Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, S. Pace, I. Ciantar, C. Ciantar, Z. Svoboda, I. Woods, C. Nwoko (M. Galea), O. Anonam (J. Mintoff), J. Chetcuti

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis (B. Camilleri), A. Xuereb, J. Caruana (E. Agius), K. Cassar, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, M. Bartolo (T. Caruana), N. Chukunyere, U. Nwoko, T. Scerri

Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: K. Borg, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: M. Bartolo, A. Muscat, M. Galea, I. Woods

Yellow cards: C. Ciantar, S. Pace, M. Bartolo, J. Mintoff, I. Ciantar

Red card: U. Nwoko

Player of the match: Alex Muscat (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. A. Muscat 2. Z. Svoboda 3. A. Cohen

Sliema's jittery season turned slightly for the better yesterday as they beat Hibernians to join them in fourth place in the standings.

The Wanderers stepped up a gear late in the first half and almost dominated the second to win this match, which hauls them closer to a Championship Pool finish.

Bajada was an addition to Sliema's injury list also comprising Giglio, Di Lello and Mattocks but welcomed the return of Ivan Woods who had missed his side's laborious win against St George's.

Hibernians, out to erase the disappointing defeat by ten-man Floriana three days earlier, were bereft of the suspended Doffo and Failla. Coach Gatt gave starts to Chukunyere, Xuereb and Pulis, playing wide on the left flank. Agius, who had started on the bench, went in as substitute for the injured Caruana shortly before the break. But that is little excuse for their inept second half performance and, for the second consecutive time, they threw away a first half lead and ended empty handed.

Half an hour had elapsed before any team was able to fashion a chance. Hibernians, in fact, went ahead with virtually their first real opportunity. Nwoko's pass carved an opening for Matthew Bartolo on the right to foil keeper Akanji and shoot in at the near post.

Sliema, who had been utterly devoid of purpose and penetration, looked unable to put up a reaction.

Cohen's free-kick from the left was saved into a corner by Akanji, undoubtedly the busier of the two keepers in the first half.

But as half-time was looming, Sliema found their taste for the game. Alex Muscat, standing unmarked on the edge of the penalty area on the left, picked Anonam's cross and beat keeper Muscat with a well placed curling left-foot shot to restore equilibrium.

And in added time, the Wanderers threatened again when Woods got the better of Hibernians defender Cassar inside the area, when chasing a long Akanji drop ball, but Muscat blocked with his feet.

Sliema substituted Nwoko with Mark Galea for the second half and towards the hour Svoboda played the ball to the advancing Anonam, whose shot was saved by the grounded Muscat.

Hibernians found themselves back pedalling the moment they conceded the second goal on 63 minutes. Mark Galea headed firmly Muscat's perfect cross from the byeline on the right from close range to give Sliema the lead.

Hibernians' efforts to draw level were hampered by Nwoko's dismissal on 72 minutes after head butting Pace, following a heated tete a tete argument with Ian Ciantar and to add to their miserable afternoon they even collapsed to concede a third goal in added time when the unattended Ivan Woods chested Chetcuti's cross to beat Muscat with relative ease.