Hibernians 3
Cohen 32; Scerri 57 pen; Mbongo 62
Qormi 0

Hibs started the weekend as sole leaders of the Premier League and ended it in the same lofty position.

If Birkirkara's win over Floriana on Saturday had turned up a modicum of pressure on the Paolites, the emphatic way with which they disposed of Qormi yesterday showed that Hibs are fast gaining the mental strength needed to produce a sustained challenge for the title.

Qormi, weakened by injuries to key players, battled gamely in a bid to halt a dismal run of four consecutive defeats but Hibs possessed too much ammunition for Jesmond Zerafa's strugglers.

An outstanding goal from Andrew Cohen, again at his effervescent best, erected the platform for another commanding display by a Hibs team that has undergone a startling transformation since the appointment of Mark Miller as coach.

Whereas Hibs are enjoying the view from the top, two points clear of Birkirkara, Qormi's fifth loss on the trot leaves them in the relegation mire, second from bottom just a point above Tarxien.

Hibs players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for the father of team-mate Timothy Fleri Soler who died last weekend.

Miller made one change from the team that beat Tarxien in midweek, Jonathan Caruana, just recovered from a cartilage injury, being preferred to Edward Herrera.

Qormi coach Zerafa will have thought long and hard about the best way to compensate for his team's lack of strikers. With Alfred Effiong and Josivan Da Silva sidelined, Zerafa handed a rare start to Chucks Nwoko who was partnered by the speedy Joseph Chetcuti in attack. Shaun Tellus, a defender, was assigned an unusual role on the right of midfield as Anatole Debono was demoted to the bench.

Jonathan Pearson might have given Hibs the lead as early as the eighth minute but his angled shot brought a fine tipping save from Reuben Gauci. From the corner, the ball sailed towards the far post but Terrence Scerri failed to make contact with the cross.

Hibs continued to create the better chances, Cohen firing a shot over the bar from the left. In next to no time, the Paolites were roaring forward again, this time on the left as Cohen flicked a pass towards the steaming Clayton Failla who got to the byline before crossing towards the centre where Alexis Tekumu Mbongo headed just over.

Qormi briefly interrupted Hibs' early momentum with a long-range drive by Massimo Grima which Mario Muscat saved.

Grima then tried to surprise the Hibs keeper with a spinning shot from a free-kick but his effort flashed against the side-netting.

Urged on by their vociferous fans, Qormi increased their efforts to make a contest of it but their confidence was knocked back when Hibs opened the scoring two minutes past the half-hour. And what a goal it was.

Scerri's cross from the right soared into the six-yard box where Cohen, with his back to goal, leapt into the air and guided an overhead kick past the stranded Gauci.

Cohen might have increased his team's advantage when Caruana backheeled Adrian Pulis's cross into his path but the Hibs striker fired over.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Hibs made a giant stride towards victory when they widened their margin from a penalty. Fastening on to a through-pass from Cohen, Scerri tried to round Gauci who reacted by tripping the Hibs striker. Referee Anton Zammit pointed to the spot and Scerri planted a low shot home.

Hibs put the result beyond Qormi on 62 minutes when Cohen fed Failla on the left and the latter's perfect cross was headed home by Mbongo.

That was that as Hibs remained generally on top despite easing their pace and substituting three key players who made way for younger team-mates. In the final minutes, Gauci had to come out of goal and block a shot from Scerri.

Hibs claimed penalty when Keith Fenech's challenge on Cohen sent the latter tumbling to the ground but referee Zammit was unimpressed.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, A. Pulis-6 ('82 Y. Cauchi), A. Xuereb-6, J. Caruana-6 ('79 J. Xerri), A.T. Mbongo-6.5, C. Callejas-6.5 ('64 E. Herrera-6), T. Scerri-7, C. Failla-6.5, A. Cohen-8, J. Pearson-6.5, R. Galabov-6.5.

Qormi
R. Gauci-6, R. Dos Santos-5.5, M. Grima-6, K. Fenech-5, J. Chetcuti-5, S. Tellus-4 ('60 A. Debono-4), R. Sammut-5.5, M. Borg-5.5, C. Nwoko-4, P. Camilleri-4 ('65 C. Vella-4), A. Ciantar-5.5 ('77 C. Farrugia).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Yellow cards: Pearson; Chetcuti.

BoV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibs).

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