Hibernians lifted the first honour of the season when they beat Sliema 3-1, in an entertaining match.

The first half was a delight to watch as both teams went all out in search of goals with both goalkeepers always on the alert.

However in the second half, both sides drained all their ideas, with the game mainly played in midfield until Hibernians scored the third goal that killed all Sliema’s residual hopes.

In the first minutes Mario Muscat effected great saves off Scerri and Mattocks, with Sliema’s young goalkeeper Henry Bonello denying Cohen.

On 13 minutes Hibernians forged ahead when Chukunyere, who showed some good flashes of his good past, passed to Bartolo whose shot from an acute angle was deflected by Mattocks, with the ball completely deceiving Bonello.

After Giglio headed wide from an ideal position, Sliema were on level terms on 22 minutes when a Scerri overhead kick slammed against the crossbar and Brian Said was on hand to head the ball home.

Hibernians were unlucky when a Matthew Bartolo scorcher hit the upright, and on the other end Giglio missed another good opportunity heading over the bar.

On 35 minutes Andrew Cohen, surely the best player on the field of play, was brought down inside the area by veteran David Carabott, with the referee opting for the penalty.

Andrew Cohen made no mistake to give his side the lead. Just before the break a Terence Scerri shot slightly missed the target, with Sliema hitting back with a Ciantar dipper going wide.

The second half was played at a very slow pace, and sixteen minutes from time Hibernians scored their third goal when Scerri was put through by Cohen and the Hibs striker made no mistake, placing the ball in the low corner of the net.

At the end of the match MFA vice-president Carmelo Bartolo handed the Euro Challenge Cup to Hibernians’ captain Andrew Cohen.