Sliema Wanderers 1
Bezzina 2;
Hibernians 3
Vadelannoite 46; Edison 58; Herrera 78;
Hibernians bounced back from last week’s 3-2 defeat to Valletta as they chalked up a hard-earned victory over Sliema Wanderers thanks mainly to a second-half surge that yielded three goals.
Sliema’s Steve Bezzina was well-placed to hit the target with a stunning volley in the second minute of the match yesterday.
That goal was just reward for a bright start from the Blues but the Paolites lulled their opponents into a false sense of security to the point of cruelly instilling confidence in them before applying the killing touch after the break.
A point would have been merited for the effort put in by Danilo Doncic’s side. But having failed to earn that they can take a lot of heart from a spirited first-half display against opponents with more than a point to prove following their big upset of the previous week.
For the Paolites, victory was all that mattered though as they only shone in flashes.
Coach Mark Miller effected two changes from the side’s last outing with Ryan Camilleri returning to the starting line-up for the first time since December and Jackson Lima back in the fray after suspension.
Likewise, Doncic also made two alterations to the team that went down 3-1 to Floriana, Beppe Muscat stepping into the boots of Josef Mifsud, who was serving a one-match ban, as Danail Mitev was preferred to Trevor Cilia.
The Wanderers only required a handful of seconds to open the scoring when Emiliano Lattes flicked the ball into the middle from a corner and Bezzina produced a stunning volley on target from the edge of the box.
Bezzina’s shot floated into the top corner – a truly remarkable finish for a defender!
The Paolites needed to move through the gears to trouble the Wanderers but instead the match hit a dark patch with little in the way of goalmouth action.
Hibernians tried to find their feet midway through the half when Camilleri picked the ball some 30 metres out and unleashed a shot towards the Wanderers goal.
Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper, watched it the whole way before he dived to his left and push the shot away to safety.
Yet, Miller’s men were relying too much on speculative shots from the distance and just before the half-time whistle, Bonello pulled off another great save as he tipped over the bar a fierce long-range Jonathan Pearson effort.
Miller’s half-time talk must have left its desired effect as his players took to the field with renewed verve.
Hardly 110 seconds from the start of the second half had elapsed when Clayon Failla’s free-kick flew into the Sliema box before Andrew Cohen headed feebly goalwards. Disaster struck as the ball spilled from the goalkeeper’s grasp, presenting Jason Vandelannoite with the simplest of tap-ins to level matters.
Bonello was again in action two minutes later as he dived to turn away Luis Edison’s shot.
But on 58 minutes, Bonello was unable to make his presence felt in the company of the Brazilian at Failla’s corner, allowing Luis Edison to take advantage of the uncertainty to head the ball home.
Doncic then used his substitutes in quick succession, sending on Cilia and Rumen Galabov for Mark Scerri and Lattes respectively.
But Galabov’s match lasted just one-and-a half minutes before he was replaced by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
But the Sliema changes did not unsettle Hibs who held control with Failla and Herrera enjoying plenty of room down the flanks.
Twelve minutes from time, Herrera rounded off a fine afternoon’s work with the third goal as he was picked out by Luis Edison before beating Bonello with a rasping grounder.
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5, A. Muscat-5, R. Fenech-6.5, N. Bogdanovic-6.5, D. Mitev-5, R. Grech-6, M. Scerri-5 (62 T. Cilia-5), A. Eyenga-5, S. Bezzina-6, B. Muscat-5, E. Lattes-6 (62 R. Galabov, 64 C. Gatt Baldacchino-5).
Hibernians
M. Muscat-6, J. Pearson-6.5, R. Camilleri-6, R. Soares-6, C. Failla-7.5, B. Kristensen-5, E. Herrera-6.5 (86 S. Pisani), A. Cohen-5.5, J. Vandelannoite-6, Jackson Lima-5.5, Luis Edison-6 (79 M. Dias).
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: A. Muscat, Grech, Bogdanovic.
BOV player of the match: Clayton Failla (Hibernians).
Attendances: 1,227.