Hamrun S: M. Falzon, M.A. Bonnici, A. Attard (J. Debattista), K. Borg, Roderick Fenech, Ryan Fenech (S. Meilak), S. Sultana, R. Mangion, B. Timotic, G. Spiteri, A. Effiong

Msida SJ: J. Vella, P. Sciriha (R. Baldacchino), S. Grima, C. Brincat, T. Farrugia, D. Cachia, A. Farrugia, A. Spiteri, N. Doding Priso, G. Dos Santos (P. Borg), P. Dos Santos Calcado

Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: S. Sultana, T. Farrugia, P. Dos Santos Calcado

Yellow cards: G. Spiteri, S. Grima, A. Spiteri

Player of the match: Tyrone Farrugia (Msida SJ)

TMI top three: 1. D. Cachia 2. T. Farrugia 3. B. Timotic

Hamrun Spartans missed the chance of going second as they were beaten by Msida St Joseph yesterday, bringing an impressive nine-match unbeaten run to an abrupt end.

If not exactly of the highest quality, this match was entertaining in sporadic bursts.

Not for the first time this season, the Spartans let slip an early lead taken during a good first half hour, and their grip on the match. They showed lack of conviction allowing their opponents to hit back, as the balance of power shifted dramatically in Msida’s favour, enabling them to turn the match on its head and win with two second half goals.

In the final analysis Msida’s win rewarded their perseverance and was a deserved one for the high workrate they produced in midfield and their soundness in defence which conceded very little to their opponents.

Hamrun were without the suspended Evano Briffa and the injured Monye. Rupert Mangion played in front of the defence with Borg in right midfield as Bonnici was given the nod as left back. Falzon returned in goal after missing the previous match against Pieta.

Msida had Jonathan Vella deputising for the suspended Bartolo in goal and fielded their three foreigners in an offensive formation.

The game offered an exciting start thanks to both sides’ attacking intentions although the first ten minutes were devoid of clear scoring opportunities.

Hamrun, with their usual early flurry, threatened then on a Roderick Fenech clearance which Sultana flicked with his head towards the advancing Effiong who mishit the ball and the chance went to waste.

Stefan Sultana applied the finishing touch on 12 minutes, collecting a Ryan Fenech pass to shoot low beyond keeper Vella’s reach at the far post.

That goal galvanised the Spartans who kept the initiative. Sultana played the ball forward to Effiong in open space. Keeper Vella blocked his shot.

The Msida keeper then rushed out to block at Effiong’s feet, put clear by Mangion.

When the tide abated past the half hour, Msida tried to venture more forward into enemy territory and went close to drawing level before halftime.

Doding Priso low cross found nobody to connect and shortly afterwards, Msida had a claim for penalty turned down when Priso’s cross hit Attrad’s arm inside the area.

Two minutes before the break, Spiteri’s firm header on Priso’s cross from the right, was turned into a corner by keeper Falzon.

But the second half belonged to Msida who managed to take the game from Hamrun and dominated for long stretches. They equalised eight minutes after the restart from a Mangion clearance on an Adrian Farrugia corner kick which fell to Cachia on the edge of the area and his effort was deflected in by Tyrone Farrugia.

Hamrun’s reaction was immediate but weak. The erratic Ryan Fenech shot Spiteri’s cross wide and then Spiteri himself arrived late and uncoordinated on a Bonnici deep cross.

As the Spartans could not thread their way past the composed Msida, they always looked in danger of being caught out by the Saints’ lethal breaks. Both Priso and Dos Santos however looked poor in their finishing, even when their faster pace took them clear of their opponents.

Ten minutes from time, the Hamrun were caught completely uncovered at the back as Mangion’s free-kick was headed out by Tyrone Farrugia towards Priso who put Pedro Dos Santos through, advancing unhindered to deposit the ball into an unattended goal after he grounded the keeper.

Hamrun were demorilised and unable to summon enough effort to stride forward.

They were lucky not to suffer further goals as substitute Debattista held out Priso’s goal bound effort after going through inside the area and then again Cachia’s shot was blocked by Mangion in the late stages.