HIBERNIANS                             0

TARXIEN RAINBOWS               0

Tarxien R: D. Cassar, C.Mamo,  M. Caruana, M. Lopes Silva (M. Tanti), A. Esposito, J. Grioli, L. Almeida, R. Sammut, R. Bajada (A. Agius),  D. Bueno, S. Bonnici

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, J. Lima, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, J. Bezzina, S. Chircop, M. Dias (A. Azzopardi), J.P. Farrugia

Referee:  A.M. Sant

Asst.refs:  I. Spiteri, A. Grech

4th official: M. Borg

Yellow cards: R. Sammut, M. Caruana, C. Mamo

Player of the match: D. Bueno (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3:  1. D. Bueno  2. M. Muscat  3. A. Esposito

Attendance: 443

Many mislaid passes and erratic finishing contributed to this goalless derby between neighbours Tarxien Rainbows and leaders Hibernians in yesterday’s second match at the Centenary Stadium.

Although Hibernians keeper Mario Muscat was the busier keeper, Tarxien’s efforts were not enough to breach their opponents’ defence.

Hibernians were too shoddy and lacked the required punch in front of goal, with Farrugia, Lima and Cohen giving a below par performance.

By virtue of this point, Hibernians still move two above Valletta and even if the champions win their match tomorrow against Floriana, the Paolites will still start the second phase on level points.

Hibernians started at the top after being awarded three points last week following their protest win, despite defeat against Floriana.

Yesterday they were handicapped by the absences of regulars Zoran Levnaic, Clayton Failla and Rodolfo Soares.

Tarxien were buoyed by a place in the Championship Pool and also made three changes from the side that narrowly beat Rabat Ajax in the previous match. Andrew Agius, Mark Tanti and Branislav Timotic made way for Andre Esposito, Roderick Bajada and Steven Bonnici.

The Rainbows started well and Esposito had already put the ball into the net after seven minutes, following a goalmouth scramble inside the Hibernians area. The goal was ruled out for offside.

Tarxien threatened again past the quarter hour when Almeida passed the ball wide to Bueno whose low shot was parried by keeper Muscat but Esposito headed over.

Hibernians took some time to settle into the match. On a Kristensen long cross, Dias and Farrugia failed to connect and it was only after 34 minutes that the Tarxien custodian Cassar was tested with a Farrugia tame header on a Lima corner.

The second half started in more lively fashion. Cohen won possession in midfield, set Lima clear down the left but the final shot went narrowly wide.

On 54 minutes, Tarxien carved out the best chance when Almeida’s shot from close range, on a Bueno cross, was blocked by keeper Muscat with the ball rolling across the face of the Hibernians goal.

Hibernians substituted Dias a minute later and within ten minutes there were glaring missed chances at both ends. On 62 minutes, Farrugia should have done better when going through the Tarxien defence but when faced by the keeper, shot wastefully off target.

Ten minutes later, Esposito laid an inviting ball towards the unmarked Bajada, who had all the space in the world, but shot horrendously over.

 A  lull in proceedings followed as the ball was kicked to and fro with little purpose. Avoiding defeat remained top priority in the teams’ agenda and it was no surprise that the stalemate prevailed.