Hamrun Spartans crushed direct opponents Floriana 5-0 yesterday to retain the title.

The much awaited match between the two sides that dominated the season, played in front of a massive crowd at the National Stadium, proved to be a no contest.

Hamrun Spartans demolished their opponents to open a four-point gap at the top of the table with 90 minutes for the end of the season.

Seth Paintsil was Hamrun’s hero as he netted four goals to give Hamrun Spartans their second consecutive title, the tenth one for Hamrun.

Floriana needed the victory to topple the Spartans from the first spot in the standings, with Hamrun needing at least a draw to remain on top and then go out for victory in the final 90 minutes of the season.

For Floriana this was a nightmare of an afternoon. The Greens had an astonishing season showing better football throughout the season, but yesterday they failed miserably in the most important match of the season.

Floriana had only the victory at their disposal, but after conceeding an early goal it became evident that their task will be an uphill one.

However few would have ever imagined that the Greens will suffer such a humiliation.

The atmosphere at Ta’ Qali was unique and after the initial exchanges, Hamrun broke the deadlock in their first real attack on nine minutes.

Ryan Camenzuli’s cross from the left was met by Paintsil who headed home to the delight of the numerous Hamrun fans.

This goal surely caught the Greens by surprise and they almost suffered a second blow minutes later when again the Floriana defence was caught at odds with Jonny passing towards Paintsil who was denied by the Floriana custodian Andriljanic.

On 18 minutes Floriana’s first attempt at goal from Owen Spiteri whose effort from the edge of the area was easily blocked by Marchetti.

Sixty seconds lkater and Hamrun doubled the score when Luke Montebello’s cross shot from the left was met by Seth Paintsil who drilled the ball home.

Floriana never recovered and the Spartans cruised through for the remainder of the match. Four minutes from the break Seth Paintsil obtained his hat-trick when he pounced on a Jonny cross from the left to hit home.

Floriana could have pulled one back minutes later but Nogureira failed to beat Marchetti form close range.

In stoppage time Hamrun scored a fourth goal when Freitas hit home the rebound following a Joseph Mbong effort that was saved by the goalkeeper.

Needless to say the Hamrun supporters started their celebrations as the second half was a mere formality with the Spartans in full control.

In fact the score could have been even more humiliating for Floriana as Hamrun missed a couple of good scoring opportunities in the first portion of the second half.

Paintsil crowned his title show with a fourth goal on 71 minutes for Hamrun’s fifth and final goal as the Spartans were crowned champions for the tenth time.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina