With Floriana winning on Saturday, Birkirkara could not afford to drop points against Hamrun Spartans. But for all their territorial superiority and a hatful of chances, which they fluffed time and again, including a first half penalty, they failed to take maximum points.

They are now in third place, two points adrift of Floriana.

Nikola Vukanac and Shaun Bajada were missing from Birkirkara’s squad but they welcomed back defender Andrei Agius after suspension. Their starting line-up included Babatunde, Lattes, Cilia and Galea, highlighting the team’s attacking intentions.

Hamrun’s first win in the Championship Pool might have eluded them once again but yesterday they regrouped in defence, after running the risk of being ripped apart in the initial stages, and managed to take the third point off the champions this season.

If they were short of ideas, there was desire aplenty despite their list of injured players grows taller, with Dylan Kokavessis their latest casualty.

An eventful first half produced three goals and a missed penalty inside the first 20 minutes.

After ten minutes, Magro felled Babatunde inside the Hamrun area but keeper Borg saved Rowen Muscat’s ensuing penalty.

There was no denying Birkirkara three minutes later though when Ibrahim Babatunde beat the Hamrun defence for speed and power to shoot past the helpless Borg.

Hamrun’s quick response brought them an immediate equaliser. Dyson Falzon picked a short clearance from outside the area on the left and beat keeper Bartolo with an inswinging shot at the near post.

Play continued to swing from one end to another. Galea played a long ball to Cilia but the grounded Borg saved. Birkirkara’s Bartolo also blocked a close range shot from Spiteri.

On 20 minutes Babatunde crossed from the left for the unattended Trevor Cilia to hit first time past Borg.

Birkirkara held the initiative for the rest of the half and should have closed the match by halftime but were guilty of profligacy in front of the Hamrun goal. Cilia and Lattes both failed to find the target from promising situations. Even Babatunded skied the ball after a good move involving Cilia and Lattes.

They paid dearly just five minutes after the restart. Marcelo Pereira robbed the ball off a hesitant Zerafa standing inside the Birkirkara area and beat keeper Bartolo with a low diagonal shot to level matters.

Birkirkara were rattled and lost their composure. They were nearly caught out four minutes later by a Falzon cross shot from the left. Keeper Bartolo flicked the ball against the bar into a corner.

It took Birkirkara until the hour to have another attempt on the Hamrun goal. That came from Galea, on a Cilia cross, but missed the target.

On 66 minutes, Paul Fenech went past three opponents inside the area but keeper Borg rushed off his line to smother the danger.

The dying minutes were hectic as Birkirkara increased their efforts. Lattes’ rising shot at the top corner was held out by keeper Borg.

But Hamrun almost exploited gaps in the Birkirkara defence towards the end. Daniel Zerafa had his shot turned into a corner and Mangion missed the most glaring chance as he lofted his shot when alone in front of goal on Spiteri’s pass.

In added time, Paul Fenech received his marching orders for a foul on Chipev in midfield.

Birkirkara sttill went close to a late winner after that but were twice denied by keeper Borg and the woodwork. The Hamrun shot stopper foiled Pulo and substitute Kumbrevicius headed the ball against the foot of the post in the most frenetic of finishes.

Birkirkara M. Bartolo, T. Cilia (K. Pulo), R. Muscat, A. Agius, E. Lattes, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, A. Decesare (T. Vella), I. Babatunde, M. Galea (R. Kumbrevicius), A. Buhagiar

Coach P. Zammit

Hamrun S O. Borg, S. Bonnici, R. Fenech, M. Grima, K. Magro (A. Attard) (D. Zerafa), D. Camilleri, R. Mangion, N. Chipev (C. Debattista), D. Falzon, M. Pereira, G. Spiteri

Coach S. D’Amato

Referee A. Arciola

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official G. Tonna

Scorers I. Babatunde 13, D. Falzon 16, T. Cilia 20, M. Pereira 50

Yellow cards K. Magro, M. Grima, M. Pereira, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, D. Zerafa

Red card P. Fenech

Player of the match O. Borg (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3 1. O. Borg 2. I. Babatunde 3. D. Falzon