Hamrun Spartans came from behind to draw level against Birkirkara and then had to weather some 20 minutes of sustained pressure, after having their defender Bratislav Timotic sent off, before earning a precious point which keeps them in the upper half of the standings.

Hamrun had taken an early lead before Birkirkara reacted well to overturn the result in the space of three minutes midway through the first half.

The game proceeded with both sides defending well and hitting back at every opportunity, although clear-cut chances were scarce.

Thus Birkirkara remain winless in their last three matches.

Birkirkara had an early chance in the 6th minute when Tamboulas freed himself in the area almost on the finish line and dropped the ball back to Paul Fenech, but the latter’s attempt was blocked into a corner.

It was however Hamrun who went ahead after 22 minutes thanks to a fine strike from Gaetan Spiteri, picking up a defensive clearance from a corner to unleash a powerful volley that shook the back of the net.

Hamrun’s lead was short-lived as, within 15 minutes, Birkirkara managed to overturn the result thanks to two goals in the space of three minutes.

On 32 minutes, Mallia played through pass to Michael Galea who, alone against the keeper, set his egoism aside and squared the ball to Shaun Bajada to complete the formalities.

Hamrun barely had time to recover their feet when Birkirkara took the lead.

An Tabone free-kick from around 35 metres was chested by Emil Yanchev who turned home from close range past the helpless Falzon.

Birkirkara had the first real opportunity of the second half when Tamboulas found some space on the right wing and crossed to Galea who was free inside the area, but the skipper took long to conclude and allowed the defenders to close down the space, with his shot eventually ending on the side netting.

Hamrun’s efforts paid off in the 65th minute when Gaetan Spiteri gave a through pass to Ryan Fenech, who beat the onrushing keeper by chipping the ball over his head.

Two minutes later, Hamrun’s Timotic received his marching orders after two bookable offences.

From the ensuing free-kick taken by Fenech, Mallia’s effort from close range hit the side netting.

Enjoying numerical superiority, Birkirkara tried to push forward to score the winner but keeper Falzon denied Michael Galea and

then both Mallia and Tamboulas failed to make contact with Tabone’s deep cross.

In the 82nd minute, an innocuous looking shot by Tabone could have given Birkirkara the luckiest of leads, as Hamrun’s keeper Falzon slipped when trying to gather the ball, which rolled slowly against the post and back in play.

But that win eluded the Stripes once again.

* * *

Hamrun S: M.Falzon, M.Bonnici (J.Debattista), P.Monye, Roderick Fenech, S.Meilak, Ryan Fenech, S.Sultana (A.Effiong), R.Mangion, N.Galea (A.Attard], B. Timotic, G.Spiteri.

Birkirkara: B.Paris, R.Sammut (T.Paris), P.Fenech, M.Galea, A.Tabone (M.Anastasi), R.Hartvig, S.Bajada, J.Zerafa, M.Tamboulas, G.Mallia, E.Yanchev.

Referee: A. Zammit

Scorers: G.Spiteri, S.Bajada, E.Yanchev, Ryan Fenech

Yellow cards: M.Bonnici, B. Timotic, G.Spiteri, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech

Red card: B. Timotic

Player of the match: Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun)