Ħamrun ended the year 2020 on a high when they defeated Tarxien Rainbows. A win which means that they are now joint leaders with Sliema Wanderers on 28 points though with a superior goal difference.

This was the Spartans fourth win on the trot. For this match they had to do without the services of Emerson Marcelina who was suspended.

Tarxien lost their fourth consecutive match and are now lying three places from the bottom on eight points.

It was a match which they dominated and dictated matters all throughout. Their opponents Tarxien had an occassional chance but were never a match for Ħamrun.

Ħamrun took an early lead when after seven minutes Marcelo Barbosa met an Ailton Soares cross and fired the Spartans in the lead.

Ħamrun did all the early running and on 14 minutes Ailton Soares played a one two with Sasere but blasted the ball over the bar.

The Spartans doubled their lead in the 18th minute  when Mbong made his way on the right side, his cross finding Ailton Soares whose thunderous shot gave Borg no chance at all.

Tarxien could have reduced the gap in the 25th minute when Plut rounded a defender only for his conclusion to miss the target.

Just past the half hour an Mbong shot was deflected wide off the mark. With Barbosa trying his luck with a diagonal shot from just outside the area but Borg was on the alert to save.

Three minutes from the end of the first half another chance for Tarxien but Bartolo made a wonderful save blocking a point blank Darren Falzon shot.

The second half took some time to come to life and in the 63rd minute Barbosa squared towards Ailton Soares but his close range shot was saved by Borg. But five minutes the same player made no mistake when he blasted into the roof of the net a shot from the edge of the area.

Seventeen minutes from the end Ħamrun added another goal when Cittadini found Barbosa with a long pass and from inside the area the Brazilian striker made no mistake.

More was to come as the Spartans scored their fifth goal in the 77th minute when Ailton Soares hit the woodwork with Franklin Sasere tapping in from close range.

 Photo: Domenic Aquilina