Marsaxlokk had the last laugh in this goal festival. It was a spectacular match with the defences having a holiday and with the strikers scoring at will.
A drawn result would have been fairer on the Spartans who played a very good game, surely a great improvement over their opaque outing against the Spartans.
Mansueto, Mangiona and Okoro played exceptionally well in midfield, with Gaetan Spiteri playing another excellent match in attack.
For Marsaxlokk and especially for Ray Farrugia it was a precious victory even though the overall performance of the Southseasiders, yet again left much to be desired.
The Spartans showed great lack of experience in leaving the field of play empty handed, but their defensive lapses finally let them down.
Hamrun Spartans made several changes from their last outing against Msida, as they had Ivan Zammit missing, with Debattista, Sadowski, and Nwonkwo on the reserves bench. Magri-Overend played a leading role at the back with Evano Briffa and Mansueto giving a helping hand to Rupert Mangion in midfield.
Marsaxlokk were without Andre Schembri who was serving a one- match suspension, with Trevor Templeman in the first eleven, whilst Ruben Debono played between the posts with Ruben Gauci relegated to the substitute’s bench.
Marsaxlokk as expected started on the attack but the Spartans’ defence held well the early pressure. On 14 minutes Hamrun Spartans obtained a penalty when Mansueto was tripped by Shaun Bajada and from the resultant penalty Okoro made no mistake. With Marsaxlokk still under shock, the Spartans doubled the score five minutes later with a gem of a goal.
Gaetan Spiteri shielded the ball well before passing on his right to the onrushing Okoro who first-timed beautifully in the corner of the net.
Marsaxlokk could not come to grips with their opponents, and Cordina’s first save came on 28 minutes saving a Frendo shot following a good Jamie Pace cross from the right. Five minutes later Marsaxlokk were back in the game thanks to a Hamrun defensive blunder with Wendell Gomes beating Cordina with a grounder.
Hamrun had a great opportunity to re-establish their two-goal lead seconds later when Evano Briffa crossed to Gaetan Spietri, whose close range header was brilliantly saved by Debono.
On 42 minutes Mansueto was brought down outside the area by the lanky Bart-Williams, and from the resultant free-kick, Gaetan Spiteri showed all his class, curling the ball into the top corner.
Just before halftime Marsaxlokk scored an important goal when Mamo’s free-kick was deflected by Hamrun’s defensive barrier and Frendo made no mistake tapping in the rebound.
After the resumption, Marsaxlokk were on level terms in their first attack, when Carlo Mamo effected a good run on the left and his cross found Wendell Gomes unmarked, with the striker obtaining a brace beating Cordina.
Scoring chances kept flowing with an impressive frequency, with Cucciardi missing in front of goal following a Rueben Debono blunder and Kevin Mamo missing in front of goal for Marsaxlokk.
With fourteen minutes to go Marsaxlokk took the lead for the first time when Cleavon Frendo scored from close range following a cross from the right by Bajada.