Hamrun Spartans 2

Vittoriosa Stars 0

Hamrun Spartans were back in the groove after their reverse against Marsaxlokk some three weeks ago. Courtesy of a Gaetan Spiteri brace, with a goal in each half, the Spartans, now lift themselves in second place with other three teams on the 13-point mark.

Their ultra-defensive set-up allowed their opponents little space in which to manouvre. They subdued Vittoriosa’s two Brazilians and Leighton Grech, rarely showed any of his usual forages down the flanks. That starved their tsriker Ewurum of service as their attack was rendered toothless.

However, Vittoriosa may consider themselves unlucky. They were left with nothing to show for all their plucky efforts. In the first half they were denied by the goalkeeping heroics of Omar Borg, who played in the Hamrun goal for the first time this season.

In the second half, the woodwork twice held out efforts as the Stars went very close to a deserved equaliser.

While Vittoriosa kept an unchanged team, following three games without defeat, Hamrun Spartans made some changes, besides the inclusion of keeper Borg. In the absence of Rupert Mangion, Steven Bonnici and David Camilleri played in front of the defence, with Massimo Grima and Ryan Fenech crowding the midfield and Pereira supporting lone striker Gaetan Spiteri as Anizoba went in as a late substitute.

Hamrun did the early running, Spiteri missing a good chance when he skied the ball on a Pereira cross.

But Vittoriosa began gradually to find their rhythm and pace with Campagnoli and Silva combining well in midfield. The former’s shot took a wicked deflection off Hrubsa but the ball went tantalisingly wide. Towards the quarter hour, keeper Borg produced a superb save off a Silva low shot and midway through the half the Hamrun custodiona did well to turn into a corner Campagnoli’s meaty free kick from 25 metres out.

Hamrun threatened with two half chances. Grima put his headers off target on a Ryan Fenech cross and a Vukanic free kick.

The Spartans made the breakthrough on 35 minutes. Camilleri started the move from midfield towards Pereira, who flicked the ball towards Gaetan Spiteri to drive it low past keeper Agius.

Shortly before the break, Vittoriosa’s Sammut headed out Pereira’s header from a Hamrun corner.

On the other end, Campagnoli’s dipping free kick was held out by the outstretched keeper Borg.

Vittoriosa twice went very close to an equaliser in the second half but were unlucky to be denied by the woodwork on both occasions. Five minutes into the second half, following a corner kick, Mifsud headed against the bar with the keeper beaten. The same fate again befell substitute Xerri on 70 minutes. On a Chetcuti cross, his header rebounded off the foot of the post.

Hamrun, who had hardly troubled keeper Agius in the second half, taking a laid back approach, surprisingly struck three minutes from time.

Gaetan Spiteri found himself completely unattended inside the Vittoriosa area on an Agius pass and he had all the time in the world to control the ball and beat keeper Agius with a low shot to secure the points for Hamrun Spartans.

Hamrun S: O. Borg, M.A. Bonnici, M. Hrubsa, J. Vukanic, Roderick Fenech, S. Bonnici, M. Grima (L. Agius), D. Camilleri, Ryan Fenech, M. Pereira, G. Spiteri

Coach: S. D’Amato

Vittoriosa S: S. Agius, K. Sammut, S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, C. Campagnoli, D. Cachia (J. Xerri), K. Mifsud, J. Santos Silva, A. Ewurum, S. Wellman, L. Grech

Coach: W. Muscat

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs: S. Attard, P. Apap

4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: G. Spiteri 35,

Yellow cards: Roderick Fenech, M. Grima, J. Xerri, M. Hrubsa, O. Borg

Player of the match: O. Borg (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3: 1. O. Borg 2. G. Spiteri 3. C. Campagnoli

Attendance: 769

BOV League Div III

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