Hamrun S 2
Marsaxlokk 3
Marsaxlokk have collected eight points from their last four matches and yesterday’s crucial win against Hamrun Spartans moves them closer to a spot in the Championship Pool with two more matches to play.
On the contrary, Hamrun could not arrest the slump. They failed to hold to their first half lead and have succumbed to their fourth consecutive league defeat which leaves them highly at risk and increases the pressure on coach Steve D’Amato.
Both teams were in dire need of points to ease their relegation worries as early as possible.
The Spartans were facing life after Ryan Fenech who left for Valletta. New recruit Dyson Falzon, loaned from Valletta for the rest of the season, was included from the start, but had a very quiet debut. Hamrun may have been boosted by the return of Dene Shields in attack after a long lay off. He also scored a penalty. That meant Dylan Kokavessis was relegated to the bench. The Hamrun rearguard was again bereft of the injured Roderick Fenech and Martin Hrubsa though, while Rupert Mangion was serving a one-match ban. And with Massimo Grima again dropping at the back, their midfield lacked creativity, pace and power.
Marsaxlokk also had their fair share of absentees in the injured Clive Brincat and Sunday Eboh and the suspended Rumen Galabov. Raimy and Pullicino again formed the defensive midfield pair. Carlo Mamo returned in defence after injury and played alongside Yanchev as centre back. But again their was no place for Lodetti, Alcorse and Darmanin in Patrick Curmi’s starting line-up.
A barren first quarter hour produced nothing noteworthy. Then we were presented with Hamrun’s opening goal. Marsaxlokk’s keeper Gauci failed to hold a low Shields cross from the right and as the ball was cleared towards Pereira, he was fouled by Raimy inside the area. Dene Shields stepped up to score the resultant penalty.
Hamrun kept the initiative although they failed to make it show in the face of Marsaxlokk’s dodgy defence.
Keeper Gauci palmed another close range shot from Shields and five minutes before the break the Scottish forward’s shot from the edge of the area, hit the post after the keeper had palmed the ball.
Hamrun were forced to substitute the injured Mark Anthony Bonnici with Mifsud on the stroke of halftime.
Marsaxlokk tried to up the tempo after the resumption, although the half’s first chance fell to Hamrun on 55 minutes. Yanchev failed to clear a long cross, the ball fell to Shields who missed the target.
Marsaxlokk started to mount some sustained pressure. Pullicino ran in for Effiong’s through ball but was thwarted by the onrushing keeper. And past the hour Templeman’s shpt on the turn on a Pullicino cross, forced a plunging save from the Hamrun keeper into a corner.
Marsaxlokk’s goal was in the air. That came on 64 minutes. Deanov’s meaty free kick at the top corner hit the underside of the bar and Florent Raimy headed in the rebound.
Three minutes later, Marsaxlokk were even in front. Effiong made progress from the right flank and crossed towards the middle and the unmarked Rueben Guerreiro, who had substituted Sciberras, scored with a spectacular overhead kick.
Hamrun were rattled but managed to draw level again on 74 minutes, as the Marsaxlokk defence failed to clear a Falzon cross from the left and Gaetan Spiteri knocked the ball in from close distance.
Marsaxlokk’s response came from Guerreiro who forced keeper Borg into a good save.
On 78 minutes they struck the fatal blow as Trevor Templeman ran in from the blind side of a static Hamrun defence on Deanov’s cross to stroke the ball past the helpless Borg.
Kokavessis was roped in too late and Hamrun’s feeble efforts could only see them go close with a Grima headed effort, tipped by keeper Borg over the bar, and a Camilleri cross shot which clipped the top of the bar. But that could not save them from yet another embarrassing defeat, which brought the wrath of their disgruntled fans at the end.
Hamrun S O. Borg, M.A. Bonnici (M. Mifsud), J. Vukanic, S. Bonnici, M. Grima, D. Camilleri, D. Falzon, L. Agius (D. Kokavessis), M. Pereira, G. Spiteri, D. Shields
Coach S. D’Amato
Marsaxlokk R. Gauci, M. Licari, A. Spiteri, E. Yanchev, C. Mamo, P. Pullicino, F. Raimy (R. Darmanin), G. Sciberras (R. Guerreiro), M. Deanov, T. Templeman, A. Effiong
Coach P. Curmi
Referee P. Caruana
Asst.refs I. Spiteri, W. Debattista
4th official F. Zammit
Scorers D. Shields 15, F. Raimy 64, R. Guerreiro 67, G. Spiteri 74, T. Templeman 78
Yellow cards D. Camilleri, F. Raimy,P. Pullicino, L. Agius, T. Templeman, R. Guerreiro, M. Deanov, M. Grima
Player of the match D. Shields (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3 1. M. Deanov 2. T. Templeman 3. D. Shields
Attendance 723
Local results
Football
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