A penalty by Jake Grech mid-way through the second half handed Hibernians a narrow win over neighbours Tarxien Rainbows at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

This was the second successive win for the Paolites and the second defeat in three matches for the Rainbows.

Hibernians went close on the 62nd minute when off an assist by Ferdinando Apap, a Jurgen Degabriele effort was partially saved by goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes with the ball hitting the foot of the upright before the Tarxien goalkeeper regained possession.

However, on the 69th minute, the Paolites were awarded a penalty after Anderson do Nascimento Carneiro handled the ball inside the area following a shot by Shola Shodiya; referee Ishmael Barbara ordered a penalty and Jake Grech converted.

TARXIEN Daniel Marcio Fernandes, Anderson do Nascimento Carneiro, Brandon Muscat, Lincoln de Oliveira Santos (Darren Falzon 75’), Daniel Zerafa, Matthew Spiteri (Keith Attard 88’), Vito Plut, Vagner Conceicao da Silva, Eduardo Rosado Souza, Kyle Gatt (Karl Pulo 88’), Matthew Tabone. 
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Cedric Zahra, Miguel Ciantar, Dale Tabone.
Coach: Winston Muscat

HIBS  Matthew Calleja Cremona, Ferdinando Apap, Leandro Almeida da Silva, Ayrton Attard, Jake Grech, Rundell Winchester (Matthew Ellul 86’), Jurgen Degabriele, Bjorn Kristensen (Edafe Uzeh 86’), Zachary Karl Grech (Andrei Agius 64’), Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Jose Wilkson Teixeira (Shola Shodiya 57’).  
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Dunstan Vella, Rudy Cassar Jeffries.
Coach: Stefano Sanderra

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: A. Attard, G. Izquier, Z. Grech, B. Kristensen, M. Spiteri, K. Gatt, M. Tabone, A. Do Nascimento
BOV Player of the Match: Gabriel Izquier Artiles