HamrunS: I. Casha, R. Mangion, R. Fenech, D. Cucciardi, M. Mifsud (M. Busuttil), L. Agius (C. Cacciatolo), M. Pereira, G. Spiteri, M. Hrubsa, T. Fleri Soler (A. Attard), C. Camoin
Floriana: B. Paris, D. Pisani, C. Ciantar (O. Bugeja), J. Briffa, O. Anonam, J. Borg, P. Doffo, J. Brincat, D. Simmonds (R. Darmanin), C. Caruana (L. Agius), S. Wasiu
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, P. Apap
4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorer: D. Simmonds
Yellow cards: C. Ciantar, C. Camoin, G. Spiteri, C. Caruana, D. Cucciardi
Red card: M. Pereira
Player of the match: Sunday Waziu (Floriana)
TMI top three: 1. S. Waziu 2. P. Doffo 3. R. Mangion
Gleefully capitalising on Hamrun’s poor form and lack of commitment, Floriana yesterday registered their first win of the season. The only goal of a scrappy match between these two struggling teams, was scored by Donovan Simmonds, his first since joining the Greens this season, at the start of the second half.
This was Hamrun’s third match within a week. Yesterday they looked a distinctly disjointed unit and showed lack of class and conviction for too long, even after falling behind. In the absence of the still suspended Mano Micallef, Hamrun gave a start to Mead Mifsud on the flank instead of Barbara, while Camoin returned in defence for Neville Galea.
The first half offered a lot of open play, with surprisingly, a high ratio of opportunities but little in terms of real entertainment.
Floriana, who were not much better than their opponents, gave a start to Christian Caruana instead of Roberto Brincat. They produced the first meaningful task to the Hamrun keeper with Borg’s central shot. Simmonds had his squeezed shot deflected into a corner, just after Spiteri had gone past three opponents on his way inside the Floriana area. Keeper Paris rushed off his line to smother the danger.
On 21 minutes Doffo passed the ball to Caruana who shot narrowly wide and soon after Floriana were forced to substitute the injured Ciantar with Bugeja.
But nothing changed tactically. Caruana headed a Doffo corner inches wide and five minutes from the break Doffo’s free kick took a wicked deflection with keeper Casha hooked to his line, but luckily for Hamrun the ball went wide.
Floriana’s goal at the start of the second half might have given the impression that things might improve. Five minutes after the restart, Waisu passed the ball towards Donovan Simmonds on the right and Camoin’s feeble defensive challenge allowed him to shoot in low from a very tight angle.
That was a false dawn though, mostly because Hamrun’s reaction was weak, if ever existent and Floriana could defend their slender lead with minimal difficulty.
The second half was equally littered with misplaced passes and a high ratio of ineptitude from both sides as the game continued to flash from one box to the other in a frantic and rather scrappy fashion.
The Greens threatened again on 71 minutes when Doffo played a square free kick to Wasiu whose grounder was saved by the outstretched Hamrun keeper.
Matters were complicated further for the Spartans when three minutes from the end, their forward Periera was sent off for an off-the ball incident with Anonam.