Spartans hold champions

HAMRUN SPARTANS-1, BIRKIRKARA-1

Hamrun Spartans held off Birkirkara’s second-half pressure to take a point off the champions following a 1-1 draw at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Needing a win to make up for their 5-2 hiding against Marsaxlokk, Birkirkara enjoyed more possession but the Spartans, who had come into this match in high spirits after a 4-3 defeat of Hibs, stood firm to extended their positive run.

The first noteworthy chance fell to Hamruna after eight minutes. Marcelo Pereira passes to Peter Anizoba in the box but the latter’s tame effort was pushed away by Birkirkara’s Scottish goalkeeper Michael Fraser, who was preferred to Manuel Bartolo.

Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit had to make a substitution after just 11 minutes as Trevor Cilia was stretchered off with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Emiliano Lattes. Minutes earlier, Ryan Scicluna, Birkirkara’s young midfielder, chipped the ball onto the side-netting.

On 20 minutes, Anizoba skewed his header from Martin Hrubsa’s cross but two minutes later, it was Birkirkara who opened the scoring. The Spartans paid dearly for their failure to deal with Andrew Decesare’s cross from a free-kick as Michael Galea nipped in to head firmly past Ivan Casha. Birkirkara surrendered their leading position after just four minutes as the Pereira equalised for the Spartans as Anizoba’s fierce cross-shot from the right was turned in by the Brazilian forward. A minute past the half-hour, Birkirkara threatened to regain the lead when Galea laid the ball to Terence Vella but the young winger’s volley was high and wide.

Nine minutes from half-time, Birkirkara midfielder Paul Fenech cut out a long throw by Casha and tried to lob the Spartans goalkeeper but his effort flew wide. On the stroke of half-time, Spartans defender Massimo Grima was involved in a stand-off with his own goalkeeper after the former almost barged into Casha as both tried to clear a Birkirkara cross. Birkirkara saw more of the ball in the early stages of the second half.

They protested for a penalty when Angus Buhagiar appeared to have been pushed by Pereira but referee Arciola allowed play to continue. The Spartans had to wait until the 61st minute to pose a threat to the Birkirkara defence. Pereira dragged in a good cross from the left but Gaetan Spiteri sent his volley wide of the near post. Michael Galea then missed two quickfire chances to fire Birkirkara ahead as the experienced striker first failed to connect with Lattes’s excellent cross and, from the loose ball, he missed the target.

Hamrun were quick to transfer the ball forward as Pereira advanced down the left wing and crossed into the six-yard box but the Birkirkara defenders anticipated Spiteri. The Stripes remained on top but they found it hard to translate their possession into openings. Five minutes from time, Grima did well to head away Vella’s menacing cross from the right. Birkirkara midfielder Paul Fenech was named BOV player of the match.