Spartans off to a positive start

Qormi 1
Mallia 32

Ħamrun Spartans 3
Mangion 20, Pereira 43, Shields 70

Ħamrun Spartans made the perfect start to the new season with a comfortable victory over a much-changed Qormi side, yesterday.

The first match of the season it may have been but it could already prove to be a morale-boosting victory for the team that ended up in the Relegation Pool and finished eighth last season.

On this evidence, coach Stephen D’Amato could expect to more than match that 2009-10 effort and while he will understandably keep the lid on expectations, the way in which the Spartans out-muscled their opponents will give him huge cause of optimism.

His counterpart, Stephen Azzopardi, has made sweeping changes over the summer to the squad he inherited from predecessor Vince Carbonaro. He gave six of his new signings their league debut and the newcomers gelled together quickly.

In a surprise move, Stefan Giglio dropped back to centre-half alongside Vandelanotte, a clear indication of the player’s likely future role at the club. Some have backed Qormi to fall through the relegation trapdoor this season, given the departures of the likes of Massimo Grima, Stephen Wellman, Ramon dos Santos, Camilo and Alfred Effiong. However, the Yellows’ first-half display, at least, would give those punters something to think about.

D’Amato seemed to be spoilt for choice in midfield as he opted for a compact trio of central midfielders, namely Grima, Rupert Mangion and Ryan Fenech with the more advanced Marcelo Pereira in a free role on the left flank.

The Brazilian was proving his skills at forging forward with Qormi increasingly pushed onto the back foot. A whipped-in cross by Pereira was met by Dene Shields but he could only hit it feebly into the hands of Matthew Farrugia.

Both teams looked comfortable in possession but seemed shy in making the final push at goal until Ħamrun surged forward on 20 minutes. Pereira provided a neat pass to Mangion on the edge of the box and the veteran shot low into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.

Qormi could have felt hard done by going a goal down but they equalised 12 minutes later.

Ben Camilleri and Cleaven Frendo switched play in advanced positions on the right flank against stand-in left-back David Camilleri. The latter failed to deal with a teasing Qormi cross and the unmarked George Mallia hit in at the back post.

The contest was back on and on 35 minutes only a good save from Ivan Casha kept out Frendo’s drive with the goalkeeper justifying his selection ahead of Omar Borg. Qormi were working their way back into the game when Ħamrun regained the lead, thanks to Gaetan Spiteri’s fine play. On 43 minutes, the nippy striker sent Pereira clear with a defence-splitting pass and the Brazilian lashed a low shot through the legs of ­Farrugia.

And the Spartans continued to venture forward after the break but Pereira could only direct a tame shot straight at the Qormi keeper after timing his run perfectly to meet Mangion’s ball.

On 69 minutes, Ryan Fenech lifted his effort over Farrugia only to see Hojung Kang clear the ball off the line.

But Qormi barely got their breath back when Shields drilled the ball low into the far corner from 20 metres to put the Spartans 3-1 up.

The goal stunned Qormi who only managed to produce their only chance of the half late in the match. Bjedov cut inside and forced a fine save from Casha.

That was six minutes from time... the Spartans had long been home and dry by then.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, J. Vandelanotte-6, S. Giglio-6.5, M. Bartolo-5 (72 L. Sciberras), J. Farrugia-6, K. Bjedov-5, G. Mallia-6.5, J. Bondin-5, B. Camilleri-5.5 (81 J. Chetcuti), C. Frendo-5, H. Kang-5.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6, M. Grima-6 (87 J. Holland), R. Mangion-6.5, R. Fenech-5.5, D. Shields-6, Ry. Fenech-6, M. Pereira-7.5, G. Spiteri-6.5 (83 M. Mifsud), M. Hrubsa-6, D. Camilleri-4.5, S. Bonnici-5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Frendo, D. Camilleri, Shields.

BoV player of the match: Pereira (Ħamrun).