Ten-man Msida go down fighting

Ħamrun Spartans 2
Mifsud 44; Zammit 65;
Msida St Joseph 2
T. Farrugia 80 pen., 87 pen.

Ħamrun Spartans and Msida St Joseph wrapped up their commitments in the 2009/10 BOV Premier League with a 2-2 draw in the final Relegation Pool match of the season.

The Spartans looked to be on their way to victory after Mead Mifsud and Ian Zammit put them 2-0 up by the 67th minute. The dismissal of Msida goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo for persistent protests after the Spartans' second goal, was seen as a fatal blow for Msida but the Saints still managed to rescue a point.

They were awarded two penalties, the second a very dubious one, in the final 10 minutes, and Tyrone Farrugia kept his cool to score twice from the spot and ensure that Msida at least had the consolation of finishing the season with one point to their name after they had been deducted 10 points as a penalty over unpaid wages.

Ħamrun coach Steve D'Amato again elected to rope in a number of youngsters in his starting formation. Midfielder Jonathan Holland and Aaron Attard were out through injury while Rupert Mangion, Gaetan Spiteri and Ivan Casha started on the bench.

On the other hand, Msida welcomed back in the fray Kurt Grech and Adrian Farrugia after suspension kept them out of the 1-1 draw with Floriana.

It was the Spartans who created the first chance after nine minutes when Roderick Fenech, yesterday handed the captain's armband, met Mifsud's free-kick but his header finished over.

Seven minutes later, the Spartans should have forged ahead when Zammit's pass put Marcelo Pereira clean through. The Brazilian sped into the area before squaring the ball to Obinna Obiefule who was blocked by the onrushing Bartolo.

Scoring chances remained few and far between with Ħamrun dictating the run of play as Msida tried to hit their opponents on the counter.

In one of these fast breaks on 29 minutes, Adam Spiteri's cross-shot flashed just wide.

The Spartans threatened again on 32 minutes when Obiefule served Pereira whose stinging shot was somehow kept out by Bartolo. From the rebound, Zammit slid the ball to Obiefule but the Nigerian fired over.

A minute later, Obiefule sped clear on the left before finding Zammit whose shot was again stopped by Bartolo.

A minute before the break the Spartans took the lead when Mifsud exchanged the ball with Obiefule and surged into the area. Bartolo moved to try and intercept the cross but the young winger intelligently slid the ball home at the near post.

In stoppage time, Bartolo made up for his error when he showed fine reflexes to keep out Obiefule's shot that looked destined to hit the back of the net.

Six minutes into the second half Msida coach Keith Gouder withdrew Andrew Formosa for Iro Curmi as he looked to inject some energy into his team's manoeuvres.

Msida finally threatened on 57 minutes when Zoran Levnaic's long-range drive flew just over.

However, it was the Spartans who doubled their lead on 65 minutes when Pereira's shot came off team-mate Zammit who quickly unleashed a powerful low drive that gave Bartolo no chance.

The Msida goalkeeper charged out of his goal to protest with referee Andre Arciola and was subsequently booked. Bartolo clapped ironically at the referee who showed him a second yellow card followed by a red.

Msida's reserve keeper Mulholland was quickly drafted in instead of Joseph D'Amato. The Saints pulled one back 10 minutes from the end when Miguel Ciantar's drive from a free-kick hit Fenech's arm in the area and Tyrone Farrugia made no mistake from the spot.

Three minutes from time, Msida were awarded a second penalty when substitute Timothy Fleri Soler was harshly adjudged to have fouled Tyrone Farrugia when winning possession. The Msida talisman struck his penalty shot past Cassar.

Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar-6, K. Magro-6, R. Fenech-6.5 ('82 T. Fleri Soler), M. Mifsud-7 ('72 D. Zerafa), M. Barbara-6 ('61 M. Busuttil-5.5), N. Galea-5, L.J. Agius-6.5, M. Pereira-7, M. Hrubsa-6, O. Obiefule-7.5, I. Zammit-7.

Msida St Joseph
M. Bartolo, L. Micallef-5, M. Borda-5, T. Farrugia-6.5, L. Agius-5, Z. Levnaic-6.5, J. D'Amato-5 ('67 M. Mulholland-6), A. Spiteri-6.5 ('67 P. Sackai-5), B. Borg-5, A. Formosa-5 ('51 I. Curmi-6), M. Ciantar-6.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Bartolo; Mifsud; Fenech; Galea.

Red card: Bartolo (M) 65.

BOV player of the match: Obinna Obiefule (Ħamrun).