Paolites strengthen second place

Pembroke Paola Hibs 1 3

The Paola youngsters deserved the verdict as they were the better outfit during the whole 70 minutes by creating much more actions than Pembroke.

They are now in second place on 23 points from 9 games while Pembroke are third from bottom on only 7 points also from 9 games.

The early pressure came from Paola. Kurt Bondin put Larson Borg through on the right flank from where the latter passed the ball to Anayochi Ihuomah who missed the upright from outside the area.

In their next attack, in the 9th minute, they opened the score as Borg served Bondin with a cross in the area and he netted with a low drive past Pembroke keeper Alexander Debono.

The score became 2-0 in the 18th minute when Pembroke defender Kerim Blihi back-passed the ball to Debono who grasped the ball with his hands. The referee ordered an indirect free kick to Paola which was taken by Borg and after his lobbed ball Matthew Ellul scored with a header. Five minutes later Paola scored a third goal when Ihuomah pounced on a faulty clearance on the left edge of the sea and scored with a lobbed ball.

In the 26th minute the Pembroke keeper was fouled and injured in an action in the area and could not resume play and he was substituted by defender Blihi as they had no reserve keeper. In the last action before the break, Erin Mifsud out-sped an opponent on the right flank and Blihi neutralised the ball following his high cross.

Paola remained on the attack after the restart. Substitute Zachary Chetcuti released Ellul in the area but he drove over the bar. Substitute Owden Vella served Bondin with a through ball in the area and Blihi had to come out of his charge to kick the ball away.

In the 50th minute Pembroke reduced the gap when Larkin Attard dribbled past an opponent outside the area and scored with a rising shot past Paola keeper Mattias Debono.

At the other end, Jamie Carbone dribbled past an opponent outside the area but he missed the upright from the distance and Ihuomah served Morientes Muscat in the area but Blihi foiled him with a timely sortie.

A.Debono, L.Attard, E.Lucchese, N.Falzon, J.Gauci, K.Blihi, L.Falzon, A.Abudgil, M.Comes, I.Grima, D.Grima

M.Debono, K.Bondin, L.Borg, J.Carbone, M.Debono, M.Ellul, B.Ihuomah, E.Mifsud, G.Mifsud, M.Muscat, T.Sultana, M.Vella Referee: Raphael Farrugia Player of the match: Brite Anayochi Ihuomah (Paola Hibs)