Falzon goal keeps Reds fighting

Valletta 1
Briffa 57;
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Falzon 77;

If every match was a do-or-die affair for Ħamrun, they would probably turn out to be invincible. Although they had the task of avoiding a fifth consecutive defeat in the league, this was really an occasion in which the pride of a great club was at stake.

These two rivals rolled back in the years yesterday as their clash attracted one of the best turnouts at the National Stadium this season.

Yet, it was the Ħamrun supporters who were elated most at full-time as the point won saw them pulling level with Qormi in the standings in a tight race for the remaining sixth slot in the Championship Pool, a tussle that also involves Marsaxlokk and Sliema Wanderers.

It was with the commitment and energy shown by the Spartans in the face of four consecutive defeats, that Steve D’Amato’s side had the most realistic measure of turning around a misfiring campaign.

These qualities alone will not restore the club to its former glory but offer a solid foundation from where to build for the future.

This was also the tale of two footballers, as Ryan Fenech and Dyson Falzon faced their former clubs as the two had switched sides last month.

A dynamic figure in Ħamrun’s midfield, Falzon crowned his performance with a deserved goal whereas Fenech limped off with injury after 35 minutes.

New recruit Nikolai Chipev was detailed to play on the left of midfield. With that decision, it was left to David Camilleri to fill at left-back. D’Amato thought they might have been better off reverting to his oft-used security blanket of a holding midfielder to provide cover to the defence as he configured his team in fluid 4-1-2-3.

Jesmond Zerafa stuck with 4-3-3 as new foreigner Antunes Anderson Andrade, who had a quiet outing, was preferred to Edmond Agius in the only change to Valletta’s starting line-up.

Despite that, Ħamrun might conceivably have got themselves into a position to get off to a flying start. Momentum was with them after 12 minutes when Falzon hit the foot of the post from corner as Valletta left the near post unguarded.

The Valletta selection, featuring two forwards and Fenech instructed to play on the left of a three-pronged attack, was meant to prey on supposed vulnerability for Ħamrun’s defence but the Spartans allowed few openings in the first half and the sturdy Massimo Grima was once more the intrepid defender who can extinguish danger with hair-raising challenges.

Omar Borg leapt brilliantly to claw out Denni’s free-kick in the 22nd minute and Grima recovered in time to block Terrence Scerri’s effort from the rebound.

Fenech’s participation against his former club was cut short by injury. He was substituted by Gilbert Agius who was fielded in a central position, presumably because Zerafa believed it was essential to have him at the core of the play as Denni was switched to the left flank.

Goal-scoring chances were at a premium in the opening half as the two teams toiled to establish a foothold.

It was not before five minutes after half-time that either side created a glimmer of a chance.

It came from Ħamrun as Falzon cut in from the left but skewed his shot. Valletta replied four minutes later when Steve Borg escaped the attentions of Camilleri on the left flank and his cross found Scerri but the forward nodded straight into the hands of Borg.

In the 57th minute, Valletta seized the lead. Roderick Briffa’s first attempt from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender but the ball came straight back to him and this time he beat the Ħamrun keeper with a well-struck shot.

Galvanised by the lead, Valletta surged forward with renewed vigour.

Latching on to Briffa’s inviting pass, Denni accelerated into the box but dragged an angled shot wide after 63 minutes.

Two minutes later, Ħamrun won a free-kick just outside the area but Grima’s effort finished just wide.

In the 74th minute, Dene Shields chested down a long ball from Grima and the Scotsman turned away from his marker, only to see his effort finish off the target. But from their next foray, Ħamrun levelled courtesy of Falzon. He picked up the ball 25 metres out and crashed his way past two defenders before unleashing a fierce shot from an angle that finished at the top of Valletta’s net.

Yet, few moments later, Valletta had a great opportunity to put their noses ahead again when they were awarded a penalty for Steve Bonnici’s late challenge on substitute Temile.

Scerri assumed responsibility for the spot-kick but his grounder was blocked by Borg.

Drawing confidence from that penalty miss, Ħamrun drove forward with intent and on 82 minutes, Valletta breathed a sigh of relief when Falzon’s thunderbolt soared tantalizingly towards goal but Hogg tipped the ball over the bar.

Yet, Valletta could have stolen it at the death when Temile’s cross from the right was met by the leaping Agius but his header caressed the post.

Valletta: A. Hogg-6, R. Briffa-6.5, S. Borg-6, J. Caruana-6, I. Azzopardi-6, R. dos Santos-5, K. Sammut-5 (66’ O. Temile), A. Anderson Andrade-4.5 (77 E. Agius), Denni-5.5, R. Fenech- (35 G. Agius-6), T. Scerri-4.5.

Ħamrun Spartans: O. Borg-7, M. Grima-7, R. Mangion-6, D. Shields-6 (90 Anizoba Chizoba) M. Pereira-5 (62 D. Kokavessis), D. Falzon-8, G. Spiteri-6, J. Vukanic-6, N. Chipev-6, D. Camilleri-5.5, S. Bonnici-5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Scerri, Grima.

BOV player of the match: Dyson Falzon (Ħamrun Spartans).

Attendances: 3,441.