Gudja United grabbed three valuable points in their quest against relegation when they faced a difficult opponent named Ħamrun Spartans. In the end it was the Southern team that prevailed over the reigning Champions who are now completed ruled out of repeating last year’s success after suffering a second consecutive defeat and the seventh defeat of the campaign.

This win has put Gudja United in seventh place, leapfrogging Balzan and Valletta. So they are still in the fight to get a place amongst the top six at the expense of more quoted teams.

Ħamrun’s form has been on a downfall as they have just gained three points from their last four matches and even in the FA Trophy they narrowly defeated Challenge League outfit Naxxar Lions by a solitary goal. As for Gudja they returned to winning ways after losing to Birkirkara in their last match. But for them this was their fourth win from their last five matches.

In the first round Ħamrun prevailed over Gudja by a 3-1 scoreline.

The first half was rather dull with both teams failing to create. The Spartans were in command but failed to be of any threat to the opposing rearguard. The only actions worth mentioning during the first forty five minutes were a long range shot by newcomer Matteo Fedele which was deflected onto a corner. And later on a Luke Gambin shot which was saved by Zammit and another try by Fedele which found an alert Zammit between the Gudja posts.

Gudja coach Thane Micallef effected a double substitution for the second period with Aidan Friggieri and Gabiel Mensah coming on instead of Cremona and Dias.

The first attempt following the change of ends came from Ħamrun through a Franklin Sasere headed effort which was saved by Zammit. Few minutes later defender Steve Borg almost put the Spartans ahead which was blocked on the line by Zammit.

Time was running out and the Spartans supporters were looking nervous since they lacked cohesion and failed to finish off their dominant possession.

On the other end Friggieri tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area but this didn’t bother much Ħamrun’s goalkeeper Debono.

But ten minutes from the end Gudja scored what proved to be the winner. A long-range shot by Gabriel Mensah was partially saved by Debono with the ball dropping off into the feet of Selemani who had the easiest of chances to slot the ball into the net. For the Gudja this was his fourth goal since joining them.

Ħamrun failed to mount a decent reaction and in stoppage time Selemani nearly doubled the score only for his shot from the edge of the area to just  miss out.

Photo Domenic Aquilina