Tarxien Rainbows 1
Mayasi 77 pen;
Hibernians 2
Cohen 9; Anizoba 22;

Although Hibs enjoyed a clear edge over Tarxien Rainbows ahead of the derby, few, if anybody, would have predicted the ease with which the high-rising Paolites controlled long periods of this encounter.

Having raced to a merited two-goal lead inside the first 22 minutes, Hibs dominated the relegation-haunted Tarxien whose fragile confidence was there for all to see as they struggled to offer a semblance of a threat in attack.

In his pre-match comments, Patrick Curmi, the Tarxien coach, had rightly identified Andrew Cohen, Tarabai and Clayton Failla as Hibs’ most potent elements and the marauding trio didn’t disappoint as their deft footwork and clever movement opened up the Tarxien defence on several occasions.

So superior were Hibs that they should have been home and dry by the hour but Tarxien also provided a star player of their own yesterday as goalkeeper David Cassar produced a catalogue of top saves to keep his side in the game.

A one-way affair suddenly be-came a contest as Hibs were reminded of the importance of putting away their chances when Tarxien narrowed the deficit to set up a tense finale but it was a case of too little too late for them.

Hibs coach Mark Miller awarded a rare start to Peter Anizoba who took up a central attacking position with Tarabai.

With Edward Herrera out, Jonathan Pearson started at right-back while the returning Marcelo Dias was preferred to Steve Pisani as Miller didn’t give in to the temptation of unleashing new signing Jackson Lima from the outset.

Curmi was beset by the absence of two key players, Ricardo Costa and Orosco Anonam, both suspended. Defender Everton and Manuel Caruana were back in the starting XI along with Karl Pulo.

Five minutes into the game, Jonathan Pearson’s drive from the distance was deflected away for a corner. Tarxien also fashioned a good chance when Caio’s corner was diverted into the path of Mayasi but his grounder was blocked.

The Rainbows defence showed signs of uneasiness as Tarabai set off on a typically surging run across the edge of the penalty area. He was tripped by Caio and Cohen curled his free-kick past the defensive wall and beyond the diving Cassar to put Hibs 1-0 up.

Curmi’s men were bereft of flair as they spend the best part of the opening 20 minutes in their own half. Their afternoon took a turn for the worse when Hibs went 2-0 up.

Anizoba repaid Miller’s faith as he swooped at the far post to head Dias’s inswinger past Cassar.

With Tarxien showing no signs of a reaction, Hibs remained in command.

Tarabai produced another run from the left but shot just wide and on another occasion, the Brazilian threw his markers off balance but his attempt was blocked.

On the half-hour, Hibs thought they had made it 3-0 when Anizoba’s header had the better of Cassar with Rodolfo Soares possibly getting the final touch but assistant referee Thomas Debono raised his flag for a disputable offside.

The two early goals for the Paolites drew the sting out of a potentially explosive derby as Miller’s men switched to cruise control.

Mayasi had the chance to breathe life into the game as Caio’s corner from the left found the Congo-born striker unmarked but his volley was warded off by Hibs.

In first-half stoppage time, Dias arrowed a cross from the right but Tarabai’s header was stopped by Cassar. Clayton Failla then rifled wide from inside the box.

Curmi made a double substitution, Carabott and Luke Vella Critien replacing Caio and Steve Sadowski respectively.

Tarxien stirred briefly but they would have fallen further behind had Cassar not pulled off a reflex save to fist the ball away after Soares appeared to have deflected Cohen’s free-kick towards goal.

From the corner, Cohen stooped to head goalwards but Cassar produced another instinctive save.

Tarxien were struggling to cope with the sheer quality of Failla’s delivery from a flag-kick. Another cross from the winger flew towards Bjorn Kristensen who headed firmly but Cassar leapt into the air to push the ball over the bar.

After this flurry of opportunities for Hibs, the game went into a lull but the sight of Jackson Lima doing his warm-up drew a boisterous roar from the Paola fans.

It was now Miller’s turn to effect two substitutions, introducing Jackson Lima and Pisani for Dias and Anizoba respectively but if Hibs were hoping to ease through the remaining minutes, they got a wake-up call 13 minutes from time.

Pulo was grounded in the Hibs box by Pearson and from the penalty Mayasi blasted his shot past Muscat.

Seven minutes from time, Jackson Lima summoned a free-kick from the distance but Cassar blocked with his feet.

Tarxien tried to infuse some pace and urgency into their game as the clock ticked away. They came close to an equaliser on the stroke of time when Carabott’s centre was laid back for Warren Zerafa, another substitute, whose grounder was saved by Muscat.

At the other end, Pisani just missed Tarabai’s cross and Cohen’s follow-up shot was diverted away for a corner.

Tarxien went up at the other end to win a corner. Carabott took the flag-kick but Everton headed wide.

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-7.5, S. Sadowski-5 (46 L. Vella Critien-6.5), C. Mamo-5, M. Caruana-4, Everton-6.5, S. Giglio-5, J. Mayasi-4, K. Pulo-6.5, C. Sammut-5 (80 W. Zerafa), R. Mintoff-6, Caio-6 (46 A. Carabott-6.5).

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, J. Pearson-6, A. Xuereb-7, B. Kristensen-6.5, A. Cohen-8, R. Soares-6.5, C. Failla-7, M. Dias-6 (72 J. Lima), P. Anizoba-6.5 (72 S. Pisani), J. Vandelannoite-6.5, Tarabai-8.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Cohen; Sadowski; Pulo; Mintoff.

BOV player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians).

Attendance: 1,509.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	16	13	2	1	38	12	41
Hibernians	17	11	5	1	40	14	38
Floriana	17	11	3	3	29	14	36
Sliema	16	6	8	2	26	19	26
Birkirkara	17	8	2	7	23	22	26
Qormi	17	7	2	8	29	29	23
Balzan Youths	16	6	3	7	22	25	21
Mqabba	16	4	4	8	19	27	16
Ħamrun	17	4	3	10	23	39	15
Mosta	17	3	5	9	16	30	14
Tarxien	17	4	1	12	21	38	13
Marsaxlokk	17	3	2	12	20	37	11