This much expected top of the table clash was parading on show no less than seven players who featured in Malta’s unforgettable victory over Hungary last Wednesday with almost all of them on the side of Marsaxlokk. The likes of Bogdanovic, Wellman, Dimech, Schembri, Pace and Sammut squared off against the Hibs trio of Cohen, Briffa and Scerri in this fight for sole leadership of the Premiere League.

As expected, the Southseasiders poured forward in the opening minutes with Schembri and Dimech in the full thick of the fray but nothing came out of these chances. But we only had to wait five minutes for what can surely be termed as one of the contenders for the goal of the season.

Bogdanovic picked up the ball just outside the box and unleashed a devastating curling drive that rocketed into the net leaving Muscat completely helpless.

Hibernians appeared under the rack as the deadly Marsaxlokk forward line was running rings around the Paolite defence with Sammut, Bogdanovic and Schembri particularly impressive.

Hibernians did react on 20 minutes when Terence Scerri saw his close shot saved by Gauci after a fine pass by Andrew Cohen.

Another chance for Hibs came on 26 minutes after a corner by Cohen found Sceri whose header glanced just wide. Andre’ Schembri then managed to wriggle away from the Hibs defence on 28 minutes but his conclusion was eventually blocked.

Drama eventually ensued on 36 minutes when Hibernins were awarded a penalty after Mamo was judged to have pulled Chukunyere in the box. Up stepped the calm Andrew Cohen who made no mistake slotting the ball into the left hand corner and returning the match to level terms.

Hibernians could have gone into the lead on 41 minutes, but his shot from just outside the box ended up over the bar from an excellent position as Marsaxlokk appeared rattled by the Paolites’ strong fightback.

The second half began with a fine free- kick by Bogdanovic curling just wide of the post with a flurry of bookings somehow disrupting the game’s ebb and flow. After 10 minutes, Cohen went on one of his trademark runs but his conclusion left much to be desired.

Marsaxlokk came close on 59 minutes when Sammut poked a shot into a melee of players from inside the box but the ball was somehow cleared. Malcolm Licari had a header that went just over on 62 minutes.

As both teams lengthened themselves it had to be Luke Dimech who saved the day for Marsaxlokk by clearing off Andrew Cohen who was in the clear on 65 minutes. Scerri almost found the net just seconds later but Gauci managed to tip the ball away with a great save.

Marsaxlokk again came close on 76 minutes when a fine corner by Frendo found Magro whose header was brilliantly saved by Muscat. However it was a brilliant substitution by Talbot who brought on Haruna Doda for Schembri that changed the match with the former rising imperiously in the box to head home Frendo’s perfectly pitched corner.

Although Hibs desperately attempted to get back on level terms, Marsaxlokk held on for their sixth win on the trot and rise to the top of the Premiere League table, two points above Msida.