Citizens home in on top-six berth

Hibernians 1
Valletta 2

Valletta's reputation as Hibernians' bogey team was amply justified yesterday. Determined to glean something from their seemingly tricky match with the title aspirants Paola side, Valletta churned out a strong display to attain a deserved victory which puts them on the threshold of Championship Pool football.

Goals from Sebastian Omar Monesterolo and Gilbert Agius either side of half-time put Valletta firmly on course for a vital victory, providing a fitting reward for the collective enterprise and tactical cohesion they showed throughout the contest.

The Citizens' lively showing, epitomised by stellar performances from Massimo Grima and Agius, was in stark contrast with the inertia of Hibs' efforts.

For the second time in two weeks, they failed to justify their billing as genuine title contenders, rolling over to more determined opponents to stay third, three points behind the leaders.

The goalless outcome of the opening match between Sliema and Floriana ought to have fortified the resolve of Hibernians and Valletta to gather maximum spoils.

Hibernians craved victory to leapfrog Sliema and join Birkirkara at the top of the standings.

In Valletta's case, their need for points stemmed from the intriguing four-way struggle for the last two slots in the Cham-pionship Pool.

Less than three minutes into the game, Haruna Doda advanced menacingly down the middle before supplying Andrew Cohen who turned well inside the box but his diagonal effort was kept out by Sean Sullivan.

Valletta's response was not long in coming, Monesterolo flicking the ball just wide of the near post after the Hibs defenders had only succeeded in diverting Agius's cross in the path of the Argentine striker.

Paul Zammit, the City coach, had to make a string of changes from the team that held out for a 1-0 victory over Pietà Hotspurs last weekend.

In defence, Sharlon Pace deputised for Branko Nisevic while youngsters Ian Zammit, back from suspension, Dylan Zarb and Kurt Magro received starting roles in Valletta's four-man midfield.

These alterations were forced upon Zammit by the suspension imposed on Craig Dean and Jonathan Bondin and the injury to Chris Camilleri.

Hibernians' mentor Robert Gatt also had his fair share of selection problems with the likes of Terence Scerri, Ben Camilleri and Dave Williamson laid low by injuries. Gatt's choice fell on Clayton Failla and Edmond Agius to replace Scerri and Williamson while Ryan Mintoff was preferred to Adrian Pulis.

The lanky defender's omission from Hibs' starting line-up did not come as a surprise after Gatt publicly criticised Pulis's performance against Birkirkara.

Fifteen minutes into the game, anticipation swept through the City faithful as Monesterolo got on the end of Agius's set-piece pass on the edge of the penalty box but his grounder rolled wide.

Genuine scoring opportunities were a fleeting commodity in the opening half hour but the Citizens were the more enterprising side. The clock marked 34 minutes of the game played when Cohen curled the ball past the Valletta defensive wall from a free-kick but he was slightly off target.

Four minutes from half-time, Monesterolo opened his and Valletta's account. Chasing a lofted pass from Zammit, he raced clear of Hibs' abortive offside trap, moved past Muscat and placed low inside the unguarded net.

A cross by David Camilleri from a free-kick almost panicked Grima into committing an own goal but luckily for the Valletta centre-half, his headed clearance bounced wide of the far post.

On the cusp of half-time, the sprightly Zammit had the audacity to try and chip Muscat from near the halfway line but with scant success.

Barely three minutes from the start of the second half had elapsed when Monesterolo, having got behind the flailing Hibs' defence, closed in on goal unimpeded but his central shot was blocked by Muscat.

Agius's craft and more woeful defending from Hibs combined to yield an inviting opening for Valletta as the through-pass from the City skipper found Monesterolo in the right position but once more, Muscat came out to repel the danger.

Valletta's stout defending had reduced Cohen and most of his productive team-mates to peripheral figures but the Hibs' livewire almost brought his team on level terms with a swinging free-kick. However, Keith Fenech was in the right place to clear the ball away.

This was on 61 minutes. Less than two minutes later, Valletta doubled their lead. A long clearance by Sullivan soared above the snoozing Hibs defenders much to the delight of Agius who slipped past his markers and hammered the ball home.

The impetus was now clearly with Valletta, Muscat forced into two difficult saves from efforts by Agius and Monesterolo.

The inadequacy of Hibs' defending prompted Gatt to make a double substitution, Pulis and Jonathan Pearson coming on for Camilleri and Edmond Agius respectively.

This meant that Hibs had used all their substitutions by the 66th minute after Roderick Baldacchino had just replaced Julian Vella. These changes were intended to enliven Hibs but their reaction was tame.

Pearson mustered a shot on the turn which Sullivan saved without much difficulty but at the other end, Hibs were lucky not to concede another goal. Valletta's swift transfer of the ball from defence to attack saw Monesterolo and Agius tormenting Xuereb with a series of cute passes but the City skipper lost his balance as he was about to conclude.

In stoppage time, Cohen got a consolation goal for Hibs, a shot from inside the penalty area, but the Citizens had long been home and dry.

Mattocks deal sealed

The air of enthusiasm at Valletta FC was fomented yesterday with the news that unsettled Sliema and Malta midfielder Claude Mattocks will be joining the Citizens until the end of the season on a loan transfer.

Negotiations between both clubs had been ongoing for the past couple of weeks. Mattocks will attend his first training session with Valletta tomorrow.

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6, P. Pullicino-5, A. Xuereb-6, R. Mintoff-5, E. Mbong-6, A. Cohen-5.5, J. Vella-5 ('61 R. Baldacchino-5), C. Failla-5.5, D. Camilleri-5 ('66 A. Pulis-5.5), E. Agius-5 ('66 J. Pearson-5.5), H. Doda-5.

Valletta: S. Sullivan-6.5, K. Cassar-6.5 ('72 M. Barbara), M. Grima-8, S. Pace-7, R. Forace-6, I. Zammit-7.5, K. Fenech-6.5, D. Zarb-6.5, K. Magro-6.5 ('78 A. Debono), S.O. Monesterolo-7 ('89 J. Grioli), G. Agius-8.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Monesterolo 41; Agius 63; Cohen 90.

Yellow Cards: Grima; Mbong.

BoV Player Of The Match: Massimo Grima (Valletta).