Hamrun S 3
Sliema W 2
Hamrun Spartans beat Sliema Wanderers by the odd goal in five, after a goalless first half, to lift themselves to third place in the table and make amends for the first round defeat against the Wanderers. Thei performance yesterday recaptured the spirit of buoyance after defeat against Tarxien Rainbows.
Hamrun were neater and nippier on the ball. With the driving energy of Massimo Grima and the illusive movement and finishing of GAetan Spiteri in attack, the Spartans always had the ascendancy after the restart.
It was yet another abject performance by Sliema, which leaves them in the relegation mire. They were undone by two Gaetan Spiteri goals early in the second half as they looked worryingly vulnerable at the back. Although they twice reduced the arrears, they were always chasing the game in what looked a lost cause. The forced substitution of captain Mark Scerri short of the half hour, appeared to leave them severely short of creative options.
Sliema, who had Gatt Baldacchino starting instead of Steve Bezzina, looked slightly the better side in the opening minutes and threatened with the incisive movement of the advanced Mark Scerri through the middle. Towards the quarter hour, Hamrun’s defence failed to clear a Ciantar deep cross from the right, the ball fell to Mintoff at the far post but keeper Borg did well to block his shot.
But midway through the half, the Spartans started to find some rhythm and nearly went ahead with their first genuine threat, when Spiteri almost capitalized on hesitancy between the two Sliema central defenders, but after advancing inside the area, he clipped the foot of the post with a low drive.
On 25 minutes Grima headed the ball down towards Spiteri, whose close range shot hit Souare’s hands inside the area and was deflected into a corner. From that, Ryan Fenech’s looping shot went just over.
Two minutes later, the injured Scerri had to be substituted by Failla and before the half hour, with the Spartans having taken gradual control, Grima passed the ball towards the unmarked Spiteri, who played it wide for Pereira to shoot slightly over.
The last opportunity before halftime came from Sliema on 38 minutes. Lima’s direct free kick was tipped over the bar by keeper Borg into a corner.
Hamrun turned their possession more ruthlessly into goals after the resumption, as they dominated in terms of possession, creativity and finishing.
On 52 minutes, Grima’s shot from the right was missed by the Sliema keeper, Anizoba’s header was blocked by Souare but Gaetan Spiteri was quick to shoot in the loose ball.
Hamrun doubled their lead on 64 minutes. Gaetan Spiteri was again the scorer, perfectly executing his seventh league goal of the season after chasing Grima’s long ball forward and after going past Souare with alarming ease, he placed the ball behind keeper Aktpan.
After that, Ryan Fenech limped off and in went Lee Agius.
Sliema pulled one back with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, who had gone in as a substitute for Ciantar, who accelerated past a couple of opponents from half pitch with his shot taking a deflection off a Hamrun defender, deceiving keeper Borg who could not hold.
Hamrun restored their two-goal cushion immediately after, courtesy of a Massimo Grima low drilling shot from edge of the area.
Hamrun had the points in their pocket and somehow relaxed, allowing Sliema to pull themselves into the game in the late stages.
A shot from substitute Paris went tantalisingly wide and deep into two minutes of added time, the innocuous Obinne Obiefule scored the best goal of the match, as he chested the ball and shot a thunderous spectacular volley.
But that was too little to late and Hamrun Spartans bagged the points.
Hamrun S: O. Borg, S. Bonnici, J. Vukanic, Roderick Fenech, M. Hrubsa, D. Camilleri, M. Grima (M. Mifsud), Ryan Fenech (L. Agius), M. Perreira, G. Spiteri, P. Anizoba
Coach: S. D’Amato
Sliema W: E. Aktpan, J. Mifsud, S. Souare (J. Paris), M. Scerri (C. Failla), M. Ciantar (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Lima, O. Obiefule, R. Bajada, J. Mintoff, B. Muscat
Coach: M. Marlow
Referee: P. Caruana
Asst.refs: K. Borg, W. Debattista
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Scorers: G. Spiteri 52, 64, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 74, M. Grima 75, O. Obiefule 90
Yellow cards: P. Anizoba, M. Ciantar, B. Muscat, S. Souare, M. Grima, R. Bajada, M. Pereira
Player of the match: G. Spiteri (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Grima 2. G. Spiteri 3. R. Bajada
Attendance: 477