Hamrun Spartans again managed to hold leaders Valletta to a draw, capitalizing on the Citizens’ carelessness and profligacy after taking an early lead through defender Jonathan Caruana. The Spartans, themselves refusing to take a laid back approach, punished them with a deserved equaliser ten minutes from time. The scorer was again Dyson Falzon, the Valletta player on loan with the Spartans for the rest of the season.

By virtue of this draw, Valletta’s lead has been cut to six points. Birkirkara are trailing dangerously in second place, and the champions’ title challenge has now been revived.

Suspension deprived both sides of key players. Valletta were without Denni Dos Santos and gave a start to Kevin Sammut but Ryan Fenech was again named among the substitutes.

Besides Gaetan Spiteri (suspended), Marcelo Pereira was also missing from Hamrun’s squad. Vukanic and Kokavessis were exiled to the bench with the return of Massimo Grima and Dene Shields. Peter Anizoba was given a rare start with a heavily bandaged right thigh.

As early as the third minute, Hamrun were already facing an uphill task, falling behind to Valletta’s goal from a corner, after keeper Borg had saved Anderson’s drive. Jonathan Caruana was left unattended inside the Hamrun area on Edmond Agius cross to head past the helpless Borg, with Hamrun claiming an offside.

Many feared a goal deluge but Hamrun’s response came from two efforts by Shields which he both failed to put on target.

For large parts of a sterile encounter, Valletta dominated possession but lacked penetration as they came within sight of Hamrun’s penalty area.

Past the quarter hour, Anderson played a return pass to Temile but the shot was blocked by keeper Borg.

On 23 minutes Hamrun were forced to substitute defender Steve Bonnici after some muscle problem.

Valletta continued to show profligacy in front of goal. Sammut’s central shot on Anderson’s pass created few problems for the Spartans’ shot stopper as Grima’s free kick on the other end also proved unproblematic for keeper Hogg.

Before the break, Scerri beat Milovic’s challenge on the run but shot straight over keeper Borg.

Valletta almost doubled their lead five minutes into the second half in similar circumstances as their first goal. From a Sammut corner, Caruana’s header was turned into another corner by keeper Borg.

But Hamrun kept fighting gamely, with Mangion and Chipev well involved in midfield. Shields and Anizoba were allowed little comfort on the ball by the Valletta defence though. When Ian Azzopardi made contact with Chipev inside the area, the referee waved play on.

Valletta looked short of ideas as they were harried by determined opponents. Efforts by Sammut and Scerri were all blocked by the Hamrun defence. Caruana again headed a Sammut corner wide on 66 minutes.

It was time for Valletta to make a change and in went Ian Zammit for Anderson.

Scerri netted Briffa’s cross on 73 minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Then suddenly Hamrun scored an equaliser with ten minutes remaining. On Grima’s cross from the right, Dyson Falzon hit first time past keeper Hogg to stun the Citizens.

That goal sparked an immediate response from Valletta who upped the tempo. On Gilbert Agius’ cross, Scerri’s header was blocked by the Hamrun keeper, who also saved the striker’s second attempt on the loose ball.

A Gilbert Agius volley thumped against the bar as Hamrun were forced to defend grimly.

Hamrun could have claimed a dramatic victory when Lee Agius drilled his shot from outside the area but keeper Hogg was up to task to tip the ball over the bar.

In added time, Valletta forced a series of corners which none proved productive as a late desperate effort from Steve Borg was cleared on the line by Rupert Mangion.

Hamrun S O. Borg, D. Milovic, S. Bonnici (M.A. Bonnici), M. Grima (J. Vukanic), D. Camilleri, R. Mangion, N. Chipev, L. Agius, D. Falzon, D. Shields, P. Anizoba (M. Mifsud)

Coach S. D’Amato

Valletta A. Hogg, S. Borg, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius, G. Agius, K. Sammut (R. Fenech), O. Temile, T. Scerri, A. Anderson (I. Zammit)

Coach J. Zerafa

Referee C. Pisani

Asst refs K. Borg, C. Francalanza

4th official A. Arciola

Scorers J. Caruana 3, D. Falzon 80

Yellow cards K. Sammut, D. Falzon, P. Anizoba, L. Agius

Player of the match D. Falzon (Valletta)

TMI top 3 1. E. Agius 2. R. Mangion 3. J. Caruana