More purposeful and determined, Hamrun looked good value for a draw against Birkirkara yesterday, but a late Antoine Zahra strike directly from a corner, halted all their progress of late to put aside talks of a Birkirkara crisis for the time being.

The Spartans may feel aggrieved for the way they lost this match after holding good against more quoted opponents for long stretches.

Birkirkara were back in the groove after last Monday’s 5-2 drubbing by Hibernians, but had to work overtime to down the gallant Spartans.

Birkirkara could only exert their superiority in the last half hour when the Spartans finally succumbed to their incessant pressure. Their goals were well timed too. Just before the break and on the stroke of full time.

Birkirkara, playing in an unusual blue and white strip, were bereft of the services of Barbara, Ciantar and Sammut, although boosted by the return of Simon in goal. Their coach Azzopardi was also missing from the bench as he serves a two-match ban.

Hamrun, as usual under the guidance of coach Marco Grech, replacing the suspended Degiorgio, had Magri Overand and Borg missing from the side which beat Mosta in midweek. Mangion and Galea started the match.

Despite the gulf of experience between the two sides, both set out with attacking policies.

As the match unfolded, Hamrun looked more adventurous during the first 45 minutes, striding forward with menace from midfield and, with their Nigerians settling well into the side, created a couple of useful openings.

After eight minutes Fenech’s low pass from the left to the unmarked Okoro was fluffed by the Hamrun midfielder who completely missed the target.

Earlier, Birkirkara had been denied by the foot of the post, holding out Nwoko’s low shot from close to the byeline.

Hamrun took the lead past the half hour when Gaetan Spiteri headed in Fenech’s free-kick from the left.

Birkirkara took long to pull themselves into the match, showing too many rough edges. They effected a double substitution towards the end of the half, putting in Calascione and Bonnici for Holland and Lino Galea respectively.

On the stroke of half-time they drew level. On a Camenzuli corner, Michael Galea crossed the ball for Antoine Zahra to head in from close range.

The goal hardly helped Birkirkara to improve after the restart though in the face of their opponents’ better collective display.

On the hour Michael Galea’s cross from the left caught keeper Cordina out of place but Mallia headed wide. Shortly after, the latter made way for Mifsud Triganza.

Birkirkara kept on trying but were hassled and harried by their opponents into a plethora of errors. Zahra’s long drive went wide and another long range shot was saved by the keeper.

As the minutes ticked away, Birkirkara kept up the onslaught. Camenzuli hit Nwoko’s short free-kick against the Hamrun wall and Mifsud Triganza’ shot on the turn narrowly missed the target. Zahra’s goal bound effort on 84 minutes was superbly saved into a corner as the Hamrun keeper was booked for time wasting.

All the Hamrun players crowded their penalty area as Birkirkara laid siege with frantic efforts. The Spartans were undone on the stroke of time by an Antoine Zahra corner kick which beat Cordina at the far post.

And Camenzuli saved the result for Birkirkara in the dying seconds as he held out substitute Borg’s effort, with keeper David beaten.