Mifsud – four goals for Hibs in cup tie

Hat-tricks are not so common in Maltese football but, throughout the years, there have been several occasions when a player scored three or more goals in a single match.

Four- and five-goal feats in one game are even rarer to find and six goals by the same player can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

I remember quite clearly a match on Sunday, May 5, 1968, when Frans Mifsud, affectionately known as Ċikku by the Hibs supporters, scored four goals in an FA Trophy quarter-final.

Such accomplishment gains in significance when one remembers that, in those days, Mifsud was still an untried youngster.

Mifsud usually played in the half-back line in Hibs’ minors team and the Malta youths side. Before the game in question, however, Hibs had a shortage of centre-forwards and injuries to some of their regular strikers forced them to hand Mifsud the no.9 jersey against Msida St Joseph’s in the FA Trophy.

Mifsud was one of the most versatile players of his generation. He relished challenges and on the day, he fitted into his new role perfectly. Exceeding even his wildest dreams, he played a brilliant match, causing havoc in the Reds’ defence and scoring four goals in the process.

It is true that Mifsud was facing a rather weak defence but this should not devalue his performance because at least two of the goals he scored were brilliant.

Of course, Mifsud did not beat Msida single-handedly. He was well assisted by Victor Cassar on the wing and that past master of Maltese football, Eddie Theobald.

All the forward line played exceptionally well, giving the Saints’ defence the run-around. The Saints, that season, were a very poor side and in their previous two matches, their defence had conceded no fewer than 10 goals.

Hibernians started the game on the offensive. They besieged the Saints’ goal and after only 10 minutes they were already one goal up. Theobald delivered a free-kick just inside the Saints’ penalty area where Edward Aquilina hit in a bombshell.

On the half-hour, Hibs scored again. Once again the movement started from Theobald. The Hibs’ inside-forward made a dazzling run down the middle, beat goalkeeper Baldacchino and passed to the unmarked Mifsud who tapped the ball into the net.

Three minutes later, Mifsud received a long pass from the back, rounded Cutajar and cheekily lobbed the ball over the head of the advancing Baldacchino. It was a goal which belied the tender age of the scorer.

A few minutes before half-time, Demarco reduced the arrears for Msida. Vassallo beat Johnnie Privitera and crossed the ball towards the centre of the Hibs’ box. Mizzi tried to punch clear but the ball fell to Demarco who made no mistake from a very favourable position.

However, just before the half-time whistle, Hibs scored their fourth goal. Once again, it was Mifsud who found the net.

In the second half, Msida came out fighting and Hibs had to clear two insidious attacks with difficulty. But Hibs soon increased their lead when Mifsud, reaching a pass from Norman Buckle, ran through the centre of the Msida defence and scored his fourth of the match.

The Hibs fans were in seventh heaven. Here was a youngster sent from the stars who, they were sure, would make a name for himself and the club in the near future.

Hibs continued to dominate the game but scored only one more goal when Aquilina rounded the scoring.