Hibernians regained top spot in the Premier League standings after defeating struggling Sliema Wanderers 3-0.

 

The Paolites are now leading the table with 16 points after six outings, with four wins and two draws. They hold a two-point lead above Birkirkara who defeated Gudja United on Saturday.

 

Stefano Sanderra’s side made the most of the chances they created with Malta international forward Jurgen Degabriele capping a wonderful week for him after scoring his nation’s last-gasp equaliser against Cyprus in the World Cup qualifiers.

 

Forward Wilfried Domoraud struck Hibs’ third goal to add more woes to Sliema.

 

In fact, the Blues remain bottom of the table with three points after six games as they are still seeking their first win of the season.

 

As expected, Hibernians tried to take control of the game from the outset and their first chance dropped on Bjorn Kristensen’s head which went over the bar after 13 minutes.Sliema replied through Wassam Harsama, of Djibouti, who connected with a Dejan Vukovic cross but sailed his effort wide.

 

In the 22nd minute, Jurgen Degabriele thought he had put Hibernians ahead when he slotted the ball from point-blank range into an empty but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

 

As time went by, Sliema started to grow in confidence, exchanging proceedings with Hibernians as the game grew into a balanced contest.

 

It was the Paolites who broke the deadlock when Degabriele found the net from a well-taken freekick from the edge of the area for his third league in five appearances.

 

Sliema struggled to stage a reaction and their next chance came just before the half-time whistle through Kurt Shaw but his poor effort went wide from Ibrahim Kone’s goal.

 

At the restart, Sliema’s Valmir Berisha let fly a striker from long-range but failed to threaten Kone as the Blues were looking to level terms.

 

Yet, it was Hibernians who scored the game’s next goal when Degabriele capitalised on a Wilfried Domoraud’s cross from the left-hand side to put the Paolites in the driving seat.

 

Domoraud was at the end of Hibernians’ next move in the game when he struck a volley from a tight angle to stun Sliema’s goalkeeper Timothy Aquilina and extend his team’s lead to three goals.

 

Hibernians were forced to play the last 25 minutes of the game with ten men when defender Ferdinando Apap was given the marching orders for a second yellow card.

 

Substitute Raphael Kooh Sohna tried his luck from the penalty box just to see his low drive blocked by Kone.

 

Sportsdesk – Gianluca Lia