Hamrun S: A. Cassar, G. Calabretta (L. Grech), R. Fenech, M. Grima, T. Scerri, T. Vella (R. Spiteri), D. Zerafa, A. Ivanov, A. Yoshev, L. Vitanov, N. Bozhov

Balzan: M. Camilleri, A. Agius (M. Deanov), Y. Camilleri, M. Mendy, S. Giglio, R. Conceicao, J. Pace, D. Grima, J. Francica (M. Licari), P. Calcado, E. Da Silva

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, P. Apap

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: M. Grima 15, M. Mendy 19, T. Scerri 51, P. Calcado 66

Yellow cards: P. Calcado, M. Mendy, R. Conceicao, J. Pace, R. Fenech

Red card: R. Conceicao

Player of the match: Andrea Cassar (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Cassar 2. M. Mendy 3. P. Calcado

This fixture, also the opening one for both teams, was shrouded in controversy last season, with Balzan winning the points, despite losing on the pitch, after lodging a protest against Hamrun fielding an ineligible player.

This time the match ended in a draw with both teams sharing four goals, as they embark on the long mission towards a top-six finish.

However it was not lacking incident, with a penalty miss and a late sending off from Balzan, who twice came from behind to salvage a point.

Hamrun have a Bulgarian look about them this season, with all their four foreigners, two defenders, a midfielder and a striker, hailing from this Eastern country.

They showed some good technique but looked a bit rusty and are expected to improve their physical condition in future games. The Spartans also fielded two other new players, striker Terence Scerri and midfielder Terence Vella, but the newly recruited goalkeeper Anthony Curmi yesterday sat on the bench with Andrea Cassar given the nod instead.

Balzan also made some new additions, althoughh they have kept the same nucleus of players as last season. Of all their three new faces, Stefan Giglio, Brazilian forward Elton Da Silva and defender Matthew Mendy from Gambia on show yesterday, the latter left the best impression with his offensive forays down the flank and his good positioning in front of goal from set pieces.

He scored his side’s equaliser on 19 minutes, four minutes after Hamrun had taken the lead. Mendy connected well to Calcado’s long free kick from teh right to head past keeepr Cassar, with the ball hitting the innersdie of the post before crossing the line.

The Spartans had made the breakthrough on the quarter hour after a cagey start from both sides. Awarded a direct free kick on the edge of the Balzan area for a foul on Bozhov, Massimo Grima’s first effort rebounded off the wall but the referee ordered a retake after Calcado had moved out too early.

Grima hit the second free kick low, leaving keeper Camilleri hooked to his line.

At 1-1, Balzan showed better ideas and went close to taking the lead. Elton Da Silva found space through the middele but shot over.

On 23 minutes, from a Calcado corner, Mendy’s header went just over and in the process, Hamrun’s defender Fenech tried to kick the Gambia player but the incident went unnoticed by both the referee and his assistant Debattista.

On the half hour, Da Silva ran through the Hamrun defence but after rounding the keeper, his effort was blocked by Ivanov and a good chance went begging.

Four minutes later, Hamrun themselves had a claim for a penalty turned down by the referee after Scerri fell inside the Balzan area on a Francica tackle.

Hamrun threatened with another Grima free kick, which keeper Camilleri turned into a corner on 37 minutes but Balzan could have taken the lead three minutes before the break when awarded a penalty after Yoshev floored Da Silva inside the area. Hamrun keeper Cassar did well to hold out Calcado’s low shot with his stretched foot.

Hamrun managed to take the lead themselves six minutes into the second half. Terence Scerri scored his first goal of the season for the new club, knocking in Yoshev’s cross from close range.

Balzan were again forced to chase the game. They put in Martin Deanov for Agius and on 66 minutes, Pedro Calcado took the ball in his stride on a Hamrun short clearance and unleashed a powerful drive from some 25 metres out to beat keeper Cassar completely and atone for the earlier penalty miss.

The match looked heading towards a draw although both sides created goal scoring opportunities that could have given them full points. Both goalkeepers were the protagonists.

On 75 minutes, the Hamrun keeper distinguished himself, stretching full length to hold out Deanov’s low curling shot. On the other end, Qormi keeper Camilleri also denied Bozhov, with a reflex save from close range, after Vitanov’s effort had been blocked.

Balzan ended with ten men after Conceicao was sent off in added time for violent conduct.