Winning start for champions Hibernians
Champions Hibernians started their title defence in the new BoV Premier season with a comfortable win over St Andrews, with two goals in each half, including two penalties both scored by captain Clayton Failla.
It is always tempting to read too much into opening matches but in all probability these teams will be heading in opposite direction as the new campaign unfolds.
As the final scoreline suggests, Hibernians showed more verve and determination, with St Andrews seemingly slightly disjointed.
This is still work in progress for the Saints, who, still under the guidance of coach Danilo Doncic, are a completely changed side this season and their line-up yesterday showed no less than eight new faces, with Jamaicans Ricardo Martin, Degran Jackson, Nehemiah Perry and Kevaun Atkinson, as well as Canadian defender Tristan Grant. Goalkeeper Mathew Calleja Cremona, Adrian Borg and Matthew Gauci also joined the club. Only Enmy Beltre’, captain Joseph Farrugia and Aiden Friggieri survive from last season. Obviously they have still to gel as a team.
On the contrary, champions Hibernians have a familiar look about them, with Austrian Marco Sahanek their only newcomer in yesterday’s starting line-up.
New Brazilian Jorge Elias Dos Santos, who joined the Paolites to replace Jorginho, started on the bench and went in for Degabriele past the hour when Hibernians were already three goals to the good.
As expected Hibernians made a bright start and opened the scoring after only eight minutes when awarded a penalty for Martin’s foul on Dias inside the St Andrews area.
Clayton Failla took on the spotkick responsibilities and lashed the ball past keeper Calleja Cremona to give his side the lead.
St Andrews’ best hope appeared to rest with getting men behind the ball and thwarting their opponents using the pace of Atkinson and Jackson to accelerate behind Hibernians’ high defensive line on the break.
Jackson was the first to test Hibernians keeper Hogg past the half hour.
On 36 minutes Borg rose high to head a Farrugia sailing free kick from the left, but Rui Gomes cleared into a corner.
Just as the crowds were beginning to show signs of frustration, Hibernians increased their lead five minutes before the break. Once again the goal came from a set-piece as defender Andrei Agius headed in Lima’s corner from the left despite the challenge of Beltre’.
St Andrews failed to up their play even after the restart and Hibernians could control the proceedings at their leisure. Not surprisingly, they hit a third, the best of the evening, short of the hour. Sahanek advanced down the right, sent a low cross, and with Degabriele playing the dummy, Jackson Lima ran in to blast his shot past the helpless St Andrews’ keeper.
Six minutes later Sahanek should have added another goal for the Paolites as he ran clear inside the Saints’ area, avoided the goalkeeper but shot horrendously over.
But Hibernians’ fourth goal was not long in arriving. On 76 minutes, substitute Dunstan Vella fell when he came into contact with the Saints’ defender Borg inside the area and the champions were awarded a soft penalty, the second on the night, for Clayton Failla to score again.
But St Andrews looked already dead and buried by then.