Agius double sinks battling Spartans

Valletta 2
Hamrun Spartans 0

Ambitious Valletta have had a plainsailing start to the season, strolling to comprehensive victories over Mosta and Marsa in their opening two league encounters. The emphatic manner with which Dennis Fenech's men had disposed of their first two opponents may have led to suggestions that the Lilywhites would enjoy another hassle-free evening at Ta' Qali against Hamrun Spartans yesterday but it did not quite turn out to be that way.

Although the early pacesetters extended their unbeaten start with their third win of the season, Hamrun proved to be no pushovers, giving their opponents a tough challenge before they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat, Gilbert Agius netting both goals for Valletta.

In fact, it speaks volumes of Hamrun's battling display that Agius's decisive goals were scored in the second half after Atanas Marinov's team had tactically outwitted their opponents in the first half which ended goalless.

Had Hamrun capitalised on their slight first-half edge by getting a goal, the game may perhaps have taken a different course in the second period but once Fenech's men raised their game and began to stroke the ball around confidently, the Spartans' chances of avoiding defeat faded by the minute.

On the back of their lively displays in their first two matches, Valletta were expected to start the game at full throttle but it was Hamrun who were the brighter side early on, causing some anxious moments to the Citizens' defence.

It took Valletta 21 minutes to record their first attempt at goal, a fierce David Carabott free-kick that was touched away for a corner by Hamrun goalkeeper, Daniel Dengaky.

Goalmouth action was hard to come by in the opening half-hour but when the boredom was finally broken, it was Hamrun who threatened to score. First, a Stefan Sultana shot on the turn was deviated for a corner by Daniel Theuma, and then, a Graham Bencini header flashed just wide of the post.

Ten minutes from half-time, the largely inert Citizens came close to taking the lead through striker Chris Oretan whose close-range header from a Carabott cross flew wide.

Moments later, a Theuma thunderbolt was beaten away by the reliable Dengaky as Fenech's men showed signs of emerging from the torpor that had characterised their performance.

Referee Lorry Sammut, who had come in for some strong criticism from the Hamrun fans in the opening exchanges, was again at the centre of attention in first-half injury time as he ignored Valletta's claims for a penalty after Bulgarian Milen Penchev fell when challenged by Bencini. Theuma was yellow-carded by Sammut for protesting with assistant-referee Gaetano Degabriele.

Valletta started the second half full of vim and vigour as they strove to make up for their poor first-half display. Agius twice slotted into inviting positions but his shooting was inaccurate.

The Citizens' bright start to the second half was typified by a menacing Ivan Zammit shot that whizzed past the post with Dengaky beaten on 53 minutes. The inevitable was only delayed, however, as within four minutes, Fenech's men forged ahead courtesy of an exquisitely-struck free-kick by Agius that left the Hamrun goalkeeper rooted to his spot.

The up-and-coming Jonathan Bondin was blooded in the Valletta team 20 minutes into the second half instead of Forace. Bondin's first contribution was a pass to Agius whose first-time strike ended high on 69 minutes.

Taken aback by Valletta's growing ascendancy in the second half, Hamrun struggled to make the same impact as they had done in the opening period. Their anxiety increased 18 minutes from time when referee Sammut awarded a free-kick to Valletta inside the Spartans' box after Dengaky was harshly adjudged to have handled a backpass from team-mate David Galea. Much to Hamrun's relief, Agius' shot was repelled by the Spartans' wall.

The match ended on a sour note for Hamrun as defender Galea was stretchered off injured in the dying moments. His void was filled by Keith Fabri as Marinov, with one eye on the club's future, continued his exercise of giving his youngsters a taste of Premier League football.

Deep into injury time, Valletta made sure of the three points when Agius, their best player yesterday, beat Dengaky with a low, angled drive. Seconds later, Agius turned provider, feeding second-half substitute Beppe Pace who fired high.

Valletta: S. Sullivan, D. Theuma, R. Forace (J. Bondin), D. Debono, I. Zammit, G. Agius, K. Fenech (J. Agius), D. Carabott, C. Oretan (B. Pace), M. Penchev, D. Bogdanovic.

Hamrun s.: D. Dengaky, R. Bajada, G. Bencini, M. Brincat, C. Paiber, N. Fasinelli (K. Borg), D. Galea (K. Fabri), J. Magri Overend, C. Magro, S. Sultana, G. Bartolo (G. Spiteri).

Referee: Lorry Sammut.

Scorers: Agius 58th; 90th.

Yellow cards: Magri Overend; Theuma, Fenech.

Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta).