Hibernians 6 Rabat A 0

Hibernians ran riot against palsied Rabat Ajax to climb over Birkirkara and Valletta at the top of the table.

Michael Woods’ side seized the initiative from the kick-off and rattled in four goals in the opening half an hour against Rabat who had not had not lost by more than a three-goal margin in the premier league this season.

The first real blow was always going to be of huge importance, even more so when the Paolities were able to deliver it on the quarter of the hour mark. Ivan Carapic was deemed to have used his hands to stop Ribeiro’s effort just outside the box. Failla’s excellent free-kick ripped past the Rabat goalkeeper.

The Paolities’ supremacy deserved further reward and it duly came before six minutes later. It was a flash of instinctive genius when Bjorn Kristensen when he scored with a backheel-volley from a corner by Andrew Cohen.

That second goal resulted in Rabat going into a defensive shell as Anderson Ribeiro showed his goalscoring prowess when first he powered in a low shot past the onrushing Mintoff after 29 minutes. And two minutes later, Dias delivered a cross in the box for Ribeiro to tap the ball in.

After the break, Rabat escaped unscathed when they failed to deal with Cohen’s cross and Ribeiro pounced in but he did the impossible, knocking the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

In the 68th minute, Jean Paul Farrugia dispossessed Yan Cauchi and beat Azzopardi before sliding the ball across to give Ryan Camilleri a simple finish.

Yet there was still time for a sixth Hibs goal as returning Jackson Lima got the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet with a low drive nine minute from time.