Marsaxlokk, Hibernians share spoils in pulsating match

Marsaxlokk were the better side in an entertaining match but had to settle for a point against the underwhelming Hibernians.

Four goals in the opening 30 minutes made for a pulsating start after Marsaxlokk had started brightly, with Alfred Effiong and Trevor Templeman giving the Southseasiders a two-goal lead earlier on.

But as is do often the case, Paul McManus and Andrew Cohen came to Hibernians’ rescue when they came back from two goals down.

Anything more than a point for Hibernains would have been undeserved after what was an extremely poor display by their late standards.

For a team with just one goal – and from the penalty spot - in six hours of Premier League football, it was difficult to imagine that Marsaxlokk would scored twice in the opening seven minutes, thanks to Effiong’s vision and touch.

On the 4th minute, the striker slipped a pass through to Trevor Templeman that completely cut the Hibernians defence. Without breaking stride, the nippy midfielder curled the ball past Muscat.

After displaying the art of his passing skills, Effiong was soon on the score-sheet as he stroked the ball past the hapless Muscat after the striker was released by an exquisite Kokavessis pass.

But if Marsaxlokk thought they were heading towards a comfortable victory, they were given a shock soon after. Hibernians hit back 10 minutes later, Malcolm Licari gave the ball away to Paul McManus who was allowed a free run on goal before he dispatched a sweet strike into the bottom left-hand corner.

And through a combination of Andrew Cohen’s trickery and McManus’s quick feet, Hibernians were soon level. On the half hour mark, the Scotsman found the impressive Cohen who deftly tucked his shot into the corner.

Curmi’s half-time talk helped the game swing back into Marsaxlokk’s favour. But a spell of pressure brought no reward as Carlo Mamo and Julio Alcrose was denied by Mario Muscat on the hour mark.