Hibernians 4
Cohen 12; Mbongo 60; Scerri 75 pen., 90
Marsaxlokk 1
Cassar 28
Presented with the opportunity to widen their lead at the top and turn up the heat on champions Valletta before the latter's delicate clash with Birkirkara, Hibernians did what was expected of them.
Marsaxlokk put up a brave fight, coming back from a goal down to keep the score level for 60 minutes but they were then ripped apart by their perky opponents who banked on their collective spirit and the skill and pace of their forwards to coast to an emphatic win.
While Hibs, yet again, delineated their title credentials, Marsaxlokk all but kissed goodbye to their top-six ambitions. Not so for Floriana who, thanks to their 3-1 win over Qormi and Marsaxlokk's defeat, are now sure of a place in the Championship Pool.
Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, granted Edward Herrera more attacking freedom yesterday by deploying him on the right of midfield. The right-back role went to Jonathan Pearson as Cameroonian midfielder Alexis Tekumu Mbongo was demoted to the bench.
Clive Brincat regained his place in the heart of Marsaxlokk's rearguard as Gareth Sciberras, who played at centre-half in the 2-1 win over Floriana, was moved back to midfield to replace the suspended Claude Mattocks.
Gozo-born winger Chris Camilleri, Marsaxlokk's latest signing, was named among the substitutes but came on in the second half.
Seven minutes from the start of the match had expired when Reuben Debono had to deal with a tricky Christian Callejas's dipper, palming the ball away for a corner.
The Paolites didn't have to wait long for their early pressure to pay dividends.
Not more than 12 minutes from referee's initial whistle had passed when Terrence Scerri threw the Marsaxlokk defence off balance with a run on the right before squaring to the unmarked Clayton Failla. The Hibs' winger looked odds-on to score but his scrambled effort was cleared away by Carlo Mamo but only as far as Cohen who blasted home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Outplayed by Hibs in the early minutes, Marsaxlokk gradually began to find their passing range, thanks in the large part to the probing of midfielder Christian Cassar.
After Kevin Sammut had directed his header over the bar, Cassar got Marsaxlokk back on level terms two minutes before the half hour with a perfectly-hit curler that left Mario Muscat motionless.
Having surrendered their one-goal lead, Hibs sought to regain to re-establish their grip on the proceedings but Marsaxlokk now looked more focused and composed, especially at the back.
Miller introduced Mbongo for Pearson at the start of the second 45 minutes and repositioned Herrera to right-back.
The second period had just started when Dylan Kokavessis made space for a shot in the inside-right channel but his scorcher flew high and wide. Jonathan Caruana got on the end of a through-ball but his final effort was deflected away for a throw-in.
Hibs restored their lead 14 minutes into the second half. Cohen initiated the move when his lofted pass from the left caught the Marsaxlokk defence at sixes and sevens. Scerri duly capitalised by cutting in from the left before passing to the unmarked Mbongo who flicked home from close range. Mamo stood in the way of Mbongo's shot but assistant referee Philip Agius signalled that the ball had already crossed the line when the Marsaxlokk captain hooked it away.
Scerri might have put the result beyond Marsaxlokk when he twisted and turned into a shooting position but his grounder flashed just wide of the far post.
The game was as good as over 15 minutes from time when Scerri beat Debono from the penalty spot after referee Kevin Azzopardi ruled that Brincat had pushed the Malta striker.
Scerri might have capped a man-of-the-match performance with a second goal but he blasted high after getting past Brincat.
In the dying moments, Hibs were awarded an indirect free-kick on the edge of the small box after Debono was adjudged to have collected Mamo's backpass as the latter had just cleared Scerri's goalbound effort.
Cohen teed up Scerri and the Hibs striker powered his shot through Marsaxlokk's crowded barrier and into the net.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, J. Caruana-6.5, A. Xuereb-6 ('90 L. Grech), A. Pulis-5, C. Callejas-5.5, T. Scerri-7.5, R. Galabov-7, E. Herrera-5, C. Failla-6 ('87 B. Camilleri), A. Cohen-7, J. Pearson-4 ('46 A.T. Mbongo-6.5)
Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-5, M. Licari-5.5, C. Mamo-6.5, G. Sciberras-5.5 ('71 C. Camilleri), C. Brincat-6, B. Said-6, K. Sammut-5, P. Pullicino-5.5, M. Pereira-5.5, D. Kokavessis-6 ('82 R.Conceicao), C. Cassar-6.5.
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Licari; Brincat.
BoV player of the match: Terrence Scerri (Hibs).