Senglea A. 1
Hamrun S. 3
Simon Farrugia
Senglea A.: A. Curmi, S. Olberkis, E. Sakyi, L. Grech (S. Cipriott 60'), M. Micallef, D. Xuereb (J. Tanti 77'), T. Marukawa, J. Teixeira, M. Dias, W. Zamble, M. Todorovic (A. Spiteri 85')
Hamrun S.: E. Bartolo, T. Caruana, W. Domoraud (R.Darmanin 88') C. Failla, N. Leone, L. Soufiane (K. Schembri 82'), M. Criaco, K. Micallef, O. Nikolopoulos, V. Alhinho Goncalves (B. Schembri 79'), M. Cinquini
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Asst refs: Duncan Spencer, James Muscat
4th official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Xuereb, Cipriott, Alhinho, Micallef, Dias, Sakyi, Schembri
Scorers: Alhinho 10', Grech pen. 15', Criaco pen. 77, Lagzir 81'
BOV Player of the Match: Nicola Leone (Hamrun Spartans)
TMI Top 3 : 1. N. Leone 2. O. Nikolopoulos 3. W. Domoraud
Attendance: 2,450
Hamrun registered their third consecutive win and are once again joint leaders with Floriana when they left it late to beat Senglea by a 3-1 scoreline. It was a well deserved win for Hamrun though they weren't concise as in previous matches.
The Spartans were looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season following two draws against Gzira and Gudja and consecutive wins over Tarxien and Sirens.
Senglea wanted to return to winning ways after succumbing to their first defeat last week against Hibernians. Previously they had drawn against Sirens and defeated Birkirkara and Mosta.
But the match failed to live up to expectations and for long stretches both teams offered practically nothing to the sparse crowd present at the National Stadium.
Hamrun opened their account in the 10th minute through a gem of a goal by Valdo Alhinho. The Portugese player fired a wonder strike from outside the area which left Senglea goalkeeper Curmi completely stranded.
But Senglea's reaction was an immediate one and five minutes later they were awarded a penalty. Teixeira sent a teasing low cross in the area with goalkeeper Bartolo bringing down Zamble and referee Barbara pointing instantly to the spot. From the resultant kick Leighton Grech converted.
In the 20th minute Hamrun could have regained the lead when a Leone grounder was partially saved by Curmi with the rebound falling into Lagzir's path but the Moroccan failed to connect.
On the half hour a solo run by Marukawa ended with his low shot saved by Bartolo. In first half added time a diagonal shot from the distance by Failla was turned into a corner by Curmi.
The first minutes of the second half were rather dull with neither team taking control of the proceedings. It was scrappy with play mainly restricted to the midfield area.
On 64 minutes Dias sent a cross from the right side but Cipriott headed weakly into Bartolo's hands. And in the 73rd minute Hamrun responded when Nikolopoulus had his headed effort off a Criaco corner deflected onto another corner by the Senglea defence.
Ħamrun forged ahead once again on 77 minutes when Domoraud was brought down in the area by Dias and from the penalty spot came a cool finish by Marco Criaco.
The Spartans sealed the issue four minutes later when Domoraud ran into the area from the bye line his shot being blocked by Curmi with the ball falling into his path once again, his cross finding Sougiane Lagzir who converted from close range.