Hamrun Spartans scored two early goals that gave them a second win of the season over St Andrews and although dominating for long spells, they had to hold on to some belated pressure from the Saints to secure full points.
Hamrun did not take long to realise their opponents were ripe for a beating and once Zerafa gave them a seventh minute lead, it was startling to see the imbalance between the two sides.
The Spartans found their upbeat tempo early. With ‘Chico’ Clavero driving them forward and too much creation and energy in midfield for St Andrews to combat, they were already two goals to the good just past the first quarter hour.
Photos: Domenic Aquilina
They failed to add further goals however, and might have allowed the rhythm to waver a bit after the restart. St Andrews’ goal past the hour, forced them to endure some unwanted moments of anxiety.
St Andrews did not muster a single shot on target in the opening half and always appeared utterly incapable of retrieving the two-goal deficit shipped before the break, until they were back into the game with a Jackson goal past the hour. But that belated effort was not enough to turn the tide.
With one win and one defeat from their opening two matches, both teams were level on points before kick off. Following a surprise win over Balzan, Saints’ coach Danilo Doncic left the club during the week and technical director Fausto Craighero was in charge yesterday. He made several changes from the previous game and the Saints were only a pale shadow of a fortnight ago. They never produced enough going forward to suggest a repeat was on the cards.
Hamrun had two weeks to rest and prepare for this match after defeat against champions Hibernians before the international break. Jake Galea was back in goal while Dale Camilleri started instead of Terence Agius.
The Spartans were the first out of the blocks and they had early shots from Brazilians De Castro and ‘Chico’ Clavero narrowly missing the target.
They took the lead on seven minutes though when, on a Clavero free kick from the left, the ball was held by a team mate for Daniel Zerafa to shoot low past keeper Calleja Cremona.
On the quarter hour Hamrun’s Machado was injured and had to be replaced by Julian Galea.
But the Spartans remained the better team and deservingly doubled their lead on 18 minutes, again from a set piece. Espindola delivered a free kick from the right and Guilherme De Castro headed in.
Towards the half hour, Hamrun threatened again as Galea ran through the middle but was foiled by the Saints’ keeper, only for Camilleri to shoot the loose ball against the bar.
St Andrews, who had endured a rather ineffective game, looked dead and buried but pulled one back past the hour. Substitute Azian laid the ball for Degran Jackson whose low shot from the edge of the area on the right hit the foot of the post and ended behind keeper Galea.
It was suddenly game on and Hamrun had to stay composed to avoid further derision.
They had to survive some late St Andrews pressure and the Spartans held their breadth when substitute Walker’s shot from a promising position, missed the target in the match’s added time.