BIRKIRKARA 3

HIBERNIANS 2

Birkirkara: S. Sullivan, P. Borg (G. Gallovich), L. Galea (C. Micallef), R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, M. Galea, JP Mifsud Triganza (E. Barbara), J. Holland, K. Scicluna, G. Mallia.

Hibernians: M. Muscat (A. Camilleri), A. Xuereb, K. Cassar (A. Zahra), R. Briffa (J. Vella), J. Caruana, P. Doffo, M. Bartolo, T. Scerri, A. Cohen, C. Failla, E. Agius.

Referee: J. Attard. Asst refs: C. Micallef, M. Debono 4th official: A. Azzopardi.

Scorers: A. Cohen, W. Camenzuli, G. Mallia 2, T. Scerri,

Yellow cards: T. Scerri, G. Mallia, W. Camenzuli, A. Xuereb, K. Scicluna, R. Sammut,

Player of the match: G. Mallia

TMI Top 3: 1. L. Galea; 2. G. Mallia; 3. M. Bartolo

HENRY BRINCAT

Birkirkara won a topsy-turvy match yesterday evening as they had to come from behind to beat the Paolites despite the latter’s encouraging second half performance.

Yet the Stripes must also thank Hibs goalie Mario Muscat who was at fault in the first two goals he suffered.

Otherwise, there was little to choose between the two teams as they struggled to get out of their recent poor form.

In the first half, play was more or less balanced but Hibs appeared to be sharper before suffering those three goals in the space of a few minutes.

The Paolites were poor at the back and they gave too much space to the Birkirkara strikers who profited from blatant mistakes.

In the second half, the Paolites surged forward in the hope of saving the game, but they only managed to pull back one goal and it was Birkirkara who threatened to score again in their dangerous counter-attacks.

Birkirkara tested Muscat through a Borg dipper on 13 minutes, but the goalie saved easily.

Three minutes later, Hibernians threatened seriously and were unlucky not to take the lead. Terence Scerri first saw his shot hitting the upright. Then from the ensuing action, he had a shot blocked by Sullivan.

However, the Paolites succeeded to score in their next move. And it was Andrew Cohen who hit home a low shot from the edge of the area.

It took Birkirkara 10 minutes to equalise though it was a sort of ‘Christmas gift’ from Muscat. Camenzuli hit a hard shot from around 35 metres and the ball slipped out of Muscat’s grasp and trickled over the line.

On 33 minutes, Doffo set Scerri beautifully, but the striker had his low shot saved by Sullivan.

The Stripes went ahead on 39 minutes. Mifsud Triganza retrieved an almost lost ball near the bye line and passed it back to Galea. The latter quickly crossed into the area for the onrushing George Mallia to hit home into an untenanted net.

Moments later it was 3-1 as from a perfect Calascione cross, it was again Mallia who netted with a splendid header.

In the second half, Mifsud Triganza went close to increasing Birkirkara’s lead, before the Paolites eventually reduced the arrears on 66 minutes when Cohen set Scerri who advanced to lob over Sullivan and into the net.

Hibs attacked in search of an equaliser, but the Stripes controlled well at the back and even finished the match in command of midfield with Camenzuli back at his best.