Hamrun Spartans missed the chance to go top of the standings and the psychological boost that the league leadership brings with it. They were beaten by Floriana in an eventful match that had two Hamrun defenders sent off, eight bookings and a penalty.

But it was no brimstone and fire as many might have expected. In fact the football was ugly, with too much chaotic play and little purpose. Several players from both sides looked rusty after the two-week break and performed below par.

This win lifts Floriana to joint third, on equal points with the same Hamrun and Marsaxlokk, two points behind leaders Valletta.

Bouyed by the return of Brian Said in defence for the first time this season, and of Kiril Dzhorov after suspension, the Greens made the better start. An early goal, after 17 minutes, put them in the driving seat. A long cross from the right by Joseph Borg was headed in by Christian Caruana, who managed to get the better of Hamrun’s tall defenders.

The Spartans were left with no option but to press forward. They raked several long balls inside the Floriana area and had two claims for penalties turned down by the referee when Grima and Shields were bundled inside the Floriana penalty area.

But Hamrun were leaving too many gaps at the back and Floriana tried to exploit them with the fast breaks of their forwards Mecerod and Woods.

Past the half hour, Woods ran clear towards goal but keeper Casha rushed off his line to reach for the ball and block at his feet.

On the other end, a Grima powerful drive was turned into a corner by the Floriana keeper Saidi.

On 34 minutes, Hamrun suffered another setback. Their defender Martin Hrubsa was sent off for a crunching tackle on Dzhorov which earned him a second yellow card.

Hamrun put in defender Bonnici for Spiteri as Dzhorov could not keep on playing and Floriana were forced to substitute him with Doffo.

Still, Hamrun enjoyed the better possession, but their attack was severely blunted with both Pereira and Shields kept well under check.

Hamrun coach D’Amato effected a tactical change at halftime. Out went Vukanic and in went Lee Agius, playing as a defensive midfielder, with Massimo Grima dropped as centre back.

Taking the field in livelier fashion, Hamrun took only two minutes in the second half to draw level. Dean Shields beat keeper Saidi from a tight angle near the byeline with a low diagonal shot on a Grima pass.

On 56 minutes, however, Hamrun were down to nine men. On a Mecerod through ball, Woods was tackled from behind by Steve Bonnici when well placed inside the Hamrun area. The referee was quick to award Floriana the penalty and send off the Hamrun defender. Ivan Woods himself tucked it away to put the Greens again in the lead.

Despite their numerical superiority, Floriana were unable to make it count, as they kept giving away possession too cheaply when pressed by their opponents.

Hamrun nearly capitalised on 66 minutes when Pereira robbed the reluctant Sokolov of the ball and crossed low but Shields’ shot was blocked by keeper Said.

A Camilleri free kick from the left fell to Pereira, whose effort was blocked into a corner.

Hamrun believed they could still salvage a point and Floriana reverted to negative tactics to stop them. With the referee failing to hold a firm hand, play degenerated into a scuffle, five minutes from the end, when Ryan Fenech fell under Owen Bugeja’s challenge outside the Floriana area on the left. A Hamrun fan also ran onto the pitch and was immediately turned back by the Hamrun players, before being apprehended by the police.

Floriana held on for the final chaotic minutes to clinch an important win – albeit not nicely.

Hamrun S I. Casha, M. Grima, J. Vukanic (L. Agius), M. Hrubsa, Roderick Fenech, D. Camilleri, R. Mangion (K. Magro), M. Pereira, Ryan Fenech, G. Spiteri (S. Bonnici), D. Shields

Coach S. D’Amato

Floriana L. Saidi, O. Bugeja, B. Said, I. Sokolov, K. Dzhorov (P. Doffo), M. Micallef, C. Caruana (C. Cassar), M. Mecerod, I. Woods, J. Borg (C. Borg), T. Farrugia

Coach T. Raykov

Referee K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs P. Agius, C. Francalanza

4th official T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers C. Caruana 17, D. Shields 47, I. Woods 57 pen

Yellow cards M. Hrubsa, K. Dzorhov, J. Borg, C. Borg, D. Shields, O. Bugeja, Ryan Fenech, I. Casha

Red cards M. Hrubsa, S. Bonnici

Player of the match D. Shields (Hamrun S)

TMI Top 3 1. D. Shields 2. M. Mecerod 3. M. Grima

Attendance 1,720