Hamrun S.-Pieta H. 2-4

Hamrun S: J. Cordina, P. Ndubisi, J. Debattista, D. Galea, M. Iyiabo, U. Ishaku (S. Meilaq), K. Borg (G. Bartolo), R. Mangion, G. Spiteri, A. Attard, S. Sultana (D. Cucciardi)

Pieta H: P. Psaila, B. Sciberras, I. Deanov, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi, C. Sammut, A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, D. Gera, C. Sciuto (K. Darmanin), A. Decesare (M. Marmara)

Referee: J. Attard. Asst refs: P. Agius, Ms. E. Farrugia. 4th official: L. Sammut.

Scorers: G. Spiteri, C. Sciuto (2), M. Deanov, D. Galea, K. Darmanin

Yellow cards: C. Sciuto, A. Attard, S. Meilaq, M. Iyiabo, D. Cucciardi

Player of the match - C. Sciuto (Pieta H.)

TMI best three - 1. C. Sciuto 2. M. Deanov 3. S. Ciscaldi

For Pieta, this was an opportunity to regain some pride after a disappointing heavy defeat against Hibernians the previous week.

Two well taken first-half goals by Sciuto paved the way for Pieta’s win, against neighbours Hamrun Spartans, when displaying better ideas and tactical discipline in the face of jaded opponents.

Hamrun, showing too much predictability, were still left seeking their first Premier League win after two outings. The Spartans were indebted to some profligate finishing, especially in the second half, when the match became scrappy and Pieta less offensive

Hamrun made some changes in their initial line-up from their first outing. Sultana started in attack alongside the returning Gaetan Spiteri.

David Galea also played in defence as Neville Galea and Magri Overand were relegated to the bench. Ryan Fenech was also dropped.

Pieta’s coach Deanov also trimmed his side. Psaila kept his place in goal as Hogg was still not fully fit. Camenzuli returned after suspension while Decesare was included from the start. O’Flaherty was dropped while Calleja sat on the bench.

Pieta had the best of the early exchanges and Sciuto’s delivery and crosses proved a headache for the Spartans’ defence.

When Sciuto laid the ball to Sammut, the latter’s low shot was blocked by keeper Cordina.

Hamrun however took the lead on the quarter hour. Gaetan Spiteri nipped in from behind the Pieta defence to flick in Iyiabo’s long free-kick past the helpless Psiala.

The Spartans’ joy was short-lived though. Hardly two minutes later, Carmelo Sciuto’s well placed powerful free-kick at the top corner restored equilibrium.

Pieta remained the more dominant. Sciuto played a long ball to the unmarked Decesare who advanced on the left flank but his cross was of the poorest quality.

Not surprisingly, Pieta went ahead on 35 minutes, soon after David Galea had fluffed a good chance for Hamrun, shooting Ishaku’s cross off target.

Martin Deanov’s weighted free-kick from the edge of the area, beat Cordina, hit the foot of the post for Carmelo Sciuto to pounce on the rebound and toe-poke the ball into an empty net.

Hamrun failed to draw level on the stroke of half-time after a Borg free-kick caused panic inside the Pieta area but Iyiabo wastefully skied the loose ball.

Hamrun again looked menacing after the restart. The Pieta keeper kept them at bay when he stretched himself to save into a corner Spiteri’s firm header on a Borg cross.

But Pieta continued to look sharper on the ball. Cordina kept the Spartans into the game as he held out Martin Deanov’s low shot.

But there was no denying Pieta on 70 minutes. Spiteri’s resourceful run upfield created an opening for Martin Deanov to run towards the middle, steadied himself and shot in past Cordina.

Surprisingly, Hamrun came to life with 12 minutes remaining as David Galea’s strike on a loose ball from outside the area, took keeper Psaila completely by surprise.

Suddenly the Spartans were back in the reckoning. They forced a number of corners as they belatedly started to exert pressure on the Hotspurs’ defence.

But as none proved effective, they contrived to concede a fourth goal in added time when substitute Keith Darmanin rounded the keeper to finish off Ciscaldi’s intelligent lob which beat the square Hamrun defence.