Hibernians' band wagon continues to roll. With the demolition of Mosta yesterday, they now open a ten-point gap at the top, with nearest challengers Birkirkara playing today.

Again their lethal predator, Luis Edison was the Paolites' catalyst scoring four of his side's five, two of them from headers, as he takes his personal tally to an impressive 11 league goals already.

It was an individual five-star performance that had everything. Pace, skill, finishing and, happily for Hibernians, the goals keep flowing while the defence gets tighter.

This defeat, the fifth on the trot for Mosta keeps the pressure firmly on coach Enrico Piccioni who, in an attempt to arrest his side's slump, started with Daniel Bueno for Jovanovic in attack, Kurt Zammit instead of Calcado and Mark Brincat in centre of defence for Tyrone Farrugia. But the plan did not work. They shipped five more goals as they sink further in the mire.

Hibernians had Marcelo Dias returning in their starting line-up after a one-match ban and Jonathan Pearson was given the nod in defence ahead of Rui Gomes.

Andrew Cohen was exiled to the bench, to be replaced by Johann Bezzina in midfield as the leaders stamped their authority on the match with two goals within three minutes past the half hour.

Luis Edison leapt high to connect to Failla's deep cross from the left and beat keeper Borg with a free header for the opening goal on the half hour.

Three minutes later, the Brazilian advanced unhindered on Kristensen's through pass to put the ball beyong the Mosta keeper's reach for a second time.

Ironically, Mosta could have broken the deadlock themselves after only four minutes play when Kaljevic crossed from the byeline on the right and Bueno hit first time against the underside of the bar with Hibernians keeper Bonello beaten.

But Mosta never really recovered from that double blow and they compiled more misery two minutes into the second half with an unfortunate own goal.

Lima's low cross shot from the left was missed by Jorginho but the ball hit Mosta's defender Adrian Borg and ended over the goal line.

Completely outplayed and demorilised, Mosta's tame reaction on 50 minutes came from a Bueno effort, on Frendo's pass, that was blocked into a corner.

Set pieces continued to be Mosta's likeliest source of goals. Kaljevic's free kick from the edge of the area rebounded off the Hibernians' wall  while, at the other end, another swift break resulted in Luis Edison cutting through the middle, after going past Brincat but fizzed his drive just over.

Finally, Hibernians could relax and they set about giving the scoreline a more appropriate look.

With Mosta falling apart, the irripressible Luis Edison added two further goals. On 67 minutes he exploited space down the left flank and beat keeper Borg with a defiant strike. Nine minutes later the Brazilian headed in Mbong's cross from the left to leave Mosta reeling and licking their wounds.

In a match that saw both teams struggle to create opportunities, Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows, both in dire need of points and consistency, had to settle for a one-all draw that leaves the two languisihing in the lower part of the BoV Premier League table.

The scoreline was settled in the firts half.

Amadou Samb had put Floriana into the lead by the half hour, but Jorge Silva equalised for Tarxien Rainbows soon after and as an uneventful second half remained goalless, a boring stalemate prevailed.

Tarxien, with only one win in their last five matches, remain one point above Floriana in the standings but failed to catch up with Mosta above them.

Meanwhile, Floriana stretched their unbeaten run to six league matches.

They  were coming into yesterday's match at the back of their stunning comeback which saw them beat Mosta a week. They had Conor Borg unavailable and replaced Rodrigo Aguiar with Emerson Marcelina. Their striker Matteo Piciollo was suspended.

Tarxien were boosted by the return from suspension of four key players, namely Wesley Lima, Carlos Hevia Menendez, Owen Bugeja and Matthew Tabone. But the not- fully-fit midfielder Triston Caruana only played as a second half substitute. With regular keeper Jonathan Debono injured and his deputy Sean Cini suspended, Sean Mintoff, formerly of Floriana, played in the Tarxien goal.

The first part of the first half was played at a snail's pace. There was no lack of effort from both sides but they struggled to find some fluidity in their play, and much of their work was either rushed or broke down due to carelessness in possession.

Floriana then looked menacing with a couple of floating free kicks from Pisani. Samb headed the first one wide from close range. On the second, Cobo did well to head the ball towards the middle of the Tarxien area but the action was interrupted for the Floriana defender's offside position.

Tarxien served warning of their own menace for the first time midway through the half. Lima put Rodrigues through inside the Floriana area but keeper Senatore turned his shot into a corner.

Floriana then made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark. Amadou Samb reached for Pisani's cross inside the Tarxien area and as defender Kane Farrugia fell under his challenge, as they tussled for the ball, the Senegalese striker could lob over keeper Mintoff. Tarxien protested with the referee for an alleged Samb foul but the goal stood.

It only took the Rainbows eight minutes to level matters though. The Floriana defence was caught in disarray as Spiteri lost possession to Alex Cini inside the area on the left and Jorge Silva pounced on the hasty clearance to rifle his shot past keeper Senatore at the top right hand corner.

Floriana emerged from halftime with slightly more attacking intent although they lacked enough incisive movement to breach the Tarxien rearguard a second time.

The Floriana keeper Senatore had to foot out Lima's effort as he made his way inside the area in the opening stages, before the Greens went close to restore the lead on 65 minutes from a Pisani corner, on which Tarxien's defender Lopes almost committed an own goal as he headed the ball against the bar in an attempt to clear.

The Greens were forced to substitute Marcelina after 69 minutes as he limped off with a muscle strain.

Floriana almost pilfered a win in the match's added time. With Tarxien keeper Mintoff rushing out of his line to block, Farrugia lobbed the ball inside the area for Plut to shoot at goal but Lopes blocked the ball into a corner.