Blues hit back to topple Spartans

Marsaxlokk 4
Licari 38 pen.; Said 43; Pereira 46; Mattocks 72
Ħamrun Spartans 2
Spiteri 12, 19

Marsaxlokk put their disappointing start to the league campaign behind them yesterday as they came back from two goals down to beat Ħamrun Spartans for their first win of the season.

It was an astonishing turnaround to a match that seemed to be going in the Spartans' direction after the returning Gaetan Spiteri had given them a two-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

However, the Spartans failed to maintain their early momentum and the southerners made the most of their opponents' struggles. Their strong reaction in the latter stages of the first half saw them cancel out Spiteri's early double.

After the restart, Marsaxlokk raised their game and once Marcelo Pereira put them ahead, there was no way back for the Spartans who suffered a second successive defeat that piles the pressure on coach Marco Gerada.

The Spartans' mentor was able to pick his strongest formation as Spiteri, who missed the defeat to Sliema because of suspension, partnered Dylan Kokavessis in attack. Signed from Pietà in the close season, Kokavessis was making his first start for the Spartans after recovering from injury.

Marsaxlokk were without their chief goalscorer Julio Alcorse who is out with a hamstring injury while Trevor Templeman is recovering from surgery.

The Spartans threatened to go ahead as early as the second minute when from a Ronaldo Ortega free-kick, the unmarked Ryan Fenech flicked the ball goalwards but Saviour Darmanin, the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper, blocked his attempt.

Ħamrun's swift attacking play was troubling the southerners and it was no surprise when on 12 minutes, they opened the scoring. Ortega picked the unmarked Ryan Fenech on the left and the Malta international's cross was deviated into the path of Zoran Levnaic who headed the ball towards Spiteri. The latter made no mistake from close in.

Marsaxlokk were hit hard by this setback and the Spartans sought to gain further profit from their opponents' difficulties. On 19 minutes, Fenech picked out the active Spiteri on the right and the Spartans forward evaded two challenges from Marsaxlokk defenders before slotting the ball past Darmanin.

Trailing 2-0, Marsaxlokk desperately needed to find a goal quickly to get back into the match. Ten minutes from half-time, they came agonisingly close to narrowing the deficit when Mark Barbara served the surging Claude Mattocks but the former Valletta midfielder's shot came off the upright with Ħamrun keeper Sean Sullivan beaten.

On 38 minutes, Brian Talbot's men finally hit the target when Neville Galea fouled Malcolm Licari in the box and referee Clayton Pisani pointed to the spot. Licari sent a low shot past Sullivan to revive Marsaxlokk's hopes.

The goal clearly lifted the southerners who managed to draw level two minutes from half-time when from a Christian Cassar free-kick, Brian Said was first to the ball to head past the diving Sullivan.

During half-time, Talbot withdrew Renato Conceicao in favour of Clive Brincat.

The Spartans endured a disastrous start to the second half as Marsaxlokk scored in the first minute to go 3-2 in front. Pereira was first to Cassar's corner and his dipping header finished in the far corner of the net.

Ħamrun were clearly struggling now and on 54 minutes, Licari almost struck again but his firm drive, following a strong run, sailed just over the upright.

However, these changes failed to provide the desired impact and instead, it was Marsaxlokk who struck again on 72 minutes when Brincat's cross was nodded on by Steve Wellman into the path of Mattocks who easily headed the ball past Sullivan.

The Spartans threatened nine minutes from time when Micallef's teasing cross found Steve Meilak but his dipping header flew wide.

Marsaxlokk
S. Darmanin-6, M. Licari-7 ('90 A. Buttigieg), B. Said-6, R. Conceicao-5 ('46 C. Brincat-6), C. Mamo-6.5, M. Barbara-6, P. Pullicino-7, C. Cassar-6.5 ('68 W. Camenzuli-6), C. Mattocks-6.5, M. Pereira-6.5, S. Wellman-6.

Ħamrun Spartans
S. Sullivan-5, M.A. Bonnici-4, Z. Levnaic-6.5, R. Ortega-5.5 ('64 S. Meilak-5), R. Fenech-5.5, R. Mangion-5, N. Galea-4 ('64 A. Attard-5), A. Noronha-5, G. Spiteri-6.5, D. Kokavessis-5.5 ('67 D. Cucciardi-5), M. Micallef-5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Cassar; Mattocks; Fenech; Wellman.

BoV Player of the match: Malcolm Licari (Marsaxlokk).