Grima impact at both ends

Ħamrun Spartans 1
Grima 39;
Hibernians 1
Caruana 55;

The portents were very encouraging for Hibs.

Buoyed by their excellent run of seven consecutive wins, the Paolites received an added fillip late Friday as Valletta’s draw with Sliema Wanderers set the way for the front-runners to open a three-point gap at the top.

But, if Hibs were intent on stretching their winning streak, Ħamrun Spartans were equally determined to boost their flailing Championship Pool bid as well as to make amends for their 4-0 rout to Birkirkara the previous weekend.

A return to home comforts also strengthened the Spartans’ self-belief and it showed as Jesmond Zammit’s team produced a tenacious performance to secure a point after holding their more-quoted opponents to a one-all draw.

The stalemate prevented Hibs from pulling clear of second-placed Valletta but they are unlikely to have any qualms about the final result as the Spartans gave as much they got in a balanced encounter that sprung to life in the final stages after the two sides had traded goals either side of half-time.

The creative Hibs forwards occasionally provided glimpses of the form that propelled their team to the top of the Premier League but Ħamrun were organised, their defiance embodied by Massimo Grima who repelled everything that was thrown at him besides scoring his team’s goal.

The injury to Adrian Pulis obliged Hibs coach Mark Miller to make one change from the team that started the 4-1 victory over Mqabba.

Malta U-21 winger Tristan Caruana filled the void left by Pulis’s absence as Clayton Failla, scorer of a brace in the previous match, switched to left-back.

Ħamrun’s upset to Birkirkara induced coach Zammit to ring the changes. Experienced campaigners Rupert Mangion and Gaetan Spiteri were demoted to the bench, their place taken by Daniel Zerafa and Carlos Eduardo Toneto Porcari.

Grima and Gianluca Calabretta were restored to the starting line-up after serving a one-match suspension while young goalkeeper Andrea Cassar deputised for the injured Omar Borg.

After just four minutes, Nikica Gacesa’s long pass dropped invitingly for Anderson Ribeiro but the Brazilian striker drove wide from just inside the area.

Luis Edison offered an early reminder of his pace and skill as the Brazilian set off on a mazy run through the middle but his progression was halted by Luis Silva who was booked for pulling the Hibs striker’s shirt.

The distance between the spot where Silva had conceded the free-kick and Cassar’s goal was considerable but that didn’t deter Failla from attempting to score with a direct shot.

The Malta wing-back duly unleashed a thunderbolt that soared dangerously towards goal but Cassar leapt to push the ball over the bar.

On another occasion, Edison blasted over after pouncing on a short clearance by the Spartans’ defence.

Edison’s astute movement was posing problems to the Spartans as the impish Brazilian often dropped deep to initiate attacks while Marcelo Dias, Andrew Cohen and Edward Herrera broke forward with purpose.

Midway into the first half, Cala-bretta, yesterday deployed at right-back, raced past Failla but his weak effort was easily blocked by Rodolfo Soares who partnered Aaron Xuereb in the centre of Hibs’ defence.

The Spartans opted for a two-pronged attack as Ribeiro was flanked by fellow Brazilian countryman Porcari, aka Cadu, but the service to the two Ħamrun strikers in the opening half-hour was inadequate.

Hibs had been the brighter side early on but struggled to find a way past the well-oiled Spartans rearguard despite enjoying a welter of possession.

With six minutes of the half left, the Spartans opened the scoring against the run of play.

There seemed little danger for Hibs when Kevin Sammut pulled the ball back for Grima in the inside-left channel but the latter’s cross-cum-shot trickled through a posse of players and past Mario Muscat as the ball rolled into the far corner of the net.

Less than a minute from the start of the second half had passed when Edison swivelled to direct a shot towards goal but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

Yet, it was the Reds who came close to extending their lead.

Having blocked Edison’s dangerous run, Grima advanced before picking out Sammut on the left. The on-loan Valletta winger veered infield before producing a curling grounder that grazed the far post.

Hibs equalised 10 minutes into the second half. Cohen’s delivery from a left-wing corner was headed clear by Zerafa but the ball flew towards the unmarked Caruana who arrowed a first-time volley into the corner of the net from just outside the box.

Galvanised by that goal, Hibs pressed for more. Dias muscled past three players on the left but his diagonal shot was beaten away by Cassar.

The Paolites’ strategy to attack through the wings consigned the Spartans’ flank defenders to their own half.

On 67 minutes, Silva tested Muscat with a dipping drive from the distance but the Hibs goalkeeper was alert as he touched the Portuguese midfielder’s effort over the bar.

Dias then shot wide as the game became more balanced.

With 19 minutes left, Muscat produced an instinctive point-blank save after Soares, who was trying to hold off Cadu, appeared to deflect David Camilleri’s insidious free-kick towards his own goal.

The rate of scoring opportunities picked up as the second half progressed. Xuereb headed wide at the far post after getting first to Cohen’s free-kick.

Soares also send his header over after the Brazilian had got on the end of another set-piece cross from Cohen.

The game now became a tale of headed attempts as Cadu went close with a powerful header from Grima’s cross.

Three minutes from time, Bjorn Kristensen almost snatched a late winner for Hibs but his rising header brushed against the top of the crossbar.

Miller’s men produced a late barrage but the valiant Spartans held firm to secure a much-needed point to the evident satisfaction of their fans who applauded their players off the pitch.

Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar-7, N. Gacesa 7, D. Zerafa-6.5, M. Grima-8, A. Ribeiro-6 (90 G. Spiteri), K. Sammut-6, M. Gauci-6, C. Toneto Porcari-5.5, L. Silva-5.5 (89 L.J. Agius), D. Camilleri-6.5, G. Calabretta-6.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-6.5, R. Camilleri-7, A. Xuereb-6.5, E. Herrera-5, R. Soares-5, M. Dias-7 (84 S. Pisani), A. Cohen-6.5, C. Failla-6.5, B. Kristensen-5.5, T. Caruana-6.5, L. Edison-7.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Silva; Dias; Zerafa; Camilleri.

BOV player of the match: Massimo Grima (Ħamrun Spartans).

Attendance: 1,176.

Standings

Playing today
Tedesco Stadium: 19.30 Floriana vs Birkirkara.