A Yuletide encounter

The Hibs-St George's clash has lost much of its old appeal. The Saints can hardly be counted among the leading teams nowadays but in the 1950s, their old magic was still there. A game involving St George's was still regarded as one of the plum fixtures of the season.

Way back in 1959, I attended the first derby at the Empire Stadium. Of course, I do not remember the details of that game during Christmastime and I had to delve into my records to shake my memory.

Hibs were fighting tooth and nail with Valletta for the championship. They could not afford to drop any points and this added spice to an already interesting encounter.

The game opened with St George's going forward for an early goal.

Hibs were penned in their area but veteran Lolly Rizzo, who was making his debut for the Paolites, was not really tested.

Eddie Mizzi then missed a good chance for St George's. He shot wide when well-placed. Then it was Sunny Anastasi's turn to come to Hibs' rescue with a timely tackle just as Stivala was about to shoot from an ideal position.

At this stage, Hibs were still trying to settle down and it was a Joe Cini piledriver from 50 metres which brought Bonnici into the game for the first time.

Having survived the Saints' early onslaught, Hibs started to come more and more into the picture but their fort nearly crumbled when Louis Theobald tried to be too clever and beat three Saints' forwards. He lost the ball and Eddie Mizzi shot wide from a good position.

At the other end, Jimmy Mizzi nipped in between two hesitant defenders and from an acute angle hit into the side-netting. The sun in Rizzo's eyes nearly gifted a goal to the Saints when a Scicluna lob was misjudged by the goalkeeper. Stivala rushed in but luckily for Hibs the ball bounced into Rizzo's hands.

Hibs looked more businesslike in the second period. Eddie Theobald was put through by Freddie Church but his firm drive was saved by Bonnici.

Then, Mizzi and Church swapped places and things started to happen.

Church produced the decisive gambit on 60 minutes. He was one of the smallest players in the First Division but he was stocky and could take hard knocks and remain standing. His chief asset was his bustling style which could ruffle the composure of any defender.

Other forwards would not have dreamt taking such a chance but Church would chase anything moving. Nine times out of 10 it would come to nothing. But this was the 10th. The Saints' defenders relaxed for a moment and there was Church nipping in between two defenders to blast the ball first-time into the net.

The goal gave Hibs the tonic they needed.

Cini, who was having a rather quiet afternoon, suddenly came to life. Getting the ball just outside the area, he bypassed Delia, powered his way past Frendo and then tricked Mizzi before shooting the ball into the net.

This goal sounded the death knell for St George's and a minute before the final whistle Church went through the Saints' defence leaving Bonnici helpless with a well-placed shot into the corner of the net to round Hibs' scoring.

Church is now in his 90s but still alive and kicking. He is originally from Msida but spent most of his life in Paola. Church played many fine games for Hibs but it seemed that he always reserved his best for St George's.

I know many stories of his exploits against the Saints but that Yuletide encounter from 1959 was the best I've seen from him in a Hibs shirt.