SILVIO VELLA

Hibernians won their first match in the Relegation Pool, beating nearest rivals Msida SJ 3-0 with plenty to spare.

The Paolites now move five points clear of Msida and, barring any complications, should find little difficulty to retain their Premier League status.

The result reflects the gulf between the two teams, with Hibernians exhibiting their class, producing some quality football which left their opponents mostly chasing shadows.

Msida were without their suspended skipper Tyron Farrugia as Kenneth Spiteri was given a start in central defence alongside Brincat. But for long stretches they played second fiddle to more superior opponents. In fact Hibernians promptly established hegemony in midfield with Doffo, Agius and Edafe producing a high work rate, all three looking imperious when the mood took them.

Their Argentine, Pablo Doffo broke the deadlock towards the half hour with a superb low drive from the edge of the area, when served by Scerri, who had intelligently shielded the ball inside the Msida area after chasing an Agius long cross.

The lead was more than Hibernians deserved for their more assertive start and better distribution.

Earlier, Scerri’s shot on the turn, when put through by Cohen, narrowly missed the target.

On 18 minutes Cohen’s meaty free kick from outside the area forced keeper Bartolo, preferred to Camilleri in goal, to stretch himself and turn into a corner. From the resultant Cohen corner, the Msida keeper again denied Scerri, tipping his firm header over the bar.

Hibernians doubled their lead on 37 minutes after Scerri had won a corner. From Cohen’s flag kick, Caruana headed towards goal, the ball rebounding off the bar on the keeper’s intervention and Ben Camilleri chested the loose ball and bundled it over the line.

Trailing by two goals, Msida SJ put in Gilberto Dos Santos for Baldacchino for the second half and although they tried to up the tempo, they still struggled to penetrate Hibernians’ blanket defence.

On the hour, Msida’s keeper had to be substituted after a collision with an opponent and Hibernians replaced Edafe with Fish soon after.

Msida’s reliance on Priso Doding, as their only source of creativity with his resourceful runs, always looked destined to end in frustration as the striker was kept well under check by Caruana and they failed to come up with any alternative.

Not surprisingly, Hibernians scored their third with a quarter hour remaining. Agius’ through ball caught the Msida defence square. Terence Scerri advanced inside the area, beating Brincat’s challenge, and lobbed the ball over the helpless Camilleri.

By then, the match was already over as a contest.