■Hibernians 5

Hamrun S 0

With Valletta held to a draw by Sliema Wanderers on Saturday, Hibernians capitalised with a sturdy victory against poor Hamrun Spartans and narrowed the gap to four points with the leaders.

Hibernians overpowered Hamrun with a performance that bodes well for the rest of the season as their classy football continually cut their opponents apart. They scored five times and were twice denied by the woodwork.

Hamrun kept faith in the same team that beat Birkirkara in the FA Trophy the previous week only for the suspended Gianluca Calabretta to be replaced by new recruit Ronnie Hartwig. That meant Steve Bonnici played as right back.

But they were unable to replicate their display against the quality of their opponents yesterday. Poor defending let them down but Hamrun never looked capable of countering the Paolites’ superiority as the match unfolded into a one-sided affair. The Spartans’ slender resources showed at the end.

Hibernians were also deprived of Andrew Cohen because of suspension. Jackson Lima filled that role behind the forwards Anizoba and Luis Edison. And with Vandelannoite and Soares their other foreigners, Marcelo Dias started on the bench. Edward Herrera returned as wide player on the right flank.

But that tactical plan also changed past the half hour when Aaron Xuereb was forced to leave the pitch with a head injury, Pearson moved at centre back and Herrera dropped at right back.

Hibernians could have broken the deadlock after only nine minutes, when presented with a glaring opportunity. Anizoba broke on the right, crossed low for Edison who played the ball back to the unmarked Failla who contrived to shoot off target with keeper Borg out of place and the chance went to waste.

Hamrun tried to put men behind the ball but their defence never looked truly comfortable and only after 20 minutes did they venture into the Hibernians’ area with a Sammut free kick from the right. Shields laid the ball in the path of Spiteri who shot over.

But two minutes later, Hibernians forged ahead. Lima’s corner from the left was flicked by Anizoba towards the middle and Luis Edison stretched his foot to score his 18th league goal this season.

The Spartans failed to make an immediate response as their midfield struggled to counter their opponents and were mostly chasing the game. Hibernians’ danger almost always came from the left flank, where first Bonnici and then substitute Glenn Azzopardi were at pains to hold out the forays of Failla and Edison, who was reveling in his wide role out right.

On 40 minutes Hibernians had a goal disallowed for offside, after Anizoba had headed in a good move involving Herrera, Lima and substitute Pisani.

But, with halftime looming, the Paolites could not be denied a second goal. A sloppy goal kick by keeper Borg fell to Kristensen who quickly passed it to Jackson Lima to drill his shot past the stranded keeper from more than 25 metres out.

Two goals down by halftime, Hamrun looked resigned to their fate in the second period as Hibernians remained more potent going forward.

Anizoba had another goal disallowed for offside on a Lima free kick and then, on Lima’s cross, Edison headed narrowly off target.

Failla’s cross shot was cleared into a corner by Hartwig, as Hamrun, encamped inside their own area, were soaking much of the Hibernians’ pressure.

Spiteri was twice foiled by the onrushing keeper Muscat in the few occasions that the Spartans managed to go beyond the halfway line.

Not surprisingly, Hibernians increased their goal tally in the last 20 minutes. They won a penalty on 72 minutes when Agius felled Edison and Clayton Failla tucked it away firmly past keeper Borg.

On 75 minutes, the upright denied Edison again, holding out his goal bound effort and five minutes from time, substitute Bezzina provided the assist to Clayton Failla to lob the ball first time over keeper Borg.

There was still time for rampant Hibernians to score their fifth in added time. Steve Pisani had his shot parried by the Hamrun keeper, shot the loose ball against the bar before he finally picked Dias’ pass from the rebound to finish it off and complete the rout.

Hibernians M. Muscat, E. Herrera, R. Soares, A. Xuereb (S. Pisani), J. Vandelannoite, J. Pearson, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, J. Lima (M. Dias), P. Anizoba (J. Bezzina), L. Edison

Coach M. Miller

Hamrun S O. Borg, S. Bonnici (G. Azzopardi), M. Gauci, R. Hartwig, M. Grima, D. Camilleri (D. Zerafa), D. Shields, L. Agius, A. Ribeiro, K. Sammut, G. Spiteri (A. Micallef)

Coach J. Zammit

Referee T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs I. Spiteri, J. Camilleri

4th official P. Caruana

Scorers L. Edison 22, J. Lima 45, C. Failla 72 pen, 85, S. Pisani 90+

Yellow cards S. Bonnici, G. Azzopardi, L. Agius, O. Borg

Player of the match L. Edison (Hibernians)

TMI top 3 1. J. Lima 2. L. Edsion 3. M.

Grima

Attendance 1,053