Title-elect City tighten grip on top spot

Hamrun Spartans 2
Valletta 4

Emboldened by Birkirkara's slip-up to Sliema Wanderers in yesterday's early kick-off, Valletta maintained their relentless title march with a 4-2 victory over Hamrun Spartans.

A Valletta win had been regarded as a foregone conclusion in the light of the gulf in points between the two sides but the Citizens made hard work of drawing the sting out of the Spartans who even had the audacity of taking a 26th-minute lead.

At times, Valletta looked a pale shadow of the well-oiled unit that grimly clung on to top spot but they mustered a resilient reaction to turn the tide in their favour with two goals either side of half-time.

A crucial save by Andrew Hogg on Gaetan Spiteri midway through the second half served as a second eye-opener for the Citizens who quickly regained their focus to score twice and seal victory which extends their lead over Birkirkara to seven points with four matches to go.

Marsaxlokk can cut the Citizens' lead to five points if they overcome Floriana tomorrow but the prevalent feeling at the National Stadium yesterday was that this victory had brought the 2007-08 Premier League crown well into Valletta's sight.

As expected, Valletta coach Paul Zammit opted to replace the suspended Gilbert Agius with Sebastian Monesterolo. Hamrun Spartans coach Marco Gerada was without brothers Ryan and Roderick Fenech, both suspended, while Stefan Sultana and Kevin Borg were on the casualty list.

In the opening stages, a rising shot by Ian Zammit cannoned off the bar with Sean Sullivan beaten.

After 12 minutes, it was Hamrun who nearly took the lead.

Pouncing on some hesitant defending by Valletta, Alfred Effiong surged into the box to collect a pass from midfield but hit the ball too hard as he tried to avoid the overtures of Hogg. The danger for Valletta was far from over as the ball landed at the feet of Steve Meilak whose effort would have ended in the net but for Steve Bezzina's timely intervention.

The Citizens struggled for fluency and the Spartans threatened to make them pay with a string of attacks but their final pass lacked precision.

Midway through the first half, Bezzina produced a menacing cross-shot but Sullivan tipped the ball over the bar. Three minutes later, the Spartans forged ahead, Spiteri following up his treble in the FA Trophy defeat of Dingli with another goal. The skinny striker flashed in to prod past Hogg after Bratislav Timotic headed the ball into the danger zone from Diego Cucciardi's corner.

Valletta were stunned and minutes later, they risked falling further behind as Spiteri advanced unimpeded on the left and fired a strong but central shot which Hogg saved in two attempts.

The Citizens were in a spot of bother but they received a timely psychological fillip a minute past the half-hour. Frank Temile's cross found its way into the path of Monesterolo who made the most of the open space in the Spartans' box by drilling a shot past Sullivan's groping hands and into the left-hand corner of the net.

Monesterolo might have edged Valletta in the driving seat minutes after his equaliser but his header was neutralised by Sullivan.

It was all Valletta now, Temile going close with an exquisite volley after being set up by Heiner Backhaus. The leaders should have forged ahead on the cusp of half-time when Zammit spotted Giglio's run into the box and duly served him with pinpoint pass. The Valletta midfielder was in a one-on-one situation but he shot straight at Sullivan.

Hamrun sighed with relief but, 10 minutes into the second half, their resistance was broken again. Valletta were awarded a free-kick outside the box. Camilleri surprised Hamrun by dragging the ball back to Grioli and the latter's grounder rolled past a sea of players and Sullivan to give Valletta a 2-1 lead.

The stage now seemed set for Valletta to press home their superiority but to their credit, the Spartans refused to buckle.

Not for the first time in this match, the Valletta rearguard looked culpable as Effiong flicked a pass to Spiteri whose run into the box had gone unchecked by the City defenders. Spiteri drifted sideways before pulling the trigger but Hogg stood firm.

From the possibility of drawing level, the Spartans slipped two goals behind 17 minutes from time, Temile striking a low shot into the low corner of the net after being picked out by the dynamic Zammit.

Five minutes later, Valletta put the result beyond doubt with a fine goal from substitute Dyson Falzon.

Cutting in from the right, Falzon breezed past a wall of Hamrun defenders before unleashing a thunderous drive that ripped past Sullivan.

The Hamrun goalkeeper prevented further embarrassment for his side with a fine save to push away Camilleri's free-kick. Temile then hit the crossbar with a close-range effort after receiving from Bezzina.

Four minutes from time, the Spartans pulled a goal back, Effiong slotting past Saviour Darmanin, who had just replaced Hogg, after getting on the end of a pass by Spiteri.

Hamrun: S. Sullivan-5.5, M.A. Bonnici-5.5, D.A. Cucciardi-6.5, P. Monye-5 ('46 J. Debattista-5), S. Meilak-5.5, R. Mangion-6, N. Galea-6, L.J. Agius-5.5 ('67 C. Cacciatolo-5), B. Timotic-6, G. Spiteri-6.5, A. Effiong-6.5.

Valletta: A. Hogg-7 ('82 S. Darmanin), J. Grioli-7, J. Mifsud-5, K. Scicluna-5, S. Bezzina-6.5, D. Camilleri-5.5 ('87 K. Fenech), H. Backhaus-6, I. Zammit-7, F. Temile-6.5, S. Giglio-6, S. Monesterolo-6 ('78 D. Falzon).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Scorers: Spiteri 26; Monesterolo 31; Grioli 55; Temile 74; Falzon 78; Effiong 87.

Yellow cards: Timotic; Meilak; Galea.

BoV Player of the match: Frank Temile (Valletta).