Hibernians.-Msida SJ 4-0

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, J. Caruana, C. Failla, K. Cassar (K. Formosa), P. Doffo, T. Scerri, A. Cohen, E. Agius, J. Alcorse (B. Camilleri), R. Mintoff (J. Pearson)

Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, S. Grima, C. Brincat, T. Farrugia, A. Spiteri, R. Baldacchino, D. Cachia, K. Ebejer (G. Magri), A. Farrugia (Adam Spiteri), P. Doding (P. Borg), G. Camilleri

Referee: C. Lautier asst.refs: J. Camilleri, P. Apap 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: T. Scerri, A. Cohen (2) 1 pen, E. Agius

Yellow cards: P. Doffo, A. Cohen, M. Bartolo

Red card: C. Brincat

Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. P. Doffo 3. T. Farrugia

silvio vella

Two goals in each half, helped Hibernians to an assured victory over willing but always inferior Msida St Joseph, ensuring that the Paolites remain unbeaten in their last three matches.

It was Hibernians whose attacking intentions were the clearer, with midfielder Andrew Cohen being the inspiration for most of their creativity, scoring a brace and aptly voted the best player. While Cohen had a field day, Doffo and Agius did voluminous work in midfield as Hibernians promptly established hegemony in this sector of the pitch, despite Edafe’s absence.

Hibernians forged ahead in their first real threat after 20 minutes. It was a cohesive move started by Doffo in midfield towards Cohen who threaded the ball through for Terence Scerri, to beat Msida’s offside trap and keeper Bartolo with a curling shot at the far post.

Two minutes later, the Msida custodian held out another Scerri close effort and on 25 minutes Hibernians nearly doubled the lead as Cohen’s inswinging free-kick from the edge of the penalty area hit the inner side of the post and rebounded in play.

But there was no denying Andrew Cohen past the half hour as he chased a long ball forward by Agius and shrugged off the challenge of two opponents before he beat Bartolo with a low shot at the near post.

Msida, who relied mostly on Priso Doding’s pacey runs down the flank, tried to spark some response but Baldacchino shot wide and when Doding raced towards goal, keeper Muscat rushed out of the area to smother the danger and ensure Hibrnians go in with a two goal cushion at halftime.

Hibernians regained the initiative at the start of the second half. Scerri raced through the Msida defence, crossed towards the middle but Tyrone Farrugia before Alcorse could connect. On the other end, Magri headed Baldacchino’s cross wide.

Past the hour Msida fluffed a good chance to pull themselves back into the game when awarded a penalty after Priso Doding fell under Xuereb’s push from behind inside the area. Doding scored the penalty but the referee ordered its re-take after noticing some infringement, only for the Msida striker to loft the ball over the bar.

Msida paid the penalty on 65 minutes, conceding a third goal when Edmond Agius unleashed a thunderous rising shot from some 30 metres, beating keeper Bartolo at the top right hand corner.

Msida’s task grew more laborious as they were forced to play with ten men for the last 20 minutes. Clive Brincat, who had fouled Doffo, retaliated to some reaction from the Hibernians’ grounded midfielder and threw a blow which earned him an undisputed dismissal.

Hibernians rubbed salt into Msida’s wound two minutes from time when Spiteri felled Scerri inside the area and Andrew Cohen made it 4-0 from the resultant penalty.