Qormi 0
Hamrun S 2
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, N. Turkovic (L. Busuttil 59'), D. Mansi, Y. Yankam, S. Kim, M. Micallef (M. Camilleri 74'), A. Abela, G. Gesualdi, A. Cassar (I. Zammit 83'), A. Ferreira, S. Kassiano
Hamrun S: E. Bartolo, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, S. Nayar, W. Domoraud (R. Darmanin 88'), M. Gauci, N. Priso (C. Cutajar 76'), K. Micallef, D. Moukanza, O. Nikolopoulos, C. Calil (B. Schembri 91')
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Ass.referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Roberto Vella
Fourth Official: Emanuel Grech
Scores: T. Caruana 36', K. Micallef 70'
Yellow cards: C. Calil, K. Micallef, A. Ferreira
Player of the match: Caetano Calil
TMI best three: 1. C. Calil, 2. S. Nayar, 3. S. Kim
With a goal in each half Hamrun Spartans registered their second successive win to move further in the table and join the more fancied Balzan and Birkirkara on the 15 point mark. It was a well deserved victory for the Spartans in an otherwise low profile match.
Qormi are now in a free fall, with yesterday's defeat being the sixth consecutive one. Qormi's major problems surely lie in attack, with Brian Spiteri's boys failing to score a goal in their last four matches.
In fact after controlling the match with relative ease, Qormi had nothing to offer after suffering the first goal and the issue was never in doubt after Tristan Caruana's opener. Nedo Turkovic was isolated in attack and his performance left much to be desired.
Things did not get better when he was substituted, as the Yellows had no alternatives in attack. Hamrun's defence was again outstanding , and is without doubt their best asset with Pepe and Nikolopoulos forming a great tandem.
Like their opponents, Hamrun are finding the going hard in attack, with Domoraud and Moukanza having a rather quite match, with Caetano Calil emerging as the Spartans' best player.
The first half was boring to watch with Hamrun holding constant territorial superiority but having practically no shots at goal. Their first attempt came on 27 minutes with a Domoraud effort well saved by Azzopardi.
On 34 minutes Calil passed to Domoraud whose drive was again saved by Azzopardi. Two minutes later Hamrun broke the deadlock when form a Nayar corner, Alan Abela's header came in Trustin Caruana's path, and the Hamrun captain half-volleyed beautifully home.
Three minutes later Qormi's only effort from mano Micallef but his central drive was easily blocked by Bartolo.
On the resumption Domoroud missed a sitter in front of goal. On 50 minutes Hamrun went close again when Priso dribbled past the goalkeeper but his shot at goal was cleared off the goal line by Cassar, and from the rebound Priso passed to the unmarked Calil who from the penalty spot and with an open goal at his mercy shot incredibly wide.
However Hamrun continued to press forward to put their minds at rest and a Demoroud effort went over the bar. Hamrun put their minds at rest on 70 minutes when Calil did all the running before passing towards Domoroud who failed to connect in front of goal, but Karl Micallef who followed the run was on hand to fire home in the top corner of the net.
Qormi pushed desperately forward in the remaining minutes but lacked ideas. They had a Ferreira effort missing the target, but their best chance to at least score a consolation goal came on 87 minutes, when Michael Camilleri's shot was cleared off the goal ine by Nikolopoulos, with Bartolo completely beaten.