Hamrun S. - Floriana 1-2

Hamrun S: S.Sullivan, M.A. Bonnici, D. Cucciardi, A. Attard, K. Borg, Roderick Fenech, R. Mangion, L. Agius, M. Busuttil (S. Sultana), G. Spiteri, A. Effiong

Floriana: S. Agius, M. Sevasta, J. Briffa, S. Eboh, D. Pisani, Z. Levniac, C. Cassar, J. Borg, M. Micallef, Y. Bolasie (M. Gauci), R. Darmanin (J. Brincat)

Referee: A. Arciola asst.refs: C. Micallef, E. Spiteri 4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: Y. Bolasie, M. Micallef (pen), L. Agius

Yellow cards: R. Fenech, M.A. Bonnici, C. Cassar, G. Spiteri

Player of the match: Christian Cassar (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. Y. Bolaise 2. Z. Levniac 3. M.A. Bonnici

Floriana won this clash between the two bottom teams of the Championship Pool with nothing tangible to play for. In a match of patchy quality, Floriana scored two goals, one from a penalty, shortly before the break and hung on, and eventually prevailed, after Hamrun had pulled a goal back soon after the restart.

It was only the first time Floriana beat Hamrun this season, after one defeat and two draws, and their success owed much to their midfield where Cassar, Levniac and Bolasie outplayed their inexperienced opponents in that sector.

Both sides had a patched-up look, especially Hamrun Spartans. Their long list of suspensions deprived them of Ryan Fenech, Meilak, Galea and Timotic. Monye was also missing through injury. Coach Gerada was forced to reshuffle the defence with the returning Roderick Fenech and Bonnici as central defenders and Attard and Borg wide on the flanks. Their midfield included two up and coming youngsters, Mauro Busuttil and Lee Agius, the latter included in the Sparatns’ starting line-up for the second consecutive time.

Floriana also fielded an understrength team, bereft of the suspended Ciantar and Brincat as well as the injured Krsteski and Caruana. The not fully fit Cilia only went in as a late substitute but Christian Cassar returned to the side after missing the last three matches.

It was pretty dismal stuff for the first half hour, during which Hamrun created some openings but looked unconvincing. Effiong’s good work from the byeline on the left went begging as he tried his shot from a tight angle rather than passing the ball to the unmarked Cucciardi. And following a free kick, Fenech’s tame effort failed to trouble keeper Agius, back in the Floriana goal.

Past the half hour Spiteri put Effiong clear through the middle. Agius did well to rush out and block.

The tone of the game was set on 35 minutes when Yala Bolasie took Levniac’s pass into his stride, foraged down the right flank and slotted the ball to beat keeper Sullivan with a low diagonal shot.

Five minutes later, Floriana delivered a second blow. A deep Bolasie cross from the right caught the Hamrun defence off balance and Manolito Micallef ran through inside the area, chased by Bonnici, and falling under the keeper’s challenge to earn a penalty which he himself tucked away to give the Greens a double lead by halftime.

Hamrun again took the field more spiced up upon resumption and forced a couple of early corners. Ten minutes into the second half was all it took them to pull one back. Lee Agius’ inswinging cross from the

left looked harmless but with the Floriana players failing to clear, the ball ended behind the keeper at the far post, even helped by the blowing wind.

Floriana responded immediately and Darmanin thumped his shot against the bar on the break.

Both sides fluffed half chances as the game continued to shift from one box to another in rather scrappy fashion. Bolasie chased Cassar’s return pass well but failed to conclude when faced by a Hamrun defender. On the other end, Cucciardi could have done better with his header on a Bonnici free kick.

Hamrun put in Sultana for Busuttil for the last quarter hour, but the Spartans’ huffing and puffing was in hope rather than expectation as that first win in the Championship Pool eluded them once more.