Ħamrun were surprisingly held by Lija Athletic in the first match played at the Centenary Stadium from the tenth matchday of the BOV Premier League. It wasn’t an easy ride for Mark Buttigieg’s side going a goal down and drawing seconds laters both goals coming just before the break.  In the second half after Hamrun took the lead Lija reacted and managed to save the match.

Ħamrun returned to winning ways in their last match with a convincing win against Zejtun with Lija succumbing to their sixth consecutive defeat when they lost to league leaders Sliema Wanderers.

The first action came from Ħamrun seven minutes into the match when a Djordjevic header hit the crossbar.  Lija replied three minutes later through a low cross from Harry Wood which passed in front an empty goal with no one there to tap the ball in.

On 11 minutes the Spartans had an Mbong shot from the edge of the area which was easily saved by Bonnici. On the half hour a good opportunity for Ħamrun to break the deadlock. Mbong passed on the right flank towards Djordjevic but his shot from  inside the area was deflected into a corner.

Four minutes from the break an Erjon Beu shot from inside the area was saved by goalkeeper Bartolo. But Lija took the lead in the 45th minute when off a Carlos Flores cross from the right side Erjon Beu after controlling the ball blasted a beauty into the low corner beating Bartolo all ends up.

But their joy was short lived as Ħamrun drew level in added time when a diagonal shot by Predrag Djordjevic made it’s way past Bonnici.

Only three minutes had passed from the second half when Ħamrun took the lead. A Soares cross from the left was met by Joseph Mbong whose shot on the run found the net.  A few minutes later Mbong was once again in the thick of action with a shot from the edge of the area which was saved by the Lija goalkeeper.

Lija drew level on 64 minutes when Erjon Beu was once again the protagonist firing a scorcher from outside the area. Though Hamrun held the upper hand they never were of a threat and thus missed a great chance to take sole leadership.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina