A Dilaver own goal on the hour was enough for champions Hamrun Spartans to beat rivals Valletta, and take sweet revenge for their first round defeat.

It was a very tight encounter with Hamrun always having the edge over their opponents.

This victory lifts Hamrun to second place in the standings, seven points behind runaway leaders Hibernians and a point behind the trio of Valletta, Floriana, and Birkirkara.

Valletta played a diligent game, giving ground to their opponents but controlling the game with relative ease.

In the end they only had to bow their heads to a rather unlucky own goal.

Valletta had very efforts at goal and only pushed forward in the final part of the game in an attempt to earn a point.

They went close late in the game but were unlucky when a Lucas Campos fierce drive smashed against the upright.

Sasere had the first attempt on two minutes and on 14 minutes El Bakhtaoui pounced on a Valletta defensive lapse but shot over the bar.

On the resumption Mbong was denied by Guarnone and on 59 minutes Hamrun scored the winner when from an El Bakhtaoui corner which was headed in his own net by striker Dilaver.

Valletta attacked in the final part of the match and the closest they went was with Campos’ drive that finished against the woodwork.

Photo:  Domenic Aquilina