Hibernians-Marsaxlokk 3-1

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Paiber, C. Mamo, S. Tellus (M. Licari), K. Mamo (I. Zammit), T. Templeman, S. Bajada, A. Schembri, M. Trendafilov, M. Ochei, C. Frendo

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, R. Mintoff, D. Camilleri, E. Mbong, P. Pullicino, B. Camilleri (M. Bartolo), C. Failla (R. Baldacchino), T. Scerri, A. Cohen.

Referee: M. Borg Asst refs: N. Debattista, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier.

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

Yellow cards: C. Mamo, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb

Red card: M. Ochei

Player of match: David Camilleri (Hibs)

TMI top three: 1. C. Mamo 2. D. Camilleri 3. P. Pullicino

Hibernians were back in the groove yesterday, beating Marsaxlokk’s challenge, to leapfrog Birkirkara into third place in the standings.

For them this was an opportunity to regain their form after a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Valletta last week, a performance that coach Robert Gatt described as their worst for 12 matches.

Hibernians made two changes from that match. Chukunyere, disciplined by his club, was missing and Baldacchino was relegated to the bench. Youngsters Failla and Ben Camilleri started the match.

Marsaxlokk, who remain pointless in the Championship Pool, also made some changes to the side which went down to Sliema. Carlo and Kevin Mamo returned in the starting line-up instead of Magro and Zammit. They were hit by Hibernians’ early two-goal lead but looked capable of recovering that deficit with a goal before half-time. The sending off of Ochei on 67 minutes was a setback from which they never recovered although Hibernians looked far from sharp in front of goal.

Both sides made their intentions clear in a bid to put past flops behind them and Marsaxlokk created the first chance after only two minutes. Frendo was through by Ochei’s pass and Hibs keeper Muscat had to rush off his line to smother the danger.

But on nine minutes Hibernians took the lead. Keeper Debono palmed out Scerri’s first shot at goal but Clayton Failla picked up the rebound to score his first goal for Hibernians since joining them in January.

Hardly six minutes later Marsaxlokk were delivered a second blow. Cohen advanced on the right, played the ball towards the middle for Pullicino to cross for Terence Scerri to score with a routine header.

That heralded the best spell for Hibernians and on 22 minutes the Marsaxlokk keeper had to stretch himself to keep out a David Camilleri venomous free-kick.

On 37 minutes Hibernains also had a reasonable claim for a penalty rejected after Paiber handled the ball to prevent Scerri from shooting.

But with three minutes remaining for half-time, Marsaxlokk pulled themselves into the game. Andre Schembri, the former Hibernians player, beat Mintoff’s challenge on the edge of the area when receiving Trendafilov’s through pass and beat keeper Muscat with a low drive.

Play degenerated after the interval as Hibernians took a more cautious approach, until the hour. Ben Camilleri, showing some very neat touches, put Cohen clear. The latter’s low shot was footed out by keeper Debono who also blocked Scerri’s second effort on the rebound until Ben Camilleri shot wide.

Soon after Licari substituted Tellus, Marsaxlokk were reduced to ten men. Ochei received his marching orders for apparently head-butting an opponent off the ball after his side was awarded a free-kick. The incident was missed by the referee but reported to him by assistant Spiteri.

Hibernians, however, failed to capitalise on their numerical superiority and fluffed a couple of chances which could have seen them wrap up the match. Scerri was twice foiled by the keeper when standing in ideal positions, running the risk of being caught up by their opponents, when Frendo rifled his direct free-kick tantalisingly wide.

Hibernians left it late though, in the fourth minute of added time, when Terrence Scerri finished off Cohen’s pass, after by-passing the Marsaxlokk defence, with a flick at the far post.