Pieta H: M. Vella, P. Deliminkov, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo, S. Grech (C. Pulo), S. Kondev, C. McKay (C. Cassar), D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri (R. Refalo), R. Galabov

Hamrun S: S. Sullivan, P. Monye, E. Briffa, K. Borg, Roderick Fenech, Ryan Fenech, S. Sultana (A. Attard), R. Mangion, B. Timotic, G. Spiteri (D. Cucciardi), A. Effiong (S. Meilak)

Referee: A.M. Sant asst.refs: P. Agius, C. Micallef 4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: G. Spiteri (2), S. Sultana pen

Yellow cards: Q. Refalo, E. Briffa, R. Mangion, D. Mifsud, B. Timotic, Roderick Fenech

Red cards: Q. Refalo, E. Briffa

Player of the match: Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun S)

TMI top three: 1. G. Spiteri 2. P. Monye 3. E. Herrera

Hamrun Spartans beat neighbours Pieta Hotspurs with three clear goals in a tempestuous match, with two players sent off, stretching their impressive unbeaten run to nine matches. Incidentally their last league defeat was against Pieta way back in September.

By virtue of yesterday’s win the Spartans now move up to third place in the standings as a Championship Pool berth remains clearly in sight.

Pieta made a promising start but faded out after conceding Hamrun’s first goal. Usually adept at shutting down the danger areas, Pieta were again flimsy at the back as they never came to terms with Spiteri’s pace or Mangion’s, Fenech’s and Monye’s persistence in midfield.

The teams had radically different experiences before this encounter.

Hamrun had Sean Sullivan in goal for the first time this season as regular keeper Falzon was unwell. But otherwise they kept faith in the same side which massacred Marsaxlokk in the previous match.

The Hotspurs, who had been themselves battered by Msida St Joseph in the previous outing, looked determined to salvage some pride against their neighbouring rivals.

Pieta were more assertive in the initial stages as Grech twice went close with a header and a shot but none was on target. The early stages were full of incident.

After 18 minutes both sides were reduced to ten men. Refalo got involved in a skirmish with Briffa, after the latter had fouled Deliminkov in midfield, which led to the players?dismissal.

But the dust soon settled and nerves were back to normal, giving way to some good football at last.

Hamrun settled well into the game and started to play some of their solitary flowing football after a cagey start. Pieta though allowed them little comfort on the ball until the Spartans made the breakthrough on 35 minutes. Borg whacked a deep cross inside the Pieta area. Gaetan Spiteri controlled the ball and let fly a left footer which beat keeper Vella, deputising for the suspended Montfort, at the top right hand corner.

That goal sapped away Pieta’s brittle confidence and Hamrun almost added another goal before the break. Spiteri and Sultana played the ball between them inside the area, freed Effiong on the right who shot over.

Hamrun forced two early consecutive corners upon the restart as Ryan Fenech’s efforts were deflected by the Pieta defence.

On 55 minutes Deliminkov floored Ryan Fenech as he made his way inside the Pieta area and Stefan Sultana tucked away the resultant penalty to score his fifth league goal of the season.

The Spartans remained firmly in command. On 65 minutes Spiteri provided Ryan Fenech with an intelligent ball but with only the keeper to beat, Fenech lobbed the ball wide.

On another Spiteri cross, Effiong exchanged the leather with Ryan Fenech but was foiled by keeper Vella’s intervention.

On the other end keeper Sullivan held out Herrera’s shot with his most difficult save of the match.

Hamrun sealed the issue with a quarter hour remaining. Pieta defender Camilleri failed to clear the ball on a Hamrun attack and the volatile and speedy Gaetan Spiteri ran into open space to beat the helpless Vella with a low drive.