Birkirkara seal Euro target

Hibernians 0
Birkirkara 2

The final league encounter of season 2006-2007 for Birkirkara, the outgoing champions, and Hibernians was a tale of two halves.

Urged on by their need to collect the three points and clinch third spot and a place in Europe next season, Birkirkara forced the pace for most of the opening half and deservedly moved ahead before half-time.

The indications were that Birkir-kara would remain on top in the second 45 minutes but Hibs grew in stature.

They created a handful of chances to restore parity but Birkirkara held on and struck a second late on to salvage some pride after they surrendered their title spectre without so much of a fight.

If victory was imperative for the Stripes to ensure third spot, Hibs had no particular target to aim for in their last league outing. However, the Paolites are still on track to defend the FA Trophy they won last year and clinch a UEFA Cup spot.

With a mouth-watering FA Trophy semi-final match against Valletta fast coming into focus, Robert Gatt elected to rest the likes of Andrew Cohen and Terrence Scerri while Aaron Xuereb, Andrè Rocha Da Silva and Jonathan Caruana started on the bench. Goalkeeper Mario Muscat and left-back Clayton Failla were suspended.

Most of the marauding in the opening exchanges came from Birkirkara.

Etienne Barbara used his body strength to muscle his way into the box from the left before crossing low for Dario Larrosa whose final effort was off target.

Hibs recorded their first noteworthy chance on 15 minutes. Pablo Doffo mustered a spinning free-kick which dropped tantalisingly towards the far post before Sean Sullivan turned it away for a corner.

After another fruitless passage of Birkirkara pressure, Hibs threatened to seize the lead against the run of play when Edmond Agius whipped in a fierce, looping free-kick which had Sullivan leaping to palm the bar over the bar.

As the first half panned out, the exchanges became more balanced, although Birkirkara pranced around the pitch with more urgency.

Seven minutes before the end of the first half, the Stripes put their noses ahead.

Danger stemmed from a lofted cross by Mark Anthony Bonnici, yesterday deployed on the left flank, which came down in the goalmouth.

As the slow-moving Hibs failed to close in on the danger, the ball ricocheted off Birkirkara's Roderick Briffa and straight into the path of Barbara who hit a first-time effort towards goal. His ferocious drive smacked against the underside crossbar but the ball landed on the back of grounded Hibs keeper Alex Camilleri and bounced into the net.

In first-half stoppage time, Birkirkara shouted for a penalty when Larossa went down on being challenged by Camilleri but the referee was unmoved.

Two minutes into the second half, Hibs should have restored parity when Matthew Bartolo ran past Sullivan and dragged the ball back to Thomas Caruana. The Hibs striker attempted a volley from inside the penalty area but the ball smacked against the woodwork.

With the likes of Bartolo and Ndubisi Chukunyere fast coming on to their usual game and the midfield pairing of Edmond Agius and Jonathan Caruana beginning to hold their own, Hibs started to pose more problems to Birkirkara.

A minute past the hour mark, they came agonisingly close to levelling matters when Kevin Cassar's free-kick from the right was allowed to reach Julian Vella at the far post but the latter's scrambled effort was held out by Sullivan.

Hibs upped the pressure and rattled Birkirkara who lost their early fluency and composure, especially in midfield.

From a corner, taken by Briffa, Larrosa's attempt was deflected away for a corner. With 17 minutes remaining, Barbara interrupted Hibs' momentum with a strike from the distance that ended wide.

There was a sharp fall in scoring chances as the second half entered its final stages.

Briffa, the Birkirkara midfielder, had a rising shot going over the bar but five minutes from time, the Stripes put the result beyond Hibs.

Larrosa laid the groundwork when speeding past substitute Timothy Fleri Soler before squaring to the unmarked Barbara who buried the ball home.

Hibs: A. Camilleri-5.5, A. Pulis-6.5, K. Cassar-6 ('79 C. Zammit), R. Mintoff-6.5, R. Briffa-6.5, P. Doffo-6 ('46 J. Caruana-6.5), E. Agius-7.5, J. Vella-6 ('71 T. Fleri Soler), M. Bartolo-6, N. Chukunyere-6, T. Caruana-5.5.

Birkirkara: S. Sullivan-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6 ('59 L. Galea-5.5), P. Monye-6.5, W. Camenzuli-6 ('71 J. Holland), E. Barbara-6.5, R. Briffa-6, D. Larrosa-6, C. Micallef-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, G. Mallia-6.5, A. Ciantar-6.

Referee: Paul Caruana. SCORERS: Camilleri og 38; Barbara 85.

Yellow cards: Bonnici; Doffo.

BoV Player of the match: Etienne Barbara (Birkirkara).