Hamrun S 0

Paola H 3

This was a very entertaining and fast game watched by a sizeable crowd present at Mgarr ground.

Paola H are now in fourth position on 25 points from 13 games while Hamrun are in seventh position on 20 points, also from 13 games. 

The game was well controlled by young and promising referee Ishmael Barbara who stood no nonsense and was always up with play. 

Hamrun created the first action when Jake Grech released Luke Galea on the right flank and a defender cleared the ball to a corner.

The Paolites reacted and had four actions in a row. Juan De Giorgio served Joseph Mbong with a through ball who after beating a defender missed the upright from inside the area.

Daniel Buckle then dribbled past an opponent and Hamrun keeper Matthew Taliana saved his shot from outside the area.

Triston Abela Wilson then served Ayrton Dimech on the right flank and Taliana neutralised the ball from his cross-shot.

Mbong served De Giorgio in the area and after a defender cleared the ball to a corner which was well-taken by Matthew Brincat but the ball was cleared to another corner. 

Hamrun were then awarded a free kick after Luke Galea was fouled on the right flank and the ball was cleared away following the free shot by Jake Grech.

At the other end, Abela Wilson served Mbong with a through ball outside the area and Taliana was forced to come out of his charge and kick the ball away to safety. 

The Spartans created three further actions. Waddle Formosa released Luke Galea on the right flank and after the ball was partly cleared from his cross Jake Grech drove over the bar from the rebound.

Brady Grech was then fouled outside the area and Hibs keeper Mikhail Sciberras turned to corner the free kick by Jake Grech.

Later Marlon Grech served Jake Grech with a square pass inside the area and Sciberras saved his shot by tipping the ball over the bar. 

In the second minute of added time De Giorgio was fouled on the right flank and, from the free kick by Carlos Grech, the ball hit the underpart of the bar with Taliana beaten with the ball being cleared to a corner with great difficulty. 

Hamrun were first in action after the resumption. Isaac Lucas was fouled outside the area, Sciberras had to dive and save to corner the free kick by Jake Grech. The same player took charge of the flag kick and Joyfred Farrugia headed out from inside the area.

Luke Grech was then fouled on the right flank and after the ball was partly cleared from Jake Grech’s free kick, Sciberras saved the rebound shot by the same player. 

In a reaction by Hibs, Mbong served Carlos Grech with a cross from the right and the ball was cleared to a corner which was taken by Brincat and Mbong headed out from inside the area. 

In another two occasions by Hamrun, Joyfred Farrugia released Marlon Grech on the right flank and he missed the upright from the edge of the area.

Jake Grech then served Marlon Grech in the area and Sciberras foiled him with a timely sortie as he dived at his feet to smother the ball. 

The Paolites opened the score on the hour. Substitute Andrea’ Azzopardi served Mbong with a through ball in the area and ,after Taliana partly saved his shot, Brincat scored with a hard grounder from the rebound. 

Three minutes later the score became 2-0. Brincat served substitute Connor Zammit with a short corner pass from the right flank and he scored with a rising shot from the edge of the area.  

Four minutes before the end, Hibs scored their third goal when Brincat served Mbong with a through ball who, after advancing, scored with a lobbed ball from the edge of the area.    

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Player of the match: Matthew Brincat (Paola H)