In a slick performance, Hamrun Spartans overcame the feeble challenge of Qormi FC winning by four goals to one in a rather one sided encounter.

Qormi and Hamrun crossed swords in an important encounter for both sides to gain some daylight over their rivals in the forthcoming battle in the Relegation Pool. Qormi were looking for a similar showing after they bravely held champions Valletta to a goalless draw last Monday whilst Hamrun were looking for a return to some sort of form after having rather disappointed of late.

The opening minutes saw Hamrun taking the initiative with a Roderick Fenech header ending up just wide after a cross by Jonathan Bondin onfour minutes. Qormi replied on six minutes with a Da Silva shot from an angle which was well saved by Casha.

However it was Hamrun who took the lead on 10 minutes after a free kick by Sylvano Comvalius, which was heavily deflected by the wall, but nonetheless ended up in the Qormi net.

Hamrun almost made it two on 13 minutes when Comvalius lost his marker but his shot was saved by Gauci.

However Qormi equalized on 14 minutes when Josivan Da Silva managed to pounce on a loose ball from Debono and smash into the net.

Hamrun attempted to regain their advantage on 17 minutes but Micallef squared his shot just wide from a good position. The Spartans were again in the wars on 25 minutes when Micallef again had a fine angled shot which was well saved by Gauci.

The Spartans regained the lead on 32 minutes when Comvalius received a fine through pass from Micallef and made no mistake in slotting past Gauci. The rest of the half was rather quiet as Qormi appeared to lack the initiative to take the game to Hamrun.

The second half began with Hamrun still in the ascendancy although they were taking the game at a slightly more relaxed pace.

The Spartans made the result safe on 59 minutes when a piledriver by Ryan Fenech found the net from 30 yards to the delight of the vociferous Spartans contingent.

Hamrun continued piling on the pressure and almost made it four on 61 minutes when Comvalius hit the post after having mesmerized the Qormi defence.

Rupert Mangion went on a long probing run on 68 minutes but his shot from outside the box ended up well wide. Comvalius again went on one of his wizard like runs but his shot ended up well wide.

Hamrun continued pressing with Qormi completely out of it with Spiteri missing a good chance on 77 minutes as the game began to wind down slowly.

The Spartans scored their fourth goal on 82 minutes whensubstitute Diego Cucciardi coolly finished off after a pass by Spiteri.

Hamrun could have added to the scoreline but Cucciardi missed a fine chance at the death whilst Qormi could also have pulled back a goal when a Massimo Grima free kick smashed against the crossbar.

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Qormi: R. Gauci, C. Ciantar, R. Dos Santos, R. Sammut, S. Wellman (M. Borg), A, Debono (C. Nwoko), M. Grima, J. Chetcuti, J. Farrugia, J. Da Silva, A. Ciantar (P. Camilleri)

Hamrun S: I. Casha, Z. Levniac, S. Comvalius, Roderick Fenech, S. Meilak (D. Cucciardi), Ryan Fenech, R. Mangion (L. Agius), F. Anton, G. Spiteri (S. Sultana), J. Bondin, M. Micallef

Referee: P. Caruana Asst refs: C. Micallef, M. Mercieca, 4th official: S. Tanti

Scorers: S. Comvalius (2), J. Da Silva, Ryan Fenech , D. Cucciardi

Yellow cards: S. Wellman, R. Fenech, A. Debono, M. Grima

TMI top three: 1. S. Comvalius 2. RyanFenech 3. R. Mangion