of halftime and another soon after the restart, allowing Hibernians to secure their smooth progression into the second round.

Hibernians were missing the services of Pulis, Mbongo and Callejas and had a makeshift defence comprising Formosa, Xuereb, Xerri and Failla as Herrera played in an advanced position on the right and Jonathan Caruana moved up in midfield.

For most of the first half, however, a well organised St George's side traded equal punches with their opponents. The closest Hibernians could go was a Cohen shot from the left which hit the upright after 13 minute, although the Paolites had more of the ball during the first half hour.

St George's gradually tried to go out of their defensive shell. A headed Curmi effort on a Mizzi freekick was tipped over the bar into a corner by keeper Muscat and soon after Mwomba failed to connect to Mizzi's cross.

On 43 minutes, following a Mizzi corner from the right, Fenech clipped the upright with his powerful header.

But with half time looming, the Saints conceded a penalty when Sevasta floored Cohen inside the area and the same Hibernians player scored from the spot kick despite keeper Gatt guessing the ball's direction.

Hibernians' second goal, seven minutes into the second half, put their minds at rest. Terence Scerri's elevation, on a Failla cross, outpowered his marker to beat keeper Gatt with a firm header.

Before that, a Cohen meaty free kick was turned into a corner by the outstretched St George's keeper and Farrugia headed Herrera's cross off target.

St George's failed to make a decent reaction as even Mizzi failed to make the most of an inviting low Curmi cross, shooting feebly in Muscat's open hands. Hibernians continued to knock the ball around with training ground easiness, keeping their powder dry for sterner tests ahead.



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Hibernians: M. Muscat, E. Herrera, K. Formosa (A. Mbongo), A. Xuereb, C. Failla, J. Pearson (T. Caruana), A. Cohen, J.P. Farrugia (L. Grech), T. Scerri, J. Caruana, J. Xerri

St George's: A. Gatt, K. Grech, A. Bonello, S. Sciberras (T. Thomas), E. Sevasta, I. Curmi (G. Bonello), J. Nwomba, L. Mizzi, E. Amaira, B. Fenech, E. Degabriele

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: K. Borg, A. Camilleri 4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: A. Cohen pen, T. Scerri

Yellow cards: L. Mizzi, T. Scerri, S. Sciberras, A. Xuereb