Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, S. Grima, C. Brincat, G. Ogbonna, A. Spiteri (C. Spiteri), D. Cachia, T. Farrugia, R. Baldacchino (L. Mizzi), A. Farrugia (G. Camilleri), O. Yachine, P. Doding

Hamrun S: M. Falzon, M.A. Bonnici, D. Cucciardi (S. Meilak), P. Monye, K. Borg (E. Briffa), Roderick Fenech, S. Sultana, R. Mangion, N. Galea (J. Debattista), B. Timotic, G. Spiteri

Referee: A.M. Sant asst.refs: M.Debono, J. Spiteri 4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: G. Spiteri

Yellow cards: P. Doding, A. Spiteri, M.A. Bonnici, C. Brincat, G. Spiteri, D. Cachia

Player of the match: Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun S.)

TMI top three: 1. G. Spiteri 2. T. Farrugia 3. M. Bartolo

Striker Gaetan Spiteri scored a goal of utmost importance yesterday to put Hamrun Spartans back on winning ways after defeat in the previous match. Alternating defeat with victory, Spiteri’s goal netted shortly after the restart, was enough for a reshuffled Hamrun side to edge spirited Msida. In fact this defeat brought an end to the Saints’ positive run of two games without defeat, after a rather dismal start to the new season.

The Hamrun line-up showed a rift of changes from the one which lost to Pieta in the weekend. Briffa, Meilak, Debattista and Effiong were all relegated to the bench while Ryan Fenech was suspended. The captain’s arm band went to veteran Sultana, who started the match in attack.

Msida had defender Sciriha missing from the squad while Mizzi was only a substitute as Andrew Spiteri and Roderick Baldacchino were given starts.

A barren first half offered precious little in the way of excitement as both sides fought gamely to take a grip on the proceedings but struggled to build anything. And except for a smart Falzon save on 36 minutes, when the Hamrun shot stopper was forced to stretch himself to keep out Tyrone Farrugia’s grounder, neither keeper needed to have been in residence.

The game came to life briskly after the interval. The deadlock was broken on 50 minutes when Hamrun earned a corner after Spiteri’s effort was saved by keeper Bartolo. On Borg’s flag kick from the left, Sultana’s headed effort was again blocked by the keeper, only for Gaetan Spiteri to shoot in the loose ball.

The Spartans’ dominance continued as Spiteri twisted and turned inside the Msida area before shooting low for Bartolo to block and then deny Sultana on the rebound.

Msida showed up with a Tyrone Farrugia powerful free-kick which keeper Falzon saved well past the hour. Doding was also a constant threat to the Hamrun rearguard with his neat footwork.

With Hamrun retreating further, Msida’s efforts became far too laborious to give the opposing defence any real trouble. The Spartans ended the match in full strength as Meilak, Debattista and Briffa were roped in to preserve their slender but important lead.