Balzan 3
Hamrun S 1
Balzan: D. Martinez, J. Borg, S. Giglio, A. Agius, B. Bondin, C. Caruana (C. Corbolan), M. Mendy, F. Aboulezz, D. Grima, R. Darmanin, E. Moises N’Dekra
Hamrun S: A. Cassar, R. Fenech , E. Lattes, A. Borg (L. Grech), L. Lumbilla,T. Vella (R. Refalo), R. Spiteri, D. Camilleri, B. Guga, G. Favero, G. Azzopardi
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: L. Portelli, A. Borg Cardona
4th official: A. Arciola
Scorers: E. Moises N’Dekra 1, 79, E. Lattes 8, C. Caruana 45+
Yellow cards: G. Favero, B. Bondin
Red card: R. Fenech
Player of the match: C. Caruana (Balzan FC)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Grima 2. C. Caruana 3. D. Camilleri
Attendance: 459
Hamrun Spartans need to put all hands on the pump to entertain any hopes of salvation. Yetserday’s defeat against understrength Balzan leaves them in penultimate place, deep in the relegation quigmire and sinking fast.
Lightweight up front and fragile in defence, the Spartans are too often the architect of their own misery.
Managing to erase an early goal, Hamrun left themsleves with too much to do after conceding a second just before halftime and then down to ten men for almost the last quarter hour, they suffered a fatal third goal in the late stages.
Balzan deserved to win on the balance of play. The truth is they did not have to excel because , right before them, their opponents were poor.
Balzan were a depleted side. Further to the departures of both Brazilians Pedro Calcado and Elton Da Silva, they were bereft of the suspended Yessous Camilleri and Jonathan Francica. Jamie Pace also started on the bench.
Hamrun had Massimo Grima missing through suspension but recovered David Camilleri to start the match.
The Spartans were on the back foot by the time they conceded one of the fastest goals in the Premier League after hardly 10 seconds from kick-off. A long ball from midfield inside the Hamrun area, caught the defence napping and as keeper Cassar rushed out of his line, Moises N’Dekra anticipated him with his header.
Another defensive gaffe by the Balzan defence presented Hamrun with the equaliser after eight minutes. Balzan’s keeper Martinez hesitated outside the are aon a back pass, Lumbilla stole possession and allowed Emiliano Lattes to shoot into an empty goal.
Hamrun enjoyed a good patch until the half hour. Adrian Borg’s cross from the byeline on the right was missed by Lumbilla when challenged by Jacob Borg in the air. On another Azzopardi cross from the left, the French forward headed tantalisingly wide.
Balzan again took the bit between their teeth on 35 minutes. On another goalmouth scramble inside the Hamrun area on an Aboulezz corner, Favero cleared Caruana’s header off the line.
Grima’s powerful shot three minutes later skimmed the post to Cassar’s left before Balzan forged ahead again in the half’s added time. Hamrun’s frentic defending on an Aboulezz corner allowed Mendy to cross low from the left and Christian Caruana to hit in among a bunch of legs.
The second half was equally an uphill struggle for Hamrun as Balzan pinned them inside their own half, Past the hour keeper Cassar fisted out a high ball that fell to Darmanin whose effort was blocked.
Fenech intercepted a Grima through ball and cleared into a corner before Darmanin could connect. Darmanin’s firm header on Bondin’s cross was easily saved by the Hamrun keeper.
It was only on 68 minutes that Vella tested the Balzan keeper Martinez with a powerful drive, saved into a corner before Hamrun were reduced to ten men courtesy of an ingenuity by their central defender and captain Roderick Fenech who was sent off for foul language on 72 minutes.
Any faint hopes of Hamrun to salvage at least a point evaporated in thin air as Balzan took only seven minutes to make the better of their extra man. Mosies N’Dekra shrugged off Grech’s challenge as he raced for Caruana’s through pass and beat the helpless keeper with a low drive to make the points safe.