Pieta Hotspurs made a giant stride closer to Premiership salvation, winning this battle of the basement yesterday, wrestling three precious points off poor Hamrun Spartans to go top of the Relegation Pool with 14 points.

Putting up a more spirited display than their opponents, and inspired by the return of Martin Deanov, who propelled the afternoon’s better passes, the Hotspurs always looked to have a slight edge over their disjointed opponents and were well worth the final triumph.

In fact Hamrun showed little of the self belief or confidence that will be required to avoid the slide into a lower division.

Their coach Degiorgio must now hope they rediscover their scoring touch quickly or tougher times surely lie ahead.

Hamrun had Ndubisi Ndah missing and Sultana played as central defender during the first half. Okoro was included in midfield while Nwankwu partnered Gaetan Spiteri in attack, but both looked peripheral figures during their time on the pitch.

It took Martin Deanov, back for Pieta, no time to make an imprint on the match.

Past the quarter hour, his dribble from the right flank caused panic inside the Hamrun area but there was no one to connect to his low cross.

When Deanov netted Calleja’s cross after 23 minutes, the goal was disallowed for his foul on Attard and Hamrun breathed a sigh of relief.

Hamrun, though, started to pull themselves into the game as the half progressed. On a Borg corner, the ball bounced awkwardly in front of Fenech who shot wastefully wide.

And on the half hour Fenech again headed Borg’s cross straight on keeper Hogg.

A minute later, the Spartans slumped to concede the first goal. Deanov beat the offside trap with his resourceful run on the right flank and when faced with two Hamrun defenders inside the area, he played the ball low to the unmarked Silvan Ciscaldi to drive it low, leaving keeper Cordina rooted to his line.

Hamrun’s reaction was flaccid and they only forced a couple of corners, which none proved fruitful. Pieta also had their half chances but Deanov’s tame efforts meant the Spartans were only trailing by one goal by half-time.

Hamrun tried to up the tempo in the second half, putting in Galea for Fenech and moving Sultana up front.

On the hour, the Hamrun captain controlled a Mansueto long ball inside the area and after resisting some challenges, had his shot squeezed into a corner.

But as Hamrun were probing for an equaliser they were hit by Pieta’s second goal on 63 minutes. Again Martin Deanov was the architect and executioner as he rifled a shot from the edge of the area at the top left hand corner after exchanging the ball with Calleja.

With the points virtually secured, Pieta retreated further although they still looked menacing when a Mangion short clearance on Deanov’s cross allowed Ciscaldi to thump his volley against the upright.

In the dying minutes, Hamrun’s desperate efforts failed to yield at least a consolation goal as keeper Hogg stretched himself to save Sultana’s shot into a corner and substitute Cucciardi headed Borg’s flag kick off target.

Hamrun S: J. Cordina, S. Sultana, J. Debattista, A. Attard (S. Sadowski), A. Mansueto, M. Okoro, K. Borg, R. Fenech (D. Galea), C. Nwonkwo, G. Spiteri (D. Cucciardi), R. Mangion

Pieta H: A. Hogg, P. Aquilina (D. Gera), B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi, C. Calleja (C. Okoh), C. Sammut (M. Galea), A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, F. Marius

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: A. Arciola, M. Debono 4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: S. Ciscaldi, M. Deanov

Yellow cards: S. Kondev, J. Debattista, R. Mangion, A. Attard

Player of the match: Martin Deanov (Pieta H.)

TMI top three: 1. M. Deanov 2. S. Ciscaldi 3. F. Marius