Hamrun S 2

Paola H 1

Hamrun Spartans celebrated their Nursery’s silver jubilee by winning the double for the first time in their history and they fully deserved this feat as they were the more consistent team during the League campaign and also in the Knock Out competition.

The game was watched by a large and well-behaved crowd at the Luxol Ground. The game was a hard-fought affair as both sets of players tried very hard to give their all. Young and promising referee Ishmael Barbara had a difficult encounter to control which he did admirably.

Hamrun created the first action as early as the first minute when Rodney Refalo was fouled outside the area and the ball was blocked by the defensive barrier from the free kick by Gennaro Camilleri.

At the other end minutes later, Jurgen De Gabriele served Darren Sciberras with a through ball in the area and Spartans keeper Jean C. De Battista foiled him with a timely sortie.

In another action by Hamrun, Dylan Busuttil released Refalo on the right flank but his dangerous cross was turned into a corner.

De Gabriele was then fouled on the left flank. Rednor Farrugia served Sciberras in the area from the free kick and a defender cleared the ball away after his shot.

Moments later De Gabriele served Timothy Tabone with a square pass but he drove over the bar from outside the area.

Hamrun opened the score in the 20th minute when they won a corner kick on the right flank which was well-taken by Gennaro Camilleri. Rednor Farrugia, in an attempt to clear the ball away, had the misfortune to deflect the ball into his own net past a helpless keeper Rudy Briffa.

In an effort to restore equilibrium, Paola H created two actions. Darren Sciberras entered the area after beating two defenders and crossed to Farrugia who failed to apply the killer touch from a very ideal position. A few minutes later, Sciberras was fouled outside the area Neil Chetcuti drove over the bar from the free kick.  

Hamrun then created the last two actions before the break. Gary Cauchi was fouled on the left flank and after Melvin Busuttil floated a perfect high ball in the area from the free kick, Ryan Cassar headed slightly out.

Ryan Spiteri then served Cauchi with a cross from the right who then headed towards Refalo but the latter’s shot from inside the area went just wide.

Seven minutes after the restart Paola equalised as Sciberras entered the area after beating a defender on the left flank and scored with a low hard drive past De Battista.

Following this goal Hamrun lost their composure thus allowing Paola to creat more actions.

Substitute Dejan Farrugia served Tabone with a square pass but he drove over the bar from outside the area. De Gabriele was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by the same player De Battista was forced to dive and save the ball.

Following this rally by Paola, Hamrun reacted strongly and created three actions.

After a well-taken flag kick by Camilleri, Jim Cilia failed to apply the killer touch with the Paola defenders doing the standstill act. Refalo was fouled on the left flank and the ball was cleared to a corner following the free kick by Spiteri.

Agatino Sicali’ was then fouled outside the area and Melvin Busuttil missed the upright by inches from the free kick.

Hamrun re-established their slender lead seven minutes from the end of normal time when Refalo served Spiteri with a perfect through ball outside the area and he gave Briffa no chance with a hard swerving shot from 25 metres with the ball finishing in the top left hand corner

In an effort to save the game Paola mounted two actions. Dejan Farrugia served Tabone with a cross from the left and he missed the upright from outside the area. Later, Neil Chetcuti put De Gariele through outside the area but he also hit the ball wide.

In the third minute of added time, Paola player Andre’ Camilleri was shown the red card for insulting an opponent.

After the match, a representative of the Ministry of Finance presented medals to both sets of players and match officials. Captain Ryan Spiteri was presented with the Knock Out trophy and vice captain Jean C De Battista was presented with the Section A trophy.

Hamrun S: J.C De Battista, C. Axiaq, G. Hili (D. Spiteri 76), A. Sicali’, M. Busuttil, R. Cassar, D. Busuttil, R. Spiteri, J. Cilia, G. Cauchi (S. Lucas 78), R. Refalo 

Paola H: R. Briffa, J. Sultana (K. Ciantar76), N. Falzon, D. Vella, A. Camilleri, T. Tabone, N. Chetcuti, D. Sciberras, J. De Gabriele, R. Farrugia(D. Farrugia 45),Z. Scerri

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Assistant I Ingmar Spiteri

Assistant II William De Battista 

Yellow cards: A.Sicali, J.Cilia, D.Busuttil, R.Refalo (Hamrun S)

Red card; A.Camilleri (Paola H)

Under 15 Promotion Play Offs

Birzebbuga-Zurrieq  0-1; Zurrieq-Zejtun   1-3    

Standings

Zurrieq have played two matches and have three points, Zejtun have three points from one match and Birzebbug match no points from one match.

Zejtun need only a draw from their last game against B’Bugia for promotion to Section B next season, in which case Zurrieq will also be promoted by finishing in second place.