Floriana edge Spartans 2-1

Floriana bagged their second league win of the season after they edged nine-men Hamrun Spartans 2-1 in a fiery encounter at the National Stadium.

It was Floriana who forged ahead after 17 minutes when Christian Caruana headed home from a Joseph Borg’s cross.

The Spartans’ hopes suffered a blow on 33 minutes when Hamrun defender Martin Hrubsa was sent off for a second bookable offence on Kiril Dzhorov.

However, the Spartans still managed to draw level early in the second half when substitute Lee James Agius put Dene Shields through and the Scottish forward buried the ball past Lofti Saidi.

The Spartans were on top now but it was Floriana who struck again on 57 minutes when Michael Mecerod picked Ivan Woods inside the Hamrun area but was upended by Steve Bonnici and a penalty was awarded.

Bonnici was subsequently dismissed and Woods made no mistake from the spot.

Hamrun still tried in vain to get an equaliser in a match that became more nervous in the final stages, particularly when a fan from the Hamrun side ran onto the pitch after a clash between Ryan Fenech and Owen Bugeja.

Luckily, the fan was soon restrained by the Spartans players before play resumed.

Dene Shields was voted as the BOV Player of the match.