Second-half goals sink Saints

St George's 0
Hibernians 3

Two opportunistic goals in the second half from Hibs' international striker Andrew Cohen landed the Paolites an expected win that lifted them into third place on 18 points at the end of the first round.

With some four weeks of inactivity, coach Robert Gatt had ample time to re-think his strategies and tactics as he seeks to put his side back in the championship hunt following two consecutive defeats that had derailed the side's positive march.

Knocked out from the first round of the FA Trophy and flirting with relegation, St George's only hope for a positive result yesterday at Corradino rested on the tenacity of Suleiman Hammad, until he was on the pitch, and the steady Renato Conceicao in the centre of defence.

The Saints were missing Edoardo Do Nascimento who skipped the match through suspension.

Hibs took more time than expected to settle down and created their first scoring opportunity on 15 minutes.

A long cross forward paved the way for Terrence Scerri to beat the offside trap as goalkeeper Gatt sprinted out of his goal line in a bid to clear the ball to safety. The Saints' netminder was a fraction of a second too late in making contact with the ball. Scerri came crashing down under the tackle and the referee flashed the yellow card with Gatt escaping what could easily have been an expulsion.

On 21 minutes, the Paolites again came close as Scerri tormented the Saints' defence with some slick ball control and a shot on the half turn which narrowly missed Gatt's goal.

Midway through the first half St George's did manage to put their opponents under some pressure as Lagana slid a pass towards Hammad who rounded off two defenders before letting loose a powerful shot that lacked precision and did not require the intervention of goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

Ten minutes from half-time, Hammad hobbled off the pitch injured and Heathcliff Schembri was roped in to lead the Blues' attack.

Hibs could not have hoped for a better start to the second half as they took the lead on 48 minutes.

Nwoko delivered a speculative cross inside the penalty area and with defender Bonello failing to clear, Cohen nipped in to plant a low shot into the net from close range.

Robert Gatt's boys were now full of confidence and Doffo came close to double his side's lead with a thundering shot from the edge of the penalty that sailed inches wide.

The Argentine midfielder went close to getting his name on the score sheet on 56 minutes when he connected to Cohen's short corner with a curling shot that did not deceive the alert Gatt in the Saints' goal.

St George's could have drawn level as a fast break caught the Hibs rearguard on the wrong foot. Mizzi was quick to send a cross towards Schembri who failed to hit the ball from a good position.

On the hour, Gatt effected a brilliant save as he deviated Nwoko's shot into a corner after the Nigerian was put through by Scerri's timely cross.

It did not take long for Hibernians to put their minds at ease though. Agius slipped a cross towards Scerri's whose point blank effort was only partially repelled by Gatt and the nippy Cohen was at hand for the simplest of tap-ins to secure maximum spoils for his side.

Seven minutes from time, Hibs added gloss to their victory with the third goal, Scerri latching on to Cohen's cross to put the ball beyond Gatt's reach.

The Saints could have pulled a goal back almost immediately after Scerri's goal through Spiteri who incredibly hit the ball wide from in front of goal after an inviting pass from Fenech.

St George's: A. Gatt-6, E. Sevasta-6.5, R. Conceicao-7, A. Bonello-6, J. Spiteri-5.5, C. Brincat-5.5, L. Mizzi-6, S. Hammad-6.5 ('35 H. Schembri-6), L. Lagana-6, B. Fenech-6, L. Grima-6.

Hibernians: M. Muscat-6.5, K. Spiteri-6.5 ('61 R. Briffa), J. Caruana-6.5, P. Doffo-7.5, T. Scerri-7, A. Cohen-7, M. Bartolo-6.5 ('71 J. Vella), C. Failla-6.5 ('64 A. Zahra), E. Agius-6.5, K. Cassar-6, U. Nwoko-8.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Scorers: Cohen 48, 64, Scerri 83.

Yellow Cards: Brincat, Gatt, Bartolo, Bonello, Conceicao.

BoV Player of the Match: Udo Nwoko (Hibernians).