Balzan            2
Hamrun S.      2

Balzan: S. Sultana, J. Grioli, N. Sljivic (S. Arab 88), A. Da Paixao Alves, S. Bezzina, H. A. Ashcroft, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac, E. Serrano Valero, C. De Fiori Mendes, M. Lepovic (D. Camilleri 69)

Hamrun S.: E. Bartolo, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, SR Nayar, C. Henneberg, M. Gauci, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, C. Calil, K. Tulimieri

Referees: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst Refs: R. Vella, C. Francalanza

4^th official: M. Apap

Scorers: S. Nayar 5, A. Effiong 41, K.Tulimieri 44, U. Ljubomirac 45

Yellow cards: M. Gauci 39, U. Ljubomirac 73, J. Grioli 73, E. Serrano Valero 82

Player of the match: T. Caruana

TMI Top 3: 1. K. Tulimieri, 2. A. Effiong, 3. T. Caruana

Attendance: 420

Hamrun Spartans and Balzan shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw yesterday evening.

All the goals were scored during the first half with Hamrun twice taking the lead and Balzan fighting back to draw level before the interval.

Nayar gave the Spartans an early lead, but Effiong equalised. Late in the half, Tulimieri pushed Hamrun ahead once again, but immediately after, Ljubomirac obtained a second equaliser for Balzan.

The draw kept the two teams in the same places they occupied before the match, that is, Balzan in 5^th and Hamrun in 6^th, though they have joined Sliema on the 19-point mark, with the Blues having a match in hand.

Balzan's Marco Micovic had Michael Johnson suspended while the Spartans coach Giovanni Tedesco had all players at his disposal.

Despite the MFA's gesture of free entry for spectators for this match on the occasion of Black Friday, only 420 fans turned up at the National Stadium.

In the first half, the Spartans were definitely the better team, but Balzan showed character as they fought back twice to level matters.

The Spartans were in command of midfield from where they launched several of their attacks, but they contrived to miss at least two good chances and Balzan punished them.

At first, after Hamrun's early lead, Balzan failed to react decently and it was only near the end of the half that they eventually showed their potential.

In the second half, Balzan improved beyond consideration and it was now the Reds who took over the initiative keeping Hamrun in their own half for most of the time.

But they only created one real scoring opportunity from which they failed to take advantage.

Hamrun disappointed their fans in the second half as they appeared to be a tired side after their first half attacking stance.

Hamrun almost opened the scoring on 4 minutes when it was Harry Ashcroft who cleared to corner in extremis before Tulimieri could push the ball home from three metres. But from the result corner, taken by Triston Caruana, Sebastian Nayar rose above friend and foe to head the Spartans in the lead.

On 26 minutes, Hamrun threatened again. It was Calil who crossed low for Tulimieri to control the ball well, but his final effort missed the target.

Balzan's reaction was quite timid, but on 30 minutes, Ljubomirac had a first timer being blocked by a Hamrun defender. Soon after Hamrun goalie Bartolo was called into action saving a grounder by Grioli.

In the 37^th minute, Sultana had to dive full length to turn to corner a Calil grounder.

Bartolo then had to extend himself to turn to corner a De Fiori shot, but moments later, from a De Fiori cross, Alfred Effiong levelled matters for Balzan.

In the 44^th minute, Hamrun were back in the lead when from a Caruana cornerkick, Tulimieri headed home past Sultana.

At the other end, immediately after, from an Effiong pass, Ljubomirac hit home despite a Hamrun defender's attempt to clear from over the line.

In the 53^rd minute, from a Grioli cross, Lepovic missed a good chance as he headed straight into Bartolo's waiting hands.

The match degenerated but in the 86^th minute, Balzan threatened when De Paixao set Dale Camilleri on the edge of the area, but the latter's shot was easy prey for Bartolo.