Hibernians end dismal run - April 2, 2006

Hibernians 3
Marsaxlokk 1

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Hibernians and Marsaxlokk, two underperforming teams, stormed into each other in yesterday's second match. Having seen their erstwhile promising title hopes vanish into thin air as a result of their own inadequacies and the relentless pace of leaders Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers, Hibs and Marsaxlokk yearned for a victory to lift their wavering morale as well as their chances of a top-three finish.

On a bright afternoon at Ta' Qali, the sun finally came out for Hibs whose committed and cohesive display was sufficient to lower the colours of an out-of-sorts Marsaxlokk side.

The Paolites had the three points sewn up by the 53rd minute after putting three goals past their inept opponents who, having missed a penalty just before conceding their third, only made a contest of it in the last 20 minutes.

Thanks to this victory, their first in six matches, Hibs have joined Marsaxlokk in third place, both teams having 23 points. For the Blues, this was their third defeat on the trot.

The significant contribution Shaun Bajada and Brazilian striker Wendell Soares Gomes made to Marsaxlokk's rally in last weekend's 4-3 defeat to Valletta was rewarded with a first-team berth yesterday.

Cleaven Frendo, one of Marsaxlokk's best performers this season, was among a host of players kept out by injury. Marsaxlokk keeper Reuben Debono was out through suspension but he was not the only netminder ruled out by disciplinary action.

Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper and skipper, also had to sit out yesterday's match after a fourth yellow card in his side's 3-1 downfall to Birkirkara. Alex Camilleri deputised for the Malta goalkeeper.

Hibs coach Robert Gatt was denied access to the touchline yesterday after being slapped with a two-match ban, leaving assistant Michael Woods to do all the shouting from the sidelines.

Also missing for Hibs were the now usual names of Terence Scerri, Peter Pullicino, Ben Camilleri and Antoine Zahra.

Jamie Pace warmed Camilleri's hands with an angled shot after four minutes. The former St Patrick goalkeeper was again called to push away a cross-shot from Bajada but in their first menacing foray into Marsaxlokk's half, Hibs forged ahead.

Their opener owed to their quick-thinking striker Cohen who shifted wide to collect a pass from Edmond Agius, shrugged off Reuben Gauci's overtures and rolled the ball home.

One expected Cohen's opener to inject some life into an erstwhile drab encounter but such optimism was misplaced.

Marsaxlokk did try to regroup but theirs was no more than a confused reaction. For their part, Hibs, who had Haruna Doda partnering Cohen in attack, seemed content to weather what little pressure came from their opponents and try to release their forward personnel with quick, long balls.

Ten minutes from the end of the first half, Dave Williamson twisted and turned on the right before putting over a cross towards the centre. Cohen's overhead kick lacked the power to unsettle Gauci.

Hibs' second goal was not long in coming. A cross from David Camilleri was missed by the dithering Nuno Gomes and Roderick Baldacchino turned the situation in his and Hibs' favour, raising his knee to lift the ball over Gauci and into net via the crossbar.

Lethargic and disorganised, Marsaxlokk were now truly facing an uphill struggle. Chucks Nwoko should have reduced the arrears when Wendell Gomes diverted the ball in his path inside the Hibs' box but the Nigerian-born striker fired wide.

Four minutes into the second half, the match officials took centre stage when assistant referee Joe Rapa drew the attention of Joe Attard, the man in the middle, over a penalty-box foul by Hibs goalkeeper Camilleri on Wendell Gomes. Attard had initially deemed that Camilleri's challenge was legitimate but he ordered the penalty after Rapa's intervention.

From the 11-metre mark, Bajada's tame shot was parried by Camilleri who quickly extended himself to the right to stop Wendell Gomes's charge at the rebound. Marsaxlokk's despair was further compounded a few minutes later when Hibs moved three goals up.

Cohen floated a dipping cross in the centre of Marsaxlokk's area where Hibs centre-half Aaron Xuereb was lurking with intent. Steve Wellman looked to have the ball covered but it ricocheted towards Doda who managed to guide the ball past Gauci.

Shortly afterwards, David Camilleri threatened to make it 4-0 for Hibs but his bending free-kick skimmed the far post.

Marsaxlokk now had the look of a team resigned to defeat despite the game having more than 35 minutes to run. Their reaction was timid and devoid of ideas. Schembri came closest to narrowing the deficit but he blasted high from close range. In the 74th minute, Nuno Gomes's header from Kevin Sammut's corner dropped wide.

On 70 minutes, Gauci, the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper, made his first noteworthy save of the afternoon when smothering away Williamson's pile-driver.

Marsaxlokk did manage to reduce the arrears,Schembri, having received a through-pass from Pace, swept past Camilleri and lashed the ball home.

With 15 minutes of the game remaining, Marsaxlokk are likely to have entertained hopes of clawing their way back into contention. Schembri almost got them within one goal but his shot on turn ended wide.

Marsaxlokk pushed forward with some urgency in the final stages but in so doing, they lay themselves vulnerable to Hibs' counter-breaks.

On 89 minutes, Cohen's run threatened to punish the dishevelled Marsaxlokk defence but Charlò Magro tripped the nippy striker. Magro was sent off and from the free-kick, Camilleri's shot was saved by Gauci.

Hibs: A. Camilleri-6.5, A. Pulis-6.5, A. Xuereb-6.5, E. Mbong-6, D. Williamson-6.5, J. Pearson-6 ('65 K. Spiteri-6), E. Agius-6, R. Baldacchino-7 ('76 C. Failla-6), A. Cohen-7.5, D. Camilleri-6, H. Doda-6.5.

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-5, C. Magro, S. Wellman-5.5, N. Dos Santos Gomes-5, C. Mamo-5.5 ('76 K. Mamo-5), K. Sammut-5, C. Nwoko-5.5, J. Pace-6, S. Bajada-5, W. Soares Gomes-5.5, A. Schembri-7.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Cohen 13; Baldacchino 37; Doda 53; Schembri 75.

Yellow Cards: Pulis; Nuno Gomes; Spiteri.

Red Card: Magro 89.

BoV Player Of The Match: David Camilleri (Hibs).