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Hamrun S   2

Pembroke Ath   0

After this victory, Hamrun lead the standings on 37 points from 16 games, while Pembroke are third from bottom on nine points also from 16 games.

Hamrun were the better outfit during the whole 80 minutes as they created many scoring occasions.

Pembroke tried to operate on the counter but the Hamrun midfield sector was a very hard nut to crack . Pembroke keeper Albert Galea saved his side from a heavier defeat with very good saves and timely sorties.

The Spartans went straight on the offensive. Ryan Spiteri served Rodney Refalo with a through ball just outside the area and Galea had to rush out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.

Axiaq then served Ryan Cassar with a through ball, who in turn released Gary Cauchi on the right flank and Galea neutralised the ball from his cross-shot.

In a Pembroke reaction they created two actions. Kenneth Aquilina served Andre’ Ciancio in the area and Hamrun keeper Jean C De Battista foiled him with a timely sortie.

Aquilina then served Tyron Fenech with a cross in the area and De Battista saved his close-range shot.

After Diego Zammit was fouled outside the area. Galea saved the well-taken free kick by Spiteri.

At the other end, Lee Grech was fouled just outside the area. From the free kick by the same player the ball hit the defensive barrier and De Battista saved the rebound by Grech.

In the 19th minute, Hamrun opened the score as Dylan Busuttil served Refalo with a perfect through ball in the area and he scored with a hard grounder.

Five minutes later Pembroke came very close to an equaliser when Lee Grech pounced on a loose ball outside the area and the ball missed the upright from his shot.

After Lee Grech was fouled in midfield, De Battista was forced to palm the ball away following a hard drive from the free kick by Neil Grech. In the last action before the break, Cassar served Jim Cilia in the area and Galea neutralised the ball with a perfect timely sortie.   

Seven minutes after the restart, Hamrun doubled the score after a prolonged action. Dylan Busuttil served Refalo with a cross in the area, Galea partly saved his hard drive and from the rebound by the same player, Jamie Attard Portughes did the goal keeping act on the goal line, which earned him a red card, and Spiteri made no mistake from the resultant penalty. 

Hamrun kept pressing and Melvin Busuttil served Spiteri in the area and after dribbling past a defender he missed the upright from his shot. 

In a rare Pembroke attack, Fenech served Ciancio with a through ball and De Battista rushed out of his charge and kicked the ball away to safety. 

Hamrun then won a corner kick on the left flank which was taken by substitute Gennaro Hili and substitute Andrea Ellul headed slightly out from inside the area In the last action by Hamrun, Melvin Busuttil served Refalo in the area and after Galea partly saved his hard drive, a defender cleared the ball away to safety. 

Referee: Shawn Calleja 

Player of the match: Rodney Refalo (Hamrun S)