Floriana 3
Hamrun S 1
Two second half goals by their latest recruit Daniel Nwoko, ensured the first victory of the new year for Floriana after defender Brian Said had given them a first half lead on an evening when they barely needed to break sweat.
Floriana were vastly superior for long stretches and, looking smarter on the ball, carved the evening’s better chances. They continue to make undulating progress towards a top-six finish.
Floriana gave a debut to other new signing, Draganov, employed on the right flank, but his overall contribution left much to be desired.
Hamrun looked vulnerable at the back. Camped inside their own half, the Spartans were on the back foot from the moment a defensive blunder led to Floriana’s lead.
Hamrun’s laid back approach allowed Floriana to hold the initiative for most of the first half, although the Greens relied on long balls towards Nwoke for him to exploit on the run.
Bereft of the suspended Massimo Grima, the Hamrun reaerguard had to soak their opponents’ early pressure.
Hamrun were poor. Besides the late goal, their other two shots on target came from Ryan Fenech’s free kicks.
The opening minutes produced nothing noteworthy and it was only towards the quarter hour that Floriana looked menacing when a Doffo free kick was headed down by Nwoke, the ball bounced in front of goal but Woods was blocked when trying to connect.
Then Farrugia headed wide from a corner.
Midway through the half, Floriana suffered a setback when their creative midfielder Cassar limped off and had to be substituted.
Floriana, although deservingly, went in front after 27 minutes in a rather fortuitous manner.
Agius mishit his clearance from the edge of the area, on a Doffo cross, and the ball fell invitingly to Brian Said who beat keeper Borg from close range.
Hamrun’s reaction came from Ryan Fenech who smacked a meaty free kick which the Floriana keeper Saidi repelled into a corner.
Four minutes before the break Woods played an intelligent through pass inside the area for Daniel Nwoke to score his side’s second goal and open the account for Floriana.
Before the half was over, Woods could have wrapped it up, but with only the goalkeeper in the way, he shot Pisani’s cross wide.
In a bid to save something, Hamrun were forced to change in the second half. In went Jonathan Holland for Roderick Fenech and Rupert Mangion for Agius in front of the defence.
But Floriana remained firmly in command with Nwoke a livewire in their attack. His rising shot went tantalisingly over and on 56 minutes the Nigerian forward pounced on a long ball played by Pisani inside the Hamrun area to lob it over Holland and the onrushing keeper.
The game was as good as over and Floriana’s hero Nwoke made way for Fernandez.
The Greens remained by far the stronger side and on 71 minutes Woods knocked the ball down to Caruana whose low drive was saved by the grounded Borg.
Six minutes later, Woods again foraged down the left flank, crossed low for Fernandez who created space but shot wide.
Hamrun hit a consolation goal seven minutes from the end when Gaetan Spiteri struck his fifth consecutive league goal finishing off Ryan Fenech’s cross.
Saidi also denied Spiteri in the late stages and another insidious free kick in added time, forced the Floriana Tunisian keeper to save with the help of the bar. But it proved too late for Hamrun Spartans
Floriana: L. Saidi, B. Said, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, T. Farrugia, P. Doffo, C. Cassar (C. Borg), I. Woods, D. Draganov, C. Caruana (S. Borg), D. Nwoko (M. Fernandez)
Coach: T. Raykov
Hamrun S: O. Borg, J. Vukanic, M. Hrubsa, Roderick Fenech (J. Holland), S. Bonnici (A. Attard), Ryan Fenech, L. Agius (R. Mangion), D. Camilleri, M. Pereira, P. Anizoba, G. Spiteri
Coach: S. D’Amato
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap
4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: B. Said 27, D. Nwoke 41, 56, G. Spiteri 83
Yellow cards: J. Vukanic, D. Pisani, G. Spiteri, R. Mangion, L. Saidi, C. Borg
Player of the match: D. Nwoko (Floriana)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Nwoke 2. I. Woods 3. P. Doffo
Attendance: 909