Hamrun S 1
St.Andrew's 0
Hamrun S: E. Bartolo, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, S. Nayar, M. Ganci (R. Vella 92'), M. Gauci, N. Priso (B. Schembri 80'), K. Micallef, C. Calil, K. Tulimieri (R. Darmanin 68').
St. Andrew's: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Satariano, R. Martin (L. Sciberras 61'), T. Blagrove, K. Atkinson, K. Reid, J. Farrugia, A. Borg, A. Brown, M. Davis (K. Mcfarlane 46'), K. Magro.
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Ass. Referees: Christopher Francalanza, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth official: Alex Johnson
Scorer: M. Ganci 83'
Yellow cards: K. Micallef, R. Martin, K. Reid, J. Farrugia, A. Brown, K. Magro.
Red card: A. Brown 38'
Player of the match: Massimo Ganci (Hamrun S)
TMI Best Three: 1. M. Ganci, 2. K. Magro, 3. K. Mcfarlane
Massimo Ganci scored late in the game for the Spartans to grab another three precious points, this time against ten-man St. Andrew's. It was a hard earned win for the Spartans who never really set any houses on fire, even though they were always in full command of the game.
The Spartans held the initiative for very long stretches, and practically all the few scoring chances created throughout the match came all the Spartans match. However, result apart, coach Giovanni Tedesco has still many problems to solve even though the Spartans have yet to suffer their first goal this season, the only team in the Premier still with their goal intact.
But playing with a man more as from the 38 minutes, much more was expected from the Spartans, as their build up was very slow and erratic at time, giving the packed St. Andrew's rearguard all the time in the world to cover all open spaces that could lead towards goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.
Striker Njongo Priso was not at his best yesterday and many a times was caught in the well organised offside trap of Johann Scicluna's side. Massimo Ganci was more effective in attack and eventually found the winner eight minutes from time.
But the Spartans lacked vision of play and rapidity in midfield with Caruana and Monticelli lacking the necessary creativity.
The Saints were still smarting from the 1-5 drubbing against Tarxien in their last outing before the international break. They were well organised at the back and in midfield, but were completely lacking in attack were Reid and Atkinson never put a foot right.
They were on the defensive for practically the whole 90 minutes, and matters went even worse when Amoy Brown received a second booking on 38 minutes, with the first booking coming some minutes earlier.
On the resumption with the inclusion of Mcfarlane for Davis, the Saints had no other option but to control their opponents in their own half, but they never really suffered as the Spartans' build up was too slow.
Actions were few in the first half with Hamrun's best chance coming from a Ganci header that caught Calleja Cremona off guard, but Kurt Magro was on hand to clear the danger. Hamrun had other efforts from Ganci, Tulimieri and Priso, but all efforts were off target.
Just before the break and with Brown ejected, a Tulimieri effort just missed the base of the upright.
On the resumption the Spartans were all over their opponents but the Saints were always solid at the back. Tedesco introduced Ryan Darmanin in attack but things did not improve much with the Spartans' only options coming from shots from well outside the area.
The breakthrough came eight minutes from time when a Calil freekick was punched by Calleja Cremona, but straight in Massimo Ganci's path who fired home from close range.