Vittoriosa Stars 1
Jorge 8;
Hibernians 0
Vittoriosa’s record against Hibs has been positive this season. Despite a meagre campaign for the Stars, Winston Muscat’s side have managed two wins over the Paolites.
Yet, the reason why Vittoriosa’s hopes of avoiding the drop are suspended on a thin thread is that for all their bright play against Hibernians this season, the Cottonera outfit failed to show any consistency in their results with the result that they lost valuable ground in their fight to retain their Premier League status.
Needing a win to keep alive their flickering hopes of avoiding the drop, Vittoriosa appeared to thrive on their situation and were never afraid to go on and collect the spoils.
With nothing to play for than mere pride, Hibernians coach Mark Miller used this match to plunge some of his youngsters into action. He gave second-choice goalkeeper Daniel Balzan his chance to shine with Mario Muscat and Andrew Cohen starting on the bench.
Without anchorman Luis Edison, suspended, and a couple of other regulars also missing, Vittoriosa looked to be in for a hard time against what seemed to be a more adventurous Hibernians side who played with enviable freedom.
Some incisive play by the Paolities in the opening minutes repeatedly exposed Vittoriosa’s makeshift central defensive pairing of Jonathan Xerri and Carlos Campagnoli as Winston Muscat’s choices were limited in defence with Stephen Wellman and Jeffrey Chetcuti not available for this match.
In the fifth minute, Hibs defender Jonathan Pearson headed against the post from Brian Fairbairn’s cross.
The few Paolities fans were sensing that a goal was not far away. That proved to be the case but it was the Stars who struck.
In the eighth minute, Anthony Ewurum duly floated a cross towards Jorge Santos Silva who headed into the net.
On the half hour mark, Leighton Grech pounced on Pearson’s defensive mistake but Balzan kept his balance to repel the striker’s grounder.
Mark Miller’s thoughts on his side’s first-half performance were reflected in his decision to send on Cohen for Taki Abdellilah just before the hour mark.
But it needed something special to penetrate the Vittoriosa rearguard and Patrick Osei obliged after 67 minutes when he stung Jean Vella’s hands with a rasping shot.
The Stars were still in battling mood, however and Ewurum’s incisive running was still a source of discomfort for the Paolities. Four minutes from time, the dazzling Santos Silva danced his way into from the left before he arrowed an angled shot which Balzan parried away.
In the dying minutes, Paul McManus had a glorious chance to equalise when he missed a sitter in front of goal as Vittoriosa held on to their advantage till the end.
Vittoriosa Stars: J. Vella-5, P. Aquilina-5, J. Camilleri-5, C. Campagnoli-7, J. Xerri-6.5, M. Maccari-7.5, D. Cachia-7, R. Grech-6, J. Santos Silva-6.5, A. Ewurum-7.5, L. Grech-7.
Hibernians: D. Balzan-6.5, E. Herrera-5, M. Tabone-5, J. Pearson-5, A. Pulis-5, B. Kristensen-6.5, P. Osei-7, T. Abdellilah-5 (56 A. Cohen-5.5), B. Fairbairn-5, T. Caruana-4.5 (86 M. Gauci), P. McManus-5.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Yellow cards: Kristensen, Pulis, Cachia, Grech, Pearson, Aquilina.
BOV player of the match: Anthony Ewurum (Vittoriosa Stars).
Player of the month
Valletta captain Gilbert Agius has netted the BOV Player of the Month Award for March.
The City talisman’s positive performances against Birkirkara and eternal rivals Floriana during the month of March caught the eye of the critics who voted Agius as BOV Player of the Match in both matches.
Victor Denaro, chief officer IT at Bank of Valletta, presented the BOV Player of the Month trophy for March to Agius.