Hibernians 0

Pieta H. 1

Hibernians: A. Camilleri, J. Caruana, A. Xuereb, K. Cassar (A. Pulis), M. Bartolo, U. Nwoko, P. Doffo, N. Chukunyere, A. Cohen, T. Scerri, C. Failla (J. Vella)

Pieta H: A. Hogg, S. Grech (S. Ciscaldi), B. Sciberras, M. Deanov (C. McKay), Q. Refalo, C. Pulo, C. Sammut, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, E. Herrera, D. Kokavessis (G. Goodlip)

Referee: A. M. Sant Asst.refs: C. Micallef, M. Debono 4th official: Ms E. Farrugia

Scorer: C. Pulo

Yellow cards: M. Deanov, C. Pulo, A. Cohen

Player of the match: Andrew Hogg (Pieta H)

TMI top three: 1. D. Camenzuli 2. A. Hogg 3. M. Bartolo

Promising Carl Pulo, scored a goal of inestimable importance yesterday as he beat Hibernians keeper Camilleri with a low diagonal shot from a Deanov cross, after only three minutes play, enabling his side Pieta Hotspurs to register their first Premier League win this season after 14 matches. They now move up from bottom place, handing the wooden spoon to Marsa.

It was a deserved victory for the Hotspurs, heralding a turn of fortune into the new year and just reward for their sheer will power and perseverance, holding on to some sustained pressure from their hard pressed opponents, especially in the second half.

It was another disappointing result for Hibernains, who, despite their abundant talent and general dominance, failed to recoup the early deficit. They spurned some good opportunities although equally significant was the supreme goalkeeping of Andrew Hogg who frustrated the Paolites time after time.

Hibernians seem to have run out of ideas and the optimism of their early season flourish is beginning to evaporate into the grind of a Premier League winter.

They were widely expected to make further strides this time around and yet, disturbingly short of penetration, they are sliding backwards, with only two wins to show from their last eight matches.

Muscat, Briffa and Agius were relegated to the Hibernians’ bench, following the team’s defeat by Birkirkara in the previous match. But the side was bolstered by the return of Chukunyere and Nwoko.

Pieta gave a start to Sheldon Grech in midfield, in the absence of the suspended Mifsud, and were boosted by Pulo’s goal which gave them an early lead, forcing their opponents into a chasing game.

In an unremarkable first half, devoid of other scoring opportunities, Hibernians showed the inclination to go forward but very rarely the co-ordination or penetration to disturb the Pieta goal.

The Paolites raked numerous crosses and won several corners which were capably handled by the Hotspurs’ keeper Hogg.

Hibernians, who substituted Failla with Vella at halftime, started the second half in more lively fashion and created three good opportunities within as many minutes. Scerri’s powerful grounder was parried by keeper Hogg with some difficulty as Chukunyere was blocked by a defender on the point of shooting. Then Hogg was prominent when turning into a corner another insidious Scerri shot.

Having survived those scares, Pieta again ventured into enemy territory. Refalo ran in from the blind side on the right but his close range effort was blocked into a corner by keeper Camilleri.

Hibernians resumed their probe for an equaliser and towards the hour Chukunyere arrived fractionally late on a Scerri low ball across the face of a gaping goal.

But Hibernians’ best chance fell on 68 minutes. Bartolo’s sailing cross was met by Chukunyere who rolled the ball in Scerri’s path only for keeper Hogg to block the Hibernians’ striker tame effort.

As Hibernians were mounting some sustained pressure, Pieta’s coach Carmel Busuttil was sent off the bench after contesting hotly a referee’s decision for Herrera’s foul on Nwoko, with 20 minutes remaining.

Bartolo’s rising shot was deflected into a corner but defending in numbers, with practically all their players behind the ball, Pieta held on to their slender lead as the final minutes ticked away to their advantage.