The Spartans were the better outfit throughout the game and fully deserved the verdict, that are now on nine points from four games while Tarxien have the same number of points from five games.

The first two occasions were created by Tarxien but in a Spartans reaction, Cardona served Ryan Refalo with a through ball in the area and Tarxien keeper Tirchett foiled him from concluding by diving at his feet and smothered the ball.

Tarxien then created another occasion when Aquilina was through just outside the area but was fouled and from the resultant free-kick Schweinbacker floated a perfect ball in the area but Aquilina failed to get his head to the ball to apply the killer touch.

Hamrun forged ahead on 17 minutes. Chris Cardona served Ryan Refalo with a perfect through ball who scored with a strong rising shot on entering the area. In a Tarxien reaction Aquilina served Schembri with a through ball but Camilleri foiled him from concluding with another timely sortie. Two minutes before the break Refalo should have added another goal but he skied the ball when well placed after a perfect through ball by Farrugia. A minute before half time Hamrun doubled through a Farrugia header after a Cardona cross from the right following a through pass by Darren Rapa.

Few were the actions worthy of note during the second period. Tarxien created four opportunities in succession. Schweinbacker put Schembri through but he drove out from outside the area. Aquilina served Borg but Camilleri neutralised his cross-pass from the right and later foiled Chris Mula with a timely sortie after being put through by Schweinbacker. A Spartans defender headed the ball away from a powerful free-kick by Schweinbacker. The last action before the final whistle came from Hamrun as a Tarxien defender cleared the ball to corner from a Cardona shot.

Referee: Jude Uturu

Player of the match: Darren Farrugia (Hamrun S)

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APS Bank Under 16 Section B

St Venera 2

Msida 0

The final result does not reflect the true difference between the two teams as the woodwork denied St Venera on two occasions and keeper Matthew Mullholland effected good saves on shots by Bouvet,Carbonaro and Galea and also foiled the same players with perfect timely sorties. St Venera are on nine points from seven games while Msida are on seven points from eight games.

St Venera created the first threats , going close on many occasions.

In a Msida reaction Phiram served Scicluna inside the area but St Venera keeper Cuschieri foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie, At the other end, Bouvett pounced on a faulty clearance and Msida keeper Mullholland saved his shot in two attempts.

The Yellow-Blues drew first blood on 21st minute with a choral move involving three players. Daniel Galea crossed from the right to Lovett who headed towards Carbonaro who, after beating a defender, netted with a grounder past a helpless Mullholland.

Mullholland came to Msida’s rescue once again saving a grounder by the hard-working Carbonaro. A Fenech shot missed St Venera’s bar by inches with Scicluna beaten.

St Venera took the initiative straight after restart creating three chances of scoring in succession.

In the first minute of added time substitute Thomas Grima sealed the issue for his side, after he was put through in the area, he dribbled past the onrushing keeper and Glendor Refalo and scored with a grounder to make it 2-0.

Referee: Jean Pierre Sammut

Player of the match: Rudi Carbonaro (St Venera)