Spartans battle for hard-earned point

Hamrun Spartans 2
Birkirkara 2

Birkirkara's aspirations of taking sole leadership in the Premier League standings were jolted by Hamrun Spartans who recovered from a goal down and the second-half dismissal of Branislav Timotic to hold on to a draw yesterday.

The Stripes came into the match aware that victory on coach John Buttigieg's 44th birthday would push them to the top. After the opening 45 minutes they looked on course to reach their goal.

In fact, by half-time, Birkirkara had turned the match in their favour with two quick goals that cancelled Gaetan Spiteri's opener. However, after the break, the Stripes had to contend with the never-say-die attitude of the Spartans who kept battling away and their efforts were rewarded with an equaliser.

Timotic's dismissal shortly afterwards looked set to sway the match in Birkirkara's favour but Marco Gerada's boys showed great composure and tactical discipline to deny their opponents. Thus, they gained another useful point that leaves them in position to challenge for a Championship Pool berth.

The Stripes will certainly feel disappointed to have taken a single point from a match which they seemed to control for long stretches. But, in reality, they have only themselves to blame as they were undone by their poor finishing.

The match had a special meaning for Stefan Sultana. Yesterday, the veteran Hamrun forward established a new record of appearances in Maltese football with his 510th match.

Sultana bettered his previous mark of 509 which he had shared with Kris Laferla, formerly of Valletta and Sliema.

Gerada applied only one change to the team that beat Msida St Joseph last week. Ryan Fenech returned from suspension and was drafted on the left flank in place of Kevin Borg who started on the bench.

Buttigieg was boosted by the news that Lino Galea had recovered from a nagging injury and was named in his team's starting formation. Bernard Paris retained his place in goal as the Stripes opted to leave Omar Borg on the bench for a second successive match.

Birkirkara looked to assert their authority right from the start. After four minutes Marcelinos Tamboulas powered his way down the right and into the box before serving Alan Tabone who saw his shot cleared to a corner by Mark Anthony Bonnici.

From the ensuing flag-kick, Tabone again threatened but this time his shot brushed against the upright.

At first, the Spartans seemed unable to contain Birkirkara's initial fury but as the minutes ticked away they came more into the picture and eventually took a surprise lead with their first attempt at goal.

Ryan Fenech's inswinging cross from a corner was palmed away by Paris into the path of Spiteri who hit home an unstoppable drive that flew into the roof of the net.

Birkirkara's response arrived on 28 minutes when Lino Galea's dipping cross picked Tamboulas but the latter's volley flew over.

Two minutes later Birkirkara restored equilibrium.

George Mallia's delivery put Michael Galea through. The Stripes skipper squared a pass back to the unmarked Shaun Bajada who deposited the ball inside an unten-anted net.

The momentum was clearly with Birkirkara and five minutes later they took the lead. Tabone sent a free-kick towards Emil Yanchev who deviated the ball into the net with his chest to the delight of his clan.

Hamrun tried to get back in the match but Sultana and Spiteri were finding it tough to penetrate the solid defensive partnership of Hartvig and Yanchev.

Birkirkara looked well in control at the start of the second half and on 53 minutes Michael Galea should have killed off the match. He received a perfect pass from Tamboulas but when all alone in front of goal he fired the ball into the side-netting, an uncharacteristic miss from the prolific forward.

Indeed, a costly mistake that was as the Spartans drew level on 65 minutes. Spiteri's pass released Ryan Fenech who coolly lobbed the ball over Paris to restore parity.

More drama was in store as barely three minutes later the Spartans were reduced to ten men. Timotic pulled Tamboulas down and the Serb defender was shown a second yellow card.

From the set-piece, Tabone's cross picked Mallia unmarked at the far post but the Malta midfielder headed incredibly wide in front of a gaping goal.

Sultana's contribution to the match ended on 73 minutes when he was replaced by Alfred Effiong as Gerada looked to inject some fresh legs to his team.

Ryan Fenech almost surprised Paris from a free-kick but the goalkeeper did well to punch the ball away to safety.

Ten minutes from time, Tabone almost put his team ahead when his speculative long ball had the better of Michael Falzon who lost his balance. Luckily for the Spartans no.1, the ball rolled across the face of goal but hit the upright before finishing out.

Birkirkara threw more men forward in search of a winner. However, the battling Spartans lived up to reputation and defended boldly even through the four minutes of stoppage time for a hard-earned point.

Hamrun: M. Falzon-6, M.A. Bonnici-5.5 ('46 J. Debattista-6.5), P. Monye-6.5, Roderick Fenech-7, S. Meilak-6.5, Ryan Fenech-6.5, S. Sultana-6 ('73 A. Effiong-5.5), R. Mangion-7, N. Galea-6 ('85 A. Attard), B. Timotic, G. Spiteri-7.5.

Birkirkara: B. Paris-6, R. Sammut-6 ('70 T. Paris-5), P. Fenech-5.5, M. Galea-6, A. Tabone-7 ('84 M. Anastasi), R. Hartvig-6.5, S. Bajada-6, J. Zerafa-6, M. Tamboulas-6.5, G. Mallia-6, E. Yanchev-6.5.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Scorers: Spiteri 22; Bajada 30; Yanchev 35; Ryan Fenech 65.

Yellow cards: Zerafa, Bonnici, Fenech, Timotic, Spiteri.

Red card: Timotic 68.

BoV Player of the match: Gaetan Spiteri (Hamrun Spartans).