Hamrun Spartans and Birkirkara fired blanks yesterday in a rather drab affair, with both sides earning a point, when only the three points at stake mattered. In fact both teams were the great losers yesterday as their only aim was victory to keepe in touch with leaders Hibernains and second placed Floriana. These two were the real winners yesterday, with league leaders Hibernians now enjoying a seven-point lead over the champions and nine points over Birkirkara.

For Hibernians, who lately have been struggling, yesterday’s result was surely a much needed boost. In all fairness both Hamrun and Birkirkara tried to overcome each other but they cancelled out each other.

The first half was too cagey, with both sides crowding the midfield sector and with play confusing at times.

The result was very few scoring opportunities at both ends. In the second half teams were more stretched and we had some scoring opportunities, but still both were rather shy in the final meters of the field and the scoreless result was the obvious outcome.

On nine minutes an Oyama free kick towards Dielna whose header was easily blocked by goalkeeper Sylla. On the other end ex-Valletta Aguirre fired well over the bar from the edge of the area. On 16 minutes Sasere did find the back of the net but to no avail as the goal was ruled offside.

Seven minutes into the second a Sasere header from an Oyama cross just missed the upright and two minutes later Aguirre gave an inch perfect pass to Luke Montebello who incredibly failed to control from an ideal position.

On 71 minutes Ailton Soares passed towards Joseph Mbong whose scorcher was somehow blocked by Sylla. Both teams were now more afraid to lose than eager to score, and in fact the score remained unchanged.

Photo Domenic Aquilina