Hamrun Spartans returned to winning ways easily beating Zejtun by four clear goals. Hamrun fully deserved this victory which puts them back on winning track after a series of three draws, but the sending off of Gomes Junior a couple of minutes past the half hour made it practically impossible for Zejtun to play on a par with their opponents.

Zejtun somehow resisted in the first half, which the Spartans led by a solitary goal, but then after the break there was no stopping the Spartans from adding further goals in a one way affair. This win lifts the Spartans to second place in the standings as the title race is becoming more and more intriguing.

Zejtun had a good start and a Vieira effort was well saved by the Hamrun custodian Bartolo. On ten minutes Joseph Mbong tested Cassar with a central drive. Zejtun continued to insist and Vieira was unlucky when his effort was saved by Bartolo with the ball finishing the crossbar, and from the resultant corner a Kemar Reid header went over the bar.

On 20 minutes the Spartans had their first real opportunity when Arthur Oyama hit the post direct from a corner kick. Four minutes later Hamrun took the lead. Soares won a ball just outside Zejtun’s penalty area, went inside the Zejtun box before firing home.

On 32 minutes the turning point of the match when Gomes Junior received the second booking of the game and was sent off. This blow was too hard for Zejtun to absorb. Hamrun were now in the driving seat and five minutes from the break Mbong’s cross was met by Soares with the latter’s shot just missing the base of the upright.

On the resumption Hamrun increased their pressure as Zejtun faded out drastically. Ten minutes into the second half a Corbalan freekick just missed the target and on 62 minutes Hamrun doubled the score. Soares once again was impressive with his run deep inside the Zejtun area before beating Cassar for the second time.

Zejtun were now at their opponents’ mercy, and the Spartans showed little of this. On 74 minutes Hamrun put the issue beyond reasonable doubt when Soares crossed towards Djordjevic who drilled home from range. Sixty seconds later a carbon copy of the third goal with Soares again in the limelight, crossing towards Sasere who scored the fourth and final goal for the Spartans.

Photo Domenic Aquilina