Relieved of any more pressure, Qormi ended the season’s commitments with their biggest win of the season yesterday as they put five goals past poor Hibernians, for only their second win in the Relegation Pool.

They were simply faster on the ball, more accurate and deadly in their finishing as Hibernians looked almost always destined to chase the game.

The Paolites thus remain winless in their last three matches and were overtaken by the same Qormi as they finished one from bottom in the Relegation Pool.

Hibernians had only one foreigner in their starting line-up, midfielder Patrick Osei, but also had some regulars, like Ryan Camilleri, Jonathan Pearson and Bjorn Kristenssen missing.

Qormi also had their fair share of absentees, namely Giglio and Karamanolis. Matthew Camilleri, who saved the late penalty against Vittoriosa, started in goal. Qormi also had Vandelannoit back in defence.

Qormi started the match at a fast pace, playing some one-touch football. Their slick passing kept Hibernians on the backfoot.

Main striker Borg Olivier twice failed to put his free headers on target following crosses from Frendo and Souza in the early stages.

They broke the deadlock after 13 minutes when Jason Vandelannoit headed powerfully past keeper Muscat on a Joseph Farrugia corner from the left.

Hibernians could only shoot at the Qormi goal from a distance. Aftet ten minutes, Cohen’s corner was cleared towards Caruana who skied the ball. And midway through the half, Cohen hit Osei’s pass inches wide.

Qormi remained the better side and on 34 minutes, Cleaven Frendo scored a superlative goal as he unleashed an unstoppable shot from some 25 metres out from the right, at the top corner to double his side’s lead.

Hibernains could have reduced the arrears five minutes later. Caruana played a long ball forward to Cohen who played it towards the middle and when Qormi’s defender slipped, Gauci thumped the loose ball against the bar.

But Qormi were more lethal and two minutes from the break they even scored a third.

Chetcuti ran down the left flank and crossed for Michael Borg Olivier to connect and shoot at the roof of the net.

Qormi kept up their passing network in the second period but were frustrated by Hibernians’ offside trap.

On 65 minutes Borg Olivier arrived fractionally late on a Frendo cross. On the other end, Cohen tried to lob the ball over the keeper on an Azzopardi pass, but missed the target.

But Qormi scored two more goals in quick succession. On 71 minutes Matthew Tabone beat his own keeper on Chetcuti’s cross when challenged by Borg Olivier.

Hardly two minutes later, Borg Olivier ran in to connect on a Chetcuti cross and shoot low past Muscat as Qormi again upped the tempo.

Muscat denied Souza on a Chetcuti cross and the latter also had another goal disallowed for an offside.

Hibernians scored two late goals from Edward Herrera to make it a more respectable result, first shooting in Cohen’s pass from close range and then going past three opponents from the left before beating keeper Camilleri.

The match was over as a contest but reserved a deserved ovation for captain on the day Keith Fenech who was substituted eight minutes from time, in what probably was his last appearance in Premier League football.

Qormi: M. Camilleri, J. Vandelannoit, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, K. Fenech (G. Gesualdi), J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, M. Borg Olivier (G. Chircop), C. Frendo, H. Kang, J. Souza (S. Agius)

Coach: S. Azzopardi

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Duca (B. Muscat), M. Tabone, A. Xuereb, A. Pulis (A. Azzopardi), P. Osei, T. Caruana, M. Gauci, A. Cohen (J. Bezzina), E. Herrera, D. Sammut

Coach: M. Miller

Referee: A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, T. Debono

4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: J. Vandelannoit 13, C. Frendo 34, M. Borg Olivier 43, 73, M. Tabone 71 og, E. Herrera 78, 80

Player of the match: J. Chetcuti (Qormi)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Chetcuti 2. C. Frendo 3. M. Borg Olivier

Attendance: 359