Tarxien R. 1

Hamrun S. 2

Hamrun Spartans continued their positive and unbeaten run in the Relegation Pool with a relatively easy victory against Tarxien Rainbows with two crucial first half goals although Tarxien made it a tense finale with a late goal which came in stoppage time.

In the first match of the evening from the Relegation Pool, Tarxien were looking for the three points against Hamrun who, on their part, were also looking to put some daylight between themselves and the clubs anchored at the bottom of the table.

Hamrun were also seeking to extend their unbeaten run in the Relegation Pool with another positive result as they took on the Rainbows. The Spartans held Mosta to a draw and then defeated Marsaxlokk and Qormi. Defender Steve Bonnici was ruled out through suspension.

Tarxien bounced back from the defeat to Qormi with a fine 2-0 win over Mosta last week. Before this match they were just two points behind the Spartans. Orosco Anonam returned to the side after recovering from an injury.

Hamrun got off to a flying start when after just eight minutes, Ribeiro managed to slot home after a fine through pass by David Camilleri. Earlier a cross by Sammut found Anderson who headed wide as Hamrun made their intentions clear.

In fact Tarxien were quite stunned by that early goal and up to the half hour it was Hamrun who were making all the running. However the Rainbows had a golden chance to equalise on 30 minutes when Carabott found Ribeiro alone in the box but the lanky forward saw his effort saved by Borg with his legs.

But Hamrun doubled just two minutes later when Ribeiro found Dean Shields who had no difficulty in concluding successfully from close range.

On 50 minutes, Ricardo Costa had a fine shot which went just wide as Tarxien attempted to get back into the game. On 52 minutes a corner by Pulo found Castro whose header was saved by Borg. Hamrun could have made it three on 56 minutes when a free kick by Sammut found Shields but the latter’s effort was cleared off the line by the Tarxien defence.

Tarxien again came close with a shot by Bueno which hit the side netting on 65 minutes but the Spartans seemed to have no real difficulty in controlling the situation and their two-goal advantage. The Stripes should have made it three on 81 minutes after Sammut released Ribeiro but the latter saw his shot end up just wide.

Tarxien scored a consolation goal in stoppage time when Castro saw his shot slam against the bar with Bueno firing home from close range but it was too little too late.

Tarxien Rainbows FC: N Vella, C Mamo, E A Pereira (Mayasi N 75’), A Carabott, R Costa, K Pulo (S Sadowski) 75’, D M Bueno, O Anonam, R Mintoff (M Caruana 45’), J Grioli

Hamrun Spartans FC: O Borg (A Cassar 89’), GL Calabretta, M Gauci, M Grima, R Hartwig, D Camilleri, LJ Agius (D Zerafa 81’), G Spiteri, K Sammut, A Ribeiro, D Shields

Referee: F Zammit

Scorers: A Ribeiro 8’, D Shields 32’, Bueno 90’

Yellow cards: Camilleri, Spiteri, De Castro, Shields

BOV Player of the Match: Ribeiro (Hamrun Spartans)

TMI Top Three: 1. Ribeiro (Hamrun), 2. Sammut (Hamrun), 3. Shields (Hamrun)