Champions Hibernians were forced to settle for a point after they were held by Pembroke 1-1 at the Hibs Stadium.

Hibs quickly seized the initiative and Jackson Lima took four minutes to test Pembroke goalkeeper Mario Muscat with a rasping drive which the veteran did well to block with his feet.

As the minutes passed, Pembroke’s pacey forwards Austin Martz, Leighton Grech and Kyle O’Brien were starting to stretch the Paolites defence.

On 25 minutes, Pearson was dispossessed by Grech who hit a low shot that flashed across goal with O’Brien picking up the ball and his low drive was parried away by Rudy Briffa.

Hibs suffered a blow on 31 minutes when Andrei Agius, who had already been booked, was shown a second yellow card for a foul on O’Brien.

Hibs looked a rejuvenated side on the restart and on 53 minutes Jorginho powered his way into the area before sending a dipping cross towards Jorge who headed just over.

Pembroke soon responded as a minute later Martz hit a firm drive from outside the area and Briffa just managed to push over.

Hibs finally found the breakthrough on 58 minutes when from a central free-kick, Failla’s delivery was misjudged by Muscat with the ball falling kindly to Jorginho who headed the ball into the net.

On 66 minutes, Failla picked Jorginho who muscled his way through but low shot was somehow kept out by Muscat, Lima picked up the rebound and his angled drive was again pushed away by the Pembroke goalkeeper.

Briffa denied Pembroke an equaliser ten minutes from time when he first dived to his left to block Laudisi’s shot and from the rebound he again showed great reflexes to deny Villalobos from close in.

However, Pembroke were not to be denied as in stoppage time substitute Siraj Arab moved past two Hibs defenders before hitting a low show that was somehow kept out by Briffa and from the rebound Martz drilled the ball into the net.

Hibs striker Jorginho was voted as the BOV Player of the match.