Mosta FC 0
Hamrun S. FC 0
Mosta FC: A.Vella, A. De Cerchio, K. Hirose, R. De Oliveira, M. Sammartino, M. Gomez, T. Farrugia, S. Bonnici, Z. Brincat, R. Romeu, N. Samb
Hamrun S. FC: E. Bartolo, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, S. Nayar, C. Henneberg, M. Gauci, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulus, C.Calil, B. Schembri ( R. Darmanin 46'), F. Marra ( S. Cini 62')
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Asst refs: William Debattista, Edward Spiteri
4th official: Glen Tonna
Yellow cards: R. De Oliveira, A. Vella, A.Monticelli, C. Henneberg
Red Card: E. Bartolo
Player of the match: Hirose Kei (Mosta)
TMI Top 3: 1. Hirose Kei 2. S. Nayar 3. M. Gomez
Hamrun and Mosta shared the spoils in a goaless draw in a drab encounter with both sides desperate to win this match. Few were the chances during the entire match with Hamrun being hampered with the sending off of their goalkeeper midway through the second half.
After suffering their first defeat of the season last week against Tarxien, the Spartans were eager to return to winning ways and bounce back with another three points. As regards Mosta they were coming from a 3-1 defeat at the expense of Balzan and therefore were looking for a positive result.
The first goalscoring opportunity came on 23 minutes when Marra sent a cross from the right flank towards Calil but the latter though well placed miskicked the ball. In the 35th minute Samb made the best of a defensive error but his tame shot caused no trouble for the Hamrun rearguard.
Lady luck wasn't on the Spartans side when on the stroke of half time a Karl Micallef thunder strike from just inside the area hit the crossbar.
On the change of ends Hamrun started more brightly and in the 48th minute a Calil rising shot was saved by Vella. But in the 59th minute Hamrun were dealt a blow when off a Mosta counter attack Hirose found Miranda Gomez who on rounding goalkeeper Bartolo was brought down by the Spartans shot stopper.
The match official gave the marching orders to Bartolo amidst a barrage of protests. Sean Cini came in for Marra.
For long stretches play was restricted to the midfield sector and it was only in the final minutes that the match came of life.
In the 85th minute Darmanin squared towards Nayar whom with only Vella to beat shot straight into the opposing goalkeeper missing a glorious opportunity. And just a minute later Vella was once again alert to block a Nayar conclusion. And in the 90th minute Nayar saw his shot sail just over the bar from a direct free kick.