Hibernians 1
Sliema Wanderers 2
A two-goal burst early in the second half alleviated the creeping unease within the Sliema Wanderers camp yesterday.
Locked in a direct clash with Hibs, who started level with Sliema on 21 points, the Wanderers ended a disappointing run of three matches without a win when beating the Paolites 2-1.
The second round meeting between two title hopefuls who have both been plagued by inconsistency, sprung into life in the second half after Sliema struck two quick goals to turn the pressure on Hibs.
Galvanised by their double advantage, Sliema gained a firm grip on the match and delighted their fans with their sprightly football but a late goal by Hibs set up a tense finale.
The Paolites, who also needed victory to brighten up their top-six hopes, had been below par until then but made an admirable rally only to be stopped in their tracks by the Sliema defence, especially goalkeeper Murphy Akanji.
Brazilian Andre Rocha Da Silva came in for the suspended Roderick Briffa in the centre of Sliema's midfield while Jeffrey Chetcuti replaced Ian Azzopardi at left-back. The Malta flank defender was absent after receiving a one-week club ban for disciplinary reasons.
Malta U-21 speedster Matthew Bartolo was preferred to Orosco Anonam as Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi reshuffled his pack after the 1-0 loss to Floriana. Julian Vella, the former Hibs midfielder who has joined Sliema after a short stint in Northern Ireland, was among the substitutes.
Hibs coach Robert Gatt reverted to the little-large striking partnership of Terence Scerri and Andrew Cohen as Adrian Mifsud, scorer of his side's winner in the 1-0 defeat of Mqabba, was relegated to the subs' bench.
Pablo Doffo returned from suspension to plug the gap left by Nigerian Uzeh Edafe, himself serving a one-match ban, while Adrian Pulis was back at left-back and Timothy Fleri Soler manned the other flank.
Goalmouth action was something of a scarcity in the opening exchanges but, by and large, Sliema were the more enterprising team.
The clock marked 21 minutes of the game played when Etienne Barbara delivered a fine cross from the left and Rocha Da Silva's header seemed destined to hit the back of the net but Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, leapt to his right to divert the ball away for a corner.
At the other end, a cross from Scerri trickled into the six-yard box where Cohen's flick-on was deflected for a corner. From the flag-kick, taken by Clayton Failla, Scerri volleyed the ball out of the box and towards Aaron Xuereb whose header was cleared away by Brian Said.
Another period of tedious football ensued with graft superseding craft on both sides.
Then, a brief spell of Hibs' pressure saw Doffo unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected for a corner by Mark Scerri.
The 0-0 stalemate persisted until half-time but three minutes after the restart, Sliema grabbed the lead.
Roderick Bajada arrowed an inviting cross from a corner and Rocha Da Silva powered through to head home.
Sliema's joy increased two minutes later as Said doubled their lead, hammering the ball in after Hibs again failed to clear a Bajada corner.
Stephen Azzopardi's relief at Sliema's second goal was evident as the former Birkirkara coach spread his arms in front of the Blues fans.
Gatt responded to his team's two-goal deficit by introducing Mifsud for the subdued Cohen 12 minutes into the second half.
For all their toils, the Paolites just couldn't summon enough energy to trouble the well-drilled Blues for whom Rocha Da Silva and Bajada, yesterday given greater freedom to move up in support of chief striker Woods, were dominant figures.
Mifsud's participation lasted only 15 minutes though, a thigh injury forcing the veteran striker to limp off the field. His void was filled by Ndubisi Chukunyere.
Eleven minutes from the end, Hibs dragged themselves back in contention when Edmond Agius's piledriver from the right side of the penalty area took a deflection off Said and sailed past the stranded Akanji.
Egged on by their fans, Hibs belatedly brought some much-needed urgency to their play. Profiting from a goalmouth melee, Failla almost put the Paolites back on level terms but his feeble attempt was saved by Akanji.
The Sliema goalkeeper preserved his side's lead when tipping Scerri's dipping header over the bar after the Hibs striker had been served by Doffo, one of Hibs' best performers yesterday.
Hibs: M. Muscat-5.5, J. Caruana-6, A. Xuereb-6, A. Pulis-6, C. Failla-6.5, P. Doffo-7, E. Agius-7, T. Fleri Soler-5, B. Camilleri-5 ('46 J. Pearson-5), A. Cohen-4.5 ('58 A. Mifsud, '73 N. Chukunyere), T. Scerri-5.
Sliema: M. Akanji-7, A. Muscat-5.5, B. Said-6, B. Nisevic-6, M. Scerri-6.5, A. Rocha Da Silva-7 ('76 I. Ciantar), R. Bajada-7.5, M. Bartolo-5 ('87 A. Madzar), J. Chetcuti-6.5, I. Woods-5, E. Barbara-6 ('70 O. Anonam).
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Scorers: Da Silva 48; Said 50; Said 79 og.
Yellow cards: Pulis; Scerri.
BoV Player of the match: Roderick Bajada (Sliema).