Mqabba 2

Hamrun Spartans 3

Hamrun Spartans rediscovered their winning ways after two defeats and a draw, beating Mqabbba by the odd goal in five, although their third victory of the season was never in doubt even if the end result might suggest otherwise.

Mqabba are also passing throgh a bad patch, winless in their last four matches, havibg gained only one point in the process.

The more determined Spartans always looked the more likely to score and had built a three-goal cushion by 72 minutes.

However they twice surrendered to Mqabba’s attack in the final ten minutes, after Mqabba had been also denied by the woodwork in the second half, as their defence keeps leaking water in the long-term absence of Roderick Fenech.

Mqabba were buoyed by the return of Bojan Mamic in attack, although they had defender Pierre Grima suspended and Marlon Briffa injured. Clayton Micallef and Mauro Bonnici were given starts.

After their heavy defeat against Marsaxlokk, Hamrun coach Zammit deemed it fit to make only two changes to his starting line-up. David Camilleri was dropped to make way for Rupert Mangion as Gaetan Spiteri was given the nod ahead of Daniel Zerafa.

With the teams separated by only three points at the lower half of the standings, the match never looked likely to reach great heights, although Hamrun looked slightly the better side during the first 45 minutes to take a deserved one-goal lead by halftime.

Mqabba struggled to deal with Hamrun’s crosses from the flanks. Shields’ cross after 11 minutes cut the Mqabba defence but Ribeiro’s goalbound header was cleared by Bonnici.

When another Ribeiro cross was missed by the Mqabba rearguard, the ball fell clear to Calabretta whose grounder was blocked by Timotic.

Mqabba had gone close with an early Mamic sailing free kick headed towards goal by Timotic and tipped over the bar by keeper Cassar, who again played in the Hamrun goal.

On 19 minutes a Mamic shot was deflected into a corner before Hamrun broke the deadlock on 36 minutes. Anderson Ribeiro flicked in Grima’s free kick from the edge of the area on the left.

With halftime looming, Hamrun threatened again on the break. Ribeiro was blocked by Sammut inside area, the ball ran loose to Shields, who hit narrowly wide.

The second half belonged to Hamrun who remained sharper and nippier on the ball, and especially to Deane Shields. The Scot’s cross shot was cleared off the line by Duca before the Spartans doubled their lead on 51 minutes, courtesy of a Dean Shields’ penalty after the forward was felled by Bonnici inside the area.

Mqabba tried to make a reaction. They were unlucky on 53 minutes when Calleja’s powerful shot from the edge of the area, on Mazitelli’s cross, rebounded off the underside of the bar with keeper Cassar beaten. They then put in Jean Paul Muscat for Duca.

But they collapsed to concede Hamrun’s third goal on 72 minutes. Polli started the move from midfield, playing the ball wide to Shields who crossed for substitute Lee Agius to connect well. His first effort was blocked by keeper Calleja, who was rendered helpless on the rebound.

Mqabba kept trying although their cause was already lost. On 75 minutes Calleja was thwarted by keeper Cassar and Mazzitelli shot the loose ball over.

Mqabba’s efforts were rewarded with two goals in the last ten minutes. Their best player on the night Thiago Mazzitelli finally beat keeper Cassar, connecting well to Muscat’s cross from the right on 80 minutes.

And in added time, Mqabba procured a penalty, for Grima’s handling inside the area, which Bojan Mamic coolly slotted in to make it look a more respectable result.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Potezica, B. Timotic, M. Bonnici (M.A. Psaila), D. Azzopardi, T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja, R. Sammut, R. Duca (J.P. Muscat), C. Micallef, B. Mamic

Coach: C. Mizzi

Hamrun S: A. Cassar, N. Gacesa, M. Grima, R. Mangion (D. Camilleri), M. Gauci, C. Polli, G. Calabretta, K. Sammut, G. Spiteri (L. Agius), A. Ribeiro, D. Shields (C. Toneto Porcari)

Coach: J. Zammit

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: P. Apap, A. Grech

4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: A.Ribeiro 36, D. Shields 51 pen, L. Agius 72, T. Mazzitelli 80, B. Mamic 90+ pen

Yellow cards: R. Duca, N. Gacesa, G.Calabretta, M. Grima, A. Ribeiro

Player of the match: Deane Shields (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Shields 2. C. Polli 3. T. Mazzitelli

Attendance: 390