by Hibernians were untroubled by the conditions to secure a 5-0 triumph over San Gwann. Four first-half goals by Alexis Espitia, a brace from Leah Ayres and Kayleigh Chetcuti gave the Paolites a confident lead. Martina Borg finished things off from the spot in the second half.
Team Selections
There were no changes from the side that faced Birkirkara before the break for Hibernians. Zeeyana Jivraj protected the goal, behind a defensive back-four of Chloe Ellul, Amy Busuttil, Natalee Geren and Yolande Attard. Nicole Sciberras and Kayleigh Chetcuti continued to operate in midfield, while captain Martina Borg occupied the number ten role. Sarah Urpani and Alexis Espitia provided the width to Leah Ayres in attack.
San Gwann’s Justyne Caruana continued her stay in goal, protected by captain Annabelle Rapa, Fatma Al Girbi, Tracy Axiak and Thresa Scicluna. Chanice Grixti and Martina Schembri protected the defence while Andjela Kricak started further forward. Shania Gheiti was supported by Yasmin Attard and Katrin Abela in attack.
Hibernians Unfazed By Conditions
It did not take long for Hibernians to establish control of possession but this time the team was keen on making the attacks count, despite strong winds, intermittent rain and even hail that persisted throughout the match.
First alarm bells rang for San Gwann when Martina Borg picked out the run of Sarah Urpani, but Justyne Caruana was quickly off her line to meet her. Despite this, the deadlock was broken within the fourth minute of the match. Nicole Sciberras played a short through ball into Alexis Espitia who had drifted into the box. The American lasered the shot into the bottom left corner of the goal for the opener.
The Paolites almost got an immediate second after a mishandled ball in San Gwann’s box landed at the feet of Sarah Urpani. However, Hibernians’ number eight fired wide.
Although penned back for most of the half, San Gwann attempted to make a coup on the counter following another Hibernians corner. However, Shania Gheiti’s forward run was well defended by Chloe Ellul.
Hiberians doubled their lead through a corner kick fifteen minutes into the match. A short routine between Kayleigh Chetcuti and Martina Borg gave San Gwann’s defence a different challenge. The delivery from Martina Borg was deflected into the path of Leah Ayres who fired into the top right corner of the net.
San Gwann’s Chanice Grixti won the team a free-kick in midfield, earning the Yellows an opportunity to put the ball into the box. Tracy Axiak’s deep delivery found Annabelle Rapa who tried to switch play, but the ball was swept for a goal-kick.
Hibernians Extend Lead
Meanwhile, Hibernians were relentless in their pursuit for more. Having been involved in the creation of the previous goal, Kayleigh Chetcuti fired home the third from close range twenty minutes into it. The number seven’s run was completely unmarked, with three San Gwann defenders caught blocking an initial shot, deflecting it straight into the path of the midfielder who made no mistake with the finish.
Keith Gouder’s side continued to run rampant, with San Gwann’s contingent increasingly static. Hiberians’ Amy Busuttil almost made it four just five minutes later from another corner. However, the defender’s attempt to place a shot into the top corner was palmed away by Justyne Caruana. Busuttil also had another opportunity from a corner late in the match but fired the header wide.
Although successive corners developed, San Gwann’s team managed to limit the scoring with ten players as Annabelle Rapa received treatment following blocking a shot.
Having fired wide a previous chance, Leah Ayres made sure to grab the fourth for the team and her second of the afternoon in the 37th minute. The striker was the most lively toward a flicked ball, taking her marker out with her control of the aerial ball, before placing home into the left corner of the goal.
Hibernians’ Alexis Espitia made an inside dart just before half-time, splitting open San Gwann’s midfield and defence, before spreading it wide to Sarah Urpani. However, the finish from out wide found only the side netting.
Half-Time Score: Hibernians 4 – 0 San Gwann
Borg Finishes The Rout From The Spot
San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri made one defensive change at the break, bringing on Nicole Camenzuli to aid in defence, who replaced the forward Yasmin Attard.
The Yellows appeared to be onto something as Andjela Kricak managed to find some space to release Shania Gheiti. However, the striker was unable to take the ball in her stride, allowing Natalee Geren to take control of the situation.
The Yellows’ striker was taken off shortly after following picking up a knock. She was directly replaced by Cassidy Mihalic. Doga Celik also came on in replacement of Annabelle Rapa, with the armband going to Andjela Kricak. Celik slotted in the left wing-back role, while Nicole Camenzuli and Thresa Scicluna supported Tracy Axiak in the defensive trio.
Despite having been kept more quiet in the half, Hibernians developed another chance close to the hour mark. Sarah Urpani was released into free space and forced Justyne Caruana into a save from close range. However, San Gwann’s Nicole Camenzuli cleared the ball to safety.
At the other end, Andjela Kricak called Zeeyana Jivraj into action following an attempt from outside the box. Though deflected, the Canadian was untroubled by the shot.
Despite doing more work to get further up the pitch, San Gwann’s defensive line was undone once more as Alexis Espitia was brought down in the box prompting the referee to point to the spot. Martina Borg showed no sign of any lurking doubts from having struck the woodwork in the first encounter, calmly dispatching home into the right corner of the goal.
Keith Gouder made his first change of the afternoon shortly after, bringing on Nyorah Celeste who replaced Chloe Ellul. Celeste occupied the right-wing role, while Yolande Attard swapped sides in the full-back role to replace Ellul. The change caused a shift in positions with Alexis Espitia shifting to the left, while Sarah Urpani retreated into the left-back role.
Celeste was immediately on the trot on the right hand side, whipping the ball into the box but just behind Alexis Espitia who arrived at the far post. At the other end, San Gwann attempted to create something with Fatma Al Girbi spreading wide to Katrin Abela. However, Amy Busuttil was first to the ball seeing out any potential attack formation.
More changes ensued, with Keith Gouder giving Martina Borg an early rest. She was replaced by Shyan Sammut who slotted in midfield, pushing Kayleigh Chetcuti into the playmaker role, while Nicole Sciberras led the team for the rest of the match. As the battle between Nicole Camenzuli and Alexis Espitia simmered on the left wing, the American landed herself in the book which prompted Keith Gouder to replace her by Martina Spiteri* late on.
Julian Camilleri also swapped Katrin Abela with Aaliyah Fiteni, while Yana Scicluna replaced Thresa Scicluna. San Gwann attempted to get a consolation goal late in the match following a free-kick won in midfield. Nicole Camenzuli launched forward which was headed toward the top right corner by Andjela Kricak. However, Zeeyana Jivraj shifted well to get a palm on it before taking control of the situation to maintain her clean sheet.
Final Score: Hibernians 5 – 0 San Gwann
Standings & Next Matches
Hibernians take themselves into third place with the victory on 29 points, one shy of Swieqi United in second and three ahead of Mgarr United. San Gwann’s tally remains at 10 points in sixth.
The Paolites will return for the final match of the round against bottom-of-the-table Mtarfa on Saturday (13th) at 14:00 at Mgarr Ground. San Gwann will attempt to bounce back and reduce the gap to fifth placed Valletta on the same day and location, at 16:30.
* Corrected as player initially incorrectly identified.
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