Hamrun Spartans made a statement of intent when in the first and main match of MatchDay 7 they beat Hibernians by a 2-0 scoreline. It was a deserved win for the Spartans who dominated proceedings for long stretches.

Both coaches rang the changes from their last match. Hamrun who during the week beat Marsaxlokk started with Vincenzo Polito, Semir Smajlagic, Jovan Cadenovic, Ante Coric, Merlin Hadzi and Ryan Camenzuli instead of Nikolai Micallef, Daniel Letherby, N'Dri Koffi, Emerson Marcelina, Thioune and Simkus. For Camenzuli this was a return after missing the last four matches.

Even Branco Nisevic reshuffled his team with Dexter Xuereb, Aiden Zammit, Lucas Caruana and Pablo Alves De Lima starting instead of Duane Bonnici, Matthew Ellul, Alfred Silas and Charleston Silva Dos Santos.

Hibernians started brightly when Caruana found Villela with his shot being blocked and from the rebound Mendonca had his conclusion cleared off the line.

But it was Hamrun who forged ahead on six minutes.  Hadzi played a perfect pass towards Smajlagic who with only Sacco to beat made no mistake.

On 14 minutes another chance came Hamrun's way. Smajlagic found Mbong but the latters shot just missed the target.

On the half hour Smajlagic supplied a cross in the area and in came Cadenovic who brought the best out of Hibernians goalkeeper Sacco.

The Spartans kept piling on the pressure and in the 58th minute they had another opportunity to increase their lead when a Hadzi cross found Smajlagic whose volley was turned onto a corner by Sacco.

But two minutes later they doubled their lead when Hadzi received a ball in the area and perfectly set Joseph Mbong who fired home from close range.

With the match now sealed and done twelve minutes from the end Hibernians in a rare attack threatened when off an Abela corner a headed effort by Kristensen was saved by Bonello.

And Hamrun could have scored their third but the upright denied them when an El Fanis shot from the edge of the area hit the woodwork.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina