Two second half goals in quick succession, scored from dead ball situations, enabled Sliema Wanderers to beat Hibernians in a low key match which produced its best in the last quarter hour after Hibernians pulled a goal back and showed more fighting spirit in a bid to revive some flickering hopes of salvaging something from an opaque performance.

Sliema's capability of breaking a three-match winless streak takes them up to third place on equal points with Floriana as Hibernians drop to sixth.

With both teams missing some regular players from their starting line-ups, they failed to lift up the tempo. Sliema were bereft of the suspended Roderick Briffa and gave starts to Da Silva, Bartolo and Chetcuti, leaving Pace, Madzar and Anonam on the bench.

Hibernians, on their part, were without Edafe as Mintoff, Adrian Mifsud and Chukunyere featured among the substitutes.

A barren first half was played high on energy, but lacked cohesion and precision, with a crowded midfield that provided very few openings. Da Silva produced a high work rate in midfield and together with Bajada and Bartolo enjoyed the most ball contact for Sliema. For Hibernians, Doffo and Agius did most of the running although their creative play found little support. Cohen had a below par performance by his standards and was eventually substituted.

After a cagey start, keeper Muscat was forced to turn Barbara's effort into a corner. Midway through the half Cohen went close with his effort blocked into a corner.

On the other end, Pulis' timely tackle halted Da Silva's progression. Both sides raked crosses inside opposing areas which were suffocated by determined defences which kept their opponents in check. Not surprisingly, the stalemate prevailed till halftime.

But three minutes of the second half was all it took Sliema to break the deadlock. Woods' corner from the right was headed in by Andre Da Silva as the Hibernians' keeper Muscat claimed to have been fouled in the process.

And hardly two minutes later the Paolites collapsed to concede a second goal, again from a dead ball situation. Brian Said moved forward inside the crowded Hibernians' area to meet another Bajada corner from the left, shooting the ball low past the helpless Muscat.

Hibernians tried to regroup but were frustrated by Sliema's pressing game. Towards the hour the Paolites put in Adrian Mifsud for Cohen to bolster their attack but lost on creativity. Visibly not fully fit, Mifsud was forced to make way for Chukunyere hardly 15 minutes later.

Sliema continued to control the proceedings, conceding very little at the back, as Hibernians looked shorn of ideas or options.

With ten minutes remaining, they suddenly jerked into shape. Edmond Agius pulled one back as his shot from near the byeline on the right took a deflection off Said and beat keeper Akanji.

Suddenly Sliema looked uncomfortable as Hibernians increased their efforts. A Terence Scerri low cross caused some anxious moments in the Sliema defence but Failla did not find the coordination to conclude in front of goal.

And in added time, Scerri's headed effort on an Agius cross, was tipped over the bar by Akanji to preserve an important win for the Wanderers.

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Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Caruana, A. Xuereb, A. Pulis, C. Failla, P. Doffo, E. Agius, T. Fleri Soler, B. Camilleri (J. Pearson), A. Cohen (A. Mifsud) (N. Chukunyere), T. Scerri

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, B. Said, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, A. Da Silva (I. Ciantar), R. Bajada, M. Bartolo (A. Madzar), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, E. Barbara (O. Anonam)

Referee: C. Lautier Asst. refs: J. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: A. Da Silva, B. Said, E. Agius

Yellow cards: A. Pulis, T. Scerri

Player of the match: Roderick Bajada (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. A. Da Silva 2. R. Bajada 3. P. Doffo