Reds soak up pressure to save point

Ħamrun Spartans 1
Pereira 26
Birkirkara 1
Galea 23

Emboldened by their victory over Hibs, Ħamrun fancied their chances of claiming another famous scalp when they met Birkirkara yesterday.

While the Spartans were intent on maintaining their upward trajectory amid rising optimism about their top-six chances, the champions were looking to atone for a 2-5 mauling at the hands of Marsaxlokk last Sunday.

The injury-related absences of midfielders Shaun Bajada, Rowen Muscat and Alan Tabone were seen as undermining Birkirkara’s chances of upsetting the buoyant Reds who also enjoyed home advantage.

The Stripes would have been forgiven for fearing the worst after losing winger Trevor Cilia to injury early on, but they will probably feel hard done by the result. For long spells, they were the brighter side as the Spartans hung on to salvage a point.

Coach Paul Zammit responded to Birkirkara’s tame performance in their last match by ditching three players from the starting line-up. Scottish goalkeeper Michael Fraser was preferred to Manuel Bartolo, young defender Ryan Scicluna replaced Ryan Harding and Andrew Decesare came in for Emiliano Lattes.

The omission of Lattes meant that Terence Vella was switched to the left wing in Birkirkara’s 4-3-3 formation.

The return from suspension of Martin Hrubsa and Steve Bonnici strengthened the defensive options at the disposal of Spartans coach Steve D’Amato. Hrubsa was restored to the first team but Bonnici had to be content with a place on the bench.

Veteran midfielder Rupert Mangion was also among the substitutes while Scottish forward Dene Shields was absent as he is recovering from a knee injury.

The Spartans created the first chance of note when Marcelo Pereira released Peter Anizoba in the box but the latter hesitated and his weak effort was easily blocked by Fraser.

Birkirkara were forced into an early change as, with just 11 minutes gone, Cilia was stretchered off after succumbing to a hamstring injury. His place was taken by Lattes.

Anizoba, who was paired with Pereira up front, got on the end of Hrubsa’s good cross from the right but the Nigerian miscued his header. This came after 20 minutes.

From the possibility of going 1-0 up, Ħamrun found themselves a goal down as the champions broke the deadlock midway into the first half.

Birkirkara’s goal came from a deadball situation as Decesare’s free-kick sailed behind the Ħamrun defenders and into the path of the unmarked Michael Galea who headed past Ivan Casha.

The Spartans took just three minutes to level matters. Hrubsa dinked the ball to Anizoba who swept past Decesare and summoned a strong cross-cum-shot from an angled position. Pereira applied the decisive touch as the ball glanced off the diving Brazilian and rolled over the goal-line.

Birkirkara then caught the Spartans’ defence in a state of disarray as Lattes’s cross from the right was flicked on by Galea towards the unguarded Vella but the latter’s volley went high.

The exchanges remained generally balanced but both teams often resorted to long balls to gain ground. Nine minutes from half-time, Paul Fenech intercepted a long throw by Casha and attempted to lob the Spartans keeper but his effort was unsuccessful.

The first half ended on a bad note for the Spartans as Grima almost came to blows with team-mate Casha after the two had got in each other’s way in an attempt to clear a cross.

The Stripes hit the ground running as the second half got underway. Referee Andre Arciola dispelled their claims for a penalty when Angus Buhagiar appeared to have been shoved off the ball by Pereira.

It was not before the 61st minute that the Spartans carved a glimmer of a chance. Pereira was the provider with a dipping cross but Gaetan Spiteri volleyed wide.

As the Spartans laboured to imbue their play with a semblance of fluidity, Birkirkara remained the more vibrant side.

Six minutes past the hour, Lattes, one of the best players for the champions, summoned a diagonal shot but the ball whistled past the far post after taking a deflection.

Galea then fluffed a great opportunity to put the Stripes ahead. The danger for the Spartans again originated from the feet of Lattes as his delivery was fumbled by Galea but Casha fluffed his lines. The ball rolled into the path of Galea but the latter’s ensuing effort rolled across the face of goal and back to Lattes who, once again, picked out his captain but his header was saved by the Reds goalkeeper.

Karl Pulo, who had just come on for Zahra, threatened to make an instant impact as he raced past Grima and Jovan Vukanic but the winger’s strike was repelled by Casha.

Vella showed some deft footwork to make headway inside the Hamrun box but his ball was headed away for a corner by Grima who got a pat on the back from Casha for his timely intervention.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-5, M. Grima-6.5, Roderick Fenech-6, Ryan Fenech-5, L.J. Agius-5 (70 M. Mifsud-5), M. Pereira-6, G. Spiteri-5 (82 S. Bonnici), J. Vukanic-4, M. Hrubsa-5, D. Camilleri-5, P. Anizoba-5.

Birkirkara
M. Fraser-6, R. Scicluna-5.5 (74 T. Paris) S. Zahra-6 (82 K. Pulo), N. Vukanac-6, J. Zerafa-5, T. Cilia (11 E. Lattes-7.5), T. Vella-6, P. Fenech-7, A. Decesare-6, M. Galea-6, A. Buhagiar-6.5.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Anizoba; Agius.

BOV player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).