Marsaxlokk 6
Hamrun Spartans 3
Going in as a late substitute, Alfred Effiong scored a hat-trick to give Marsaxlokk a win in their season’s last outing, after a streak of four winless matches.
Hamrun Spartans let slip a two-goal lead and failed in their bid to register a win in the Championship Pool as their coach Steve D’Amato bid farewell to the club he had been guiding for the past two seasons.
With only four survivors from the match against Birkirkara in Marsaxlokk’s starting line-up, the match resembled a friendly match as Hamrun were without any of their foreign players.
Some sloppy defending from both sides, produced three goals in the first 45 minutes, and another six in the second half, although Marsaxlokk were themselves guilty of some profligacy in front of goal.
Darmanin failed to control a through ball played by Spiteri inside the Hamrun area after 22 minutes.
The goal came on the opposite end three minutes later. Dyson Falzon chased a long ball by Grima, beat Brincat’s challenge to shoot low past reserve keeper Zammit.
The Marsaxlokk shot stopper showed hesitancy with his team mate Andrew Spiteri when he rushed out of his area to clear the ball. That allowed Gaetan Spiteri to capitalise and double Hamrun’s lead.
On 41 minutes Andrew Spiteri advanced on the left, his cross was cleared into a corner by Grima but from the resultant flag kick, Darmanin fluffed a good chance, shooting wide when in front of goal.
Marsaxlokk still managed to pull one back shortly before the break though. Sciberras’ cross from the left fell to Clive Brincat, who volleyed in from close range.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ryan Darmanin connected to substitute Deanov’s pass, had his first effort blocked by keeper Cassar.
It took the Spartans only two minutes however to regain the lead, again courtesy of another Marsaxlokk defensive blunder, when failing to clear Mifsud’s cross and Gaetan Spiteri was left unmarked to shoot in from close range.
As the match wore on, Marsaxlokk put in Licari and Effiong and with both defences looking flimsy and vulnerable, they managed to level matters on 66 minutes. Malcolm Licari hooked Eboh’s pass to beat the young Cassar.
Marsaxlokk started to bask in their superiority in the late stages and carved out several chances but continued to squander them in equal measure. Deanov’s pass found Licari unattended inside the Hamrun area but the Marsaxlokk forward failed to put his shot on target.
On 84 minutes, Hamrun conceded a penalty when Grima put Effiong off balance as he tried to clear the ball inside the area and the Nigerian gave Marsaxlokk the lead for the first time in the match.
Effiong went on to clinch a hat-trick in the final minutes. After thumping his powerful shot against the bar, the Marsaxlokk forward scored on 88 minutes, ending a powerful surge inside the Hamrun area and in added time, he tucked off another penalty to take his tally to 17 league goals this season, at the top of the scorers’ list.
Marsaxlokk: G. Zammit, K. Polidano (M. Deanov), A. Spiteri, C. Brincat, E. Yanchev, S. Eboh, G. Sciberras, G. Caruana, T. Templemann, R. Darmanin (M. Licari), J. Alcorse (A. Effiong)
Hamrun S: A. Cassar, M. Grima, R. Mangion, R. Fenech, D. Zerafa (C. Debattista), M. Mifsud (P. Anizoba), K. Magro, L. Agius (C. Cardona), D. Falzon, G. Spiteri, D. Camilleri
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst.refs: M. Debono, W. Debattista
4th official: A. Arciola
Scorers: D. Falzon 25, G. Spiteri 36, 57, C. Brincat 43, R. Darmanin 55, M. Licari 66, A. Effiong 84, 88, 90+
Yellow cards: R. Darmanin
Player of the match: G. Spiteri (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3: 1. G. Spiteri 2. M. Deanov 3. S. Eboh