Deanov dooms feeble Spartans

Hamrun Spartans 0
Pietà Hotspurs 2

Martin Deanov marked his return from injury with a sparkling performance that helped Pietà Hotspurs win three very precious points at the expense of neighbours Hamrun Spartans yesterday to boost their hopes of salvation.

The Bulgarian forward, who was making his first appearance after various weeks out with a knee injury, was the catalyst behind Pietà's success. Deanov engineered his team's opening goal before sealing the three points with a wonder strike that put the Hotspurs on top of the Relegation Pool one point ahead of Floriana and Mosta, both on 13 points.

Indeed, this was a fine collective performance from the Hotspurs who were the more committed team on the day and were rarely in danger of losing the points to a Hamrun side that again left much to be desired.

The Spartans are now rock bottom with only 10 points. They looked a jaded outfit and lacked any source of creativity. Besides, the players are missing the grit and determination needed in such circumstances to put in a decent fight at this crucial stage of the season. Coach Michael Degiorgio certainly faces a mountain to climb to revive his team's fortunes and lead them to safety.

The Spartans yesterday had no fewer than four defenders ruled out through suspension. Patrick Ndah, Jonathan Francica and Jonathan Magri Overend were out due to suspension while libero Ivan Zammit was serving a club ban of 28 days.

Veteran Stefan Sultana, normally deployed up front, was handed the task of filling the libero position and in his place Chidi Nwankwo partnered Gaetan Spiteri in attack.

Pietà had Andrew Decesare serving suspension.

It was Martin Deanov who immediately came close after 13 minutes when his calibrated free-kick whizzed past the post with Hamrun goalkeeper Jason Cordina stranded.

Deanov threatened again four minutes later when he sped past Aaron Attard before sending a dangerous cross in the area only for Silvan Ciscaldi to hit wide.

Hamrun's response arrived a minute later when Maczerob Okoro nodded a good ball for the sprinting Ryan Fenech but the young midfielder hit over.

On 24 minutes, Fenech was at it again but this time he fired wide from a Kevin Borg corner. Two minutes later, Fenech forced Hogg into his first save of the match with a header that was expertly dealt with by the Pietà goalkeeper.

The Hotspurs broke the stalemate on the half hour mark when Deanov wisely served Ciscaldi just outside the area and the Pietà midfielder unleashed a powerful grounder that gave Cordina no chance.

Finding themselves a goal behind Hamrun increased their efforts to draw level but it was Pietà who came closest to a second goal seven minutes from half-time when Claudio Calleja fed Deanov who opted to hit at goal but his shot lacked precision.

At the start of the second half, Degiorgio introduced David Galea in place of Fenech. He took the libero position and Sultana moved to his more familiar role in attack.

The Spartans were now showing more intent to try and redress the imbalance but they rarely threatened the Pietà rearguard that was easily neutralising the long balls coming their way from the Hamrun back line.

Degiorgio tried to put some fresh legs in his forward line when he introduced Diego Cucciardi in place of the ineffective Gaetan Spiteri.

On the stroke of the hour, Attard picked Sultana in the box but the latter was blocked in time by Bernard Sciberras.

Any hopes the Spartans had of a recovery all but ended on 62 minutes when in a quick break Deanov exchanged the ball with Calleja before driving a powerful shot past Cordina.

Things looked bleak for the Spartans now. On 68 minutes Sultana headed the ball towards Borg whose volley finished well over.

Filip Marius went agonizingly close to increasing Pietà's lead but was unlucky to see his scorcher hitting the upright.

The Hotspurs were again close five minutes from time. Svetlan Kondev picked Sciberras in the area from a free-kick but the Pietà defender headed just over.

Hogg did well to parry a Sultana shot. From the ensuing corner, Sultana prolonged the ball to the second post but Cucciardi failed to take advantage and headed wide.

With three matches to go, Pietà are now looking good but the Spartans are in a real mess.

Only a victory in their next match against Floriana will perhaps lift their spirits in a tense Relegation Pool finale.

Hamrun: J. Cordina-5.5, S. Sultana-5, J. Debattista-5, A. Attard-5.5 ('81 S. Sadowski), A. Mansueto-5, M. Okoro-5, K. Borg-5.5, R. Fenech-5.5 ('46 D. Galea-6), C. Nwankwo-6, G. Spiteri-4.5 ('56 D. Cucciardi-5), R. Mangion-5.5.

Pietà: A. Hogg-6, P. Aquilina-6 ('52 D. Gera-6), B. Sciberras-6.5, M. Dea-nov-8, S. Ciscaldi-6.5, C. Calleja-6.5 ('63 C. Okoh-6), C. Sammut-6.5 ('81 M. Galea), A. Spiteri-6, D. Camenzuli-7, S. Kondev-7, F. Marius-6.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Scorers: Ciscaldi 30; Deanov 62.

Yellow Cards: Kondev, Debattista, Mangion, Attard.

BoV Player of the Match: Martin Deanov (Pietà Hotspurs).