Qormi sign off with emphatic win

Qormi 5
Vandelannoitte 13; Frendo 34; Borg Olivier 42, 73; Tabone 71 og;
Hibernians 2
Herrera 78, 80;

Qormi closed a difficult season on a high note with an enterprising attacking display, demolishing their opponents and avoiding the uncomfortable ninth place.

Qormi had gained the luxury of approaching their last game in a relaxed frame of mind, following last weekend’s draw against Vittoriosa which condemned the Stars to a quick return to Division One football.

Yet, their position before the match, meant that they were not playing just to honour the fixture as with this emphatic victory, they leapfrogged their opponents and avoided the ninth place, which this year did not represent relegation only for the Malta FA’s change in Premier League format.

With this in mind, Stephen Azzopardi, the Qormi coach, shrugged off the temptation of fielding a much-changed line-up with Christos Karamanolis starting on the bench as Jason Vandelannoitte returned after serving a two-match ban. On his part, Keith Fenech was given the captain’s armband for his final match before retirement.

In normal circumstances, the absence of suspended duo Matt Clarke and Richie Hart and Jonathan Pearson and Ryan Camilleri injured, would have been considered as a setback for the Paolities but with his team already guaranteed Premier League football for another season, Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, continued with his policy of fielding young players to give them experience.

Yesterday, the Paolities paraded Rene Duca and Dylan Sammut on the right flank.

Qormi made a promising start to the game and Michael Borg Olivier produced a flying header that flew just wide after 10 minutes.

The stalemate was broken on 13 minutes when Vandelannoitte sent a brilliant header into the top corner from Joseph Farrugia’s corner.

Yet, ten minutes later, Hibernians came close to wiping out the Belgian’s opener. A Duca ball was flicked on by Edward Herrera into the path of Andrew Cohen only to see the nippy striker hit a first-time volley just over the bar.

Borg Olivier had the ball in the net in the 24th minute but the ‘goal’ was disallowed as Farrugia had strayed offside before crossing the ball.

Qormi struck again on 34 minutes when Vandelannoite sent Cleaven Frendo through to hit a screamer beyond Mario Muscat.

Hibernians were unlucky when Matthew Gauci saw his dipping shot hit the bar.

It was Qormi who continued to stretch their lead. The clocked marked 42 minutes when Chetcuti, after a smart run on the left flank, laid the ball to the sprinting Borg Olivier on the far post and the latter unleashed a powerful shot that gave Muscat no chance.

The three-goal blitz left its effect on the match as Qormi were now administering their lead with ease while Hibernians were finding it tough to create scoring opportunities.

Yet things quickly got worse for Hibernians when Matthew Tabone deflected Chetcuti’s cross into his own net after 71 minutes.

Joseph Chetcuti tried to keep his side going as they continued to threaten with their attacking display. Two minutes later, Borg Olivier made it 5-0 with a rasping low shot after a solo run by Chetcuti.

Thereafter, Hibernians were playing for pride and Herrera at least gave the scoreline a margin of respectability. The former Pietà defender thumped home from close-range after being set up by Cohen.

Two minutes later, he scored his second with a fine finish.

But Hibernians’ efforts came too late as their 2010-2011 campaign started badly and ended worse.

Qormi
M. Camilleri-6, J. Vandelannoitte-7, R. Sammut-6, M. Bartolo-6, K. Fenech-6.5 (82 G. Gesualdi), J. Chetcuti-8, J. Farrugia-6.5, M. Borg Olivier-7 (77 G. Chircop), C. Frendo-7, K. Hojung-6, Josue-6 (87 S. Agius).

Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, R. Duca-6 (61 B. Muscat), M. Tabone-5, A. Xuereb-5, A. Pulis-5 (57 A. Azzopardi), P. Osei-5, T. Caruana-5.5, M. Gauci-5, A. Cohen-6.5 (88 J. Bezzina), E. Herrera-6.5, D. Sammut-6.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

BOV player of the match: Joseph Chetcuti (Qormi).

Attendance: 359.

Next fixtures
Saturday (National Stadium)
3 p.m. Ħamrun vs Floriana
5 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Tarxien

Monday (National Stadium)
7.30 p.m. Valletta vs Birkirkara