MARSAXLOKK 1

HIBERNIANS 4

Marsaxlokk: S. Darmanin, M. Licari (M. Barbara), C. Mamo, R. Conceicao, B. Said, P. Pullicino, C. Camilleri, W. Camenzuli (C. Brincat), T. Templeman (G. Caruana), M. Pereira, C. Cassar

Hibernians: M. Muscat, J. Caruana (T. Fleri Soler), E. Herrera (Y. Cauchi), A. Pulis, C. Failla, C. Callejas, T. Scerri, A. Cohen, J. Pearson, B. Camilleri (E. Cauchi), B. Zeferino

Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs: J. Camilleri, M. Debono 4th official: Ms E Azzopardi

Scorers: B. Camilleri, C. Failla, T. Scerri, B. Said, A. Cohen

Yellow cards: R. Conceicao, T. Scerri

Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. T. Scerri 3. C. Camilleri

High flying Hibernians registered their sixth win in their last seven outings, putting four goals past Marsaxlokk, showing in the process that they are full of running with the Championship race now getting properly under way.

The Paolites proved very tough opponents for Marsaxlokk, depleted by the absences of some key players. Alcorse and Sciberras were suspended while Sammut, Kokavessis and keeper Debono did not feature in the squad probably due to injury.

Hibernians were not at full strength either. Besides the suspended Galabov, defender Xuereb has still not recovered from his groin injury. Yesterday the Paolites gave a debut to their latest signing, Portuguese Borges Soares Zeferino who played wide on the left flank. Although showing some neat touches, he looked slow, perhaps lacking enough training or match practice. Failla moved in central midfield with Ben Camilleri playing wide on the right.

Hibernians were first out of the blocks with some attacking play that brought them two good scoring opportunities before they took an early lead after only nine minutes play.

Terence Scerri was involved in all three actions.

On four minutes he played a square pass to the advancing Failla from the middle but keeper Darmanin managed to just tip over into a corner.

Then a Failla cross was flicked towards goal by Scerri, for Darmanin to save.

And on nine minutes Ben Camilleri headed in Scerri’s cross from the left to put Hibernians ahead.

Three minutes later, Cohen’s spectacular overhead kick on Camilleri’s cross, forced the Marsaxlokk keeper to stretch himself and save. But after a Cassar effort went wide in a Marsaxlokk weak reaction, the promise of any high-tempo football soon evaporated, making way to a disappointing first half bereft of any excitement.

It was after the half hour that a Failla shot was blocked by the keeper and then Scerri managed to get a touch to the ball, on Failla’s long pass, nearly capitalising on some hesitation between Conceicao and the keeper. On the other end, Pullicino played the ball wide for Licari, playing in an advanced role, but his diagonal low shot was safely blocked by keeper Muscat before halftime.

Camilleri again tested Muscat soon after the restart with a long range shot, well saved by the outstretched keeper.

But whenever Cohen managed to wield his magic with his runs and dribbles, Marsaxlokk were always in great distress. On 65 minutes, the Hibernians midfielder won possession against Camenzuli and advanced towards goal, despite being harassed by the Marsaxlokk defender, until Conceicao pulled him down on the edge of the area. Clayton Failla beat keeper Darmanin at the top right hand corner with an exquisite well-placed free kick.

On the hour keeper Muscat again turned into a corner a Camilleri shot but Marsaxlokk lacked sharpness up front and not surprisingly, superior Hibernians scored their third on 65 minutes.

Zeferino made his way inside the Marsaxlokk area and as he was about to be blocked, he played the ball forward to the unmarked Terence Scerri to beat keeper Darmanin with a defiant strike.

Scerri went close again on 75 minutes. His goalbound header on Cohen’s cross was providentially saved by Darmanin.

But the Paolites continued to bask in their superiority, effecting all three substitutions, before Marsaxlokk pulled a consolation goal with three minutes remaining, Brian Said heading in Cassar’s corner kick.

In added time, Andrew Cohen crowned his five-star performance with a curling low free kick from the left which beat the keeper at the far post, to add his name to Hibernians’ score sheet.