Vittoriosa’s resilience was not enough to earn them any points as they succumbed to defeat by Hibernians, down to ten men for the last half hour, in this battle of the basement in the Relegation Pool.

Ominously for their opponents, Hibernians are now five points above Vittoriosa and with only one team going down this season, the Paolites’ struggle for survival has started on the right track. They have joined the teams above them Qormi and Sliema Wanderers with the latter playing each other this evening.

Both sides were in need of points as they lingered in the relegation zone before kick-off.

Hibernians made four changes from the side which lost to Sliema Wanderers the previous week, in a bid to improve upon that abysmal performance.

Matthew Tabone, Matthew Gauci, Brian Fairbairn and Steve Pisani were all dropped as coach Mark Miller gave starts to Aaron Xuereb, Ryan Camilleri, Paul McManus and latest recruit, Moroccan-born Taki Abdelilah.

Hibernians still looked a disjointed side, lacking a real mentor in midfield, despite the running of Hart, Osei and Cohen, and the delivery of their crosses was often of poor quality.

Vittoriosa, without the suspended Leighton Grech, were unable to sustain their usual high tempo, and with Ewurum exiled to the bench and Jorge Silva not at his usual best, Luis Edison carried the main threat. After six minutes his scissors kick, on a Sammut cross from the left, forced keeper Muscat to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

Hibernians almost took the lead on the quarter hour. The Vittoriosa defender Chetcuti tried to head Herrera’s cross but forced his own keeper into a difficult save to tip the ball over the bar and avoid an own goal.

Midway through the half, the volatile Edison did some good work on the left, passed the ball to Silva who crossed poorly and the chance went begging.

And past the half hour, Vittoriosa again threatened with a Sammut free kick. Pearson cleared the ball before Chetcuti could connect with his head.

The goal came on the other side though. McManus looked to have lost the ball on a Herrera low cross but fell on Wellman’s outstretched leg to win a penalty. Paul McManus himself scored from the spot kick.

Vittoriosa put in Clayton Micallef for Aquilina for the second half and before the hour they created four good opportunities. Maccari’s header went slightly over from a Silva corner kick and then Brazilian Compagnoli missed the target on a Silva cross from the right. On 57 minutes, Edison also missed the target on another Silva pass before the latter was blocked by keeper Muscat from a close angle on a Compagnoli cross.

On 53 minutes Hibernians had put in Fairbairn for McManus, with the innocuous Abdelilah left to plough a lone furrow up front.

Fairbairn however was sent off after only seven minutes on the pitch. As he fell inside the Vittoriosa area under his opponent’s challenge, he was shown a straight red by referee Sant, implicating that there was more than simulation in his infringement.

Vittoriosa were quick to capitalise on their numerical superiority. In fact they drew level on 64 minutes. Luis Edison took possession on the edge of the Hibernians’ area and beat keeper Muscat with a low drive at the far corner.

Hibernians, however, did not settle for a draw and summoned enough effort to move forward, through the forays of Herrera.

The latter almost capitalized on Vittoriosa’ hesitation in defence on 76 minutes, advanced but was denied by keeper Vella’s smart save.

Hibernians even managed to win the game with Adrian Pulis’ goal eight minutes from time, as he headed in Cohen’s cross. The Paolites could defend their lead against Vittoriosa’s late tame efforts, knowing that their time was up.

The future now looks bleak for Vittoriosa.

Hibernians M. Muscat, E. Herrera, A. Pulis, A. Xuereb, J. Pearson, R. Hart, P. Osei, P. McManus (B. Fairbairn), A. Cohen, R. Camilleri (B. Kristensen), T. Abdelilah (T. Caruana)

Coach M. Miller

Vittoriosa S J. Vell, P. Aquilina (C. Micallef), J. Chetcuti, S. Wellman, J. Camilleri, R. Grech, M. Maccari, C. Compagnoli, K. Sammut (A. Tabone), J.Silva (A. Ewurum), L. Edison

Coach W. Muscat

Referee A.M. Sant Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, W. Debattista

4th official F. Zammit

Scorers P. McManus 38 pen, L. Edison 64, A. Pulis 82

Yellow cards A. Pulis, P. Osei, K. Sammut, R. Hart, J. Pearson, A. Ewurum

Red card B. Fairbairn

Player of the match E. Herrera (Hibernians)

TMI top 3 1. L. Edison 2. E. Herrera 3. C. Compagnoli