Hibernians 1
Degabriele 60;
Sliema Wanderers 3
Barbetti 63 pen; Ohawuchi 65, 84 pen;
Sliema Wanderers beat Hibs in convincing fashion yesterday but their effort counted for nothing as Mosta took fourth place.
With only 170 spectators at the National Stadium, Hibernians dominated most of the match with goalkeeper Glenn Zammit keeping Sliema in the reckoning.
But, after falling a goal behind, the Blues equalised immediately and dominated proceedings to chalk up the points.
Clayton Failla released Andrew Cohen in the Sliema box early on but his grounder finished wide.
The Paolites were then caught off guard, John Mintoff was sent tumbling to the ground but the referee waved play on as the Blues protested for a penalty.
On 22 minutes, Zammit distinguished himself with a fine save to keep out a Failla free-kick from the distance.
The Wanderers struggled to make an impact as Hibs continued to run the show and on the half hour Cohen’s header, following a Failla centre, finished inches wide.
FA Trophy finalists Sliema were relying on Stanley Ohawuchi for inspiration in attack. On one occasion he fired a dangerous cross-shot that was a whisker away from target.
At the other end, Jean Paul Farrugia hit a first time effort from an acute angle but his shot lacked precision.
At the start of the second half, a Jackson Lima drive from outside the box rattled the Sliema goal-frame.
A Kristensen effort from the edge of the area was stopped by Zammit but Hibs forged ahead right on the hour when Jurgen Degabriele hit home from a rebound after Farrugia had his shot partially blocked.
Sliema hit back and three minutes later Lima brought substitute Axl Xuereb down in the box and a penalty was given. Paltemio Barbetti did not miss from the spot.
Then Wanderers took the lead a couple of minutes later when a Beppe Muscat shot was half-parried by Jurgen Borg with Ohawuchi hitting home from close range.
Failla almost drew the teams level again but his shot just missed the target as Ohawuchi was foiled by Borg who saved well with a foot.
However, six minutes from time, Ohawuchi sealed the issue with a fine run following a measured Trevor Cilia pass.
Hibernians
J. Borg-6, B. Muscat-6, Z. Levnaic-6, J. Pearson-6, M. Bartolo-5.5, J. Degabriele-5 (72 J. Bezzina), J. Lima-7 (90 Z. Scerri), B. Kristensen-7 (86 D. Vella), C. Failla-6, A. Cohen-6, J.P. Farrugia-6
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-8, A. Muscat-7, J. Borg-6, K. Farrugia-5, J. Mintoff-5 (72 G. Aquilina), M. Scerri-5 (46 A. Xuereb-6.5), S. Ohawuchi-7 (88 C. Cassar), C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, T. Cilia-6, P. Barbetti-7, B. Muscat-6.
Referee: Fiodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Cohen, Ohawuchi, Barbetti, Aquilina, Cassar.
BOV Player of the match: Glenn Zammit (Sliema).