Ħamrun Spartans 3
Favero 19, 40; Grima 83 pen;
Melita 5
Attard 56; Valenzia 67 pen; Sierra Camacho 71 pen; Galea 86, 90;

Melita bid farewell to their first season in the Premier League in style after coming from behind to see off Ħamrun Spartans 5-3.

With both teams already condemned to relegation, only pride was at stake yesterday.

Ħamrun looked on their way to a comfortable victory as Giacomo Favero’s first-half double put them in charge but the Amateurs came back strongly after the interval.

Three goals in the space of 25 minutes, two of which were penalties, turned the match in their favour. The Spartans, who had been reduced to 10 men, managed to draw level seven minutes from time from another penalty.

But Melita kept pushing forward and Julian Galea struck twice in the closing minutes to make sure his side bowed out of the Premier League on a winning note.

It was no surprise that both teams had some young players in their squad.

Ħamrun coach Stefan Sultana roped in young defender Melvin Busuttil in lieu of the suspended Roderick Fenech while Ayrton Micallef and Spaniard Cesar Catalan were given the nod to start ahead of Glenn Azzopardi and Ryan Spiteri who were among the substitutes.

Patxi Salinas, the Melita coach, chose Andrew Caruana Scicluna to replace Serbian defender Ivan Tufegdzic who was suspended. Andrew Abela started in goal ahead of Philip Schranz while Michael Valenzia was preferred to Alan Borg Olivier.

Melita enjoyed the brighter start. After 10 minutes, Galea did well to turn past Massimo Grima but his drive was blocked by Andrea Cassar, the Ħamrun keeper.

The Spartans responded immediately and a minute later, Micallef showed great footwork to burst into the area but his cross-shot just missed the upright.

On 12 minutes, the woodwork denied the Spartans an opener when winger Emiliano Lattes sent a dipping cross towards the far post and Grima’s header hit the upright.

The Spartans broke the stalemate on 19 minutes.

Favero received possession on the edge of the area and let fly a powerful shot that flew past Abela.

One expected the match to spring to life but it was certainly not the case as play was mostly taking place in the middle of the park with scoring chances at a premium.

Melita finally threatened on 37 minutes.

Luke Micallef dispossessed David Camilleri and sped into the area before squaring the ball towards Daniel Cabanillas whose effort was blocked by Busuttil.

However, it was Ħamrun who doubled their lead five minutes from the break. In a swift break, Lattes put Favero clean through and the Italian midfielder did well to turn past Abela before depositing the ball into an empty net.

On the restart, Salinas withdrew Karl Vella Petroni and Daniel Cabanillas in favour of Luke Sammut and Jean Pierre Attard respectively.

Those changes reaped instant dividends as the two substitutes combined for Melita to pull one back on 56 minutes.

The Amateurs were awarded a free-kick on the left channel and Sammut delivered a perfect cross into the path of Attard who headed past Cassar.

Melita were suddenly in it and on 67 minutes they were awarded a penalty when Galea was brought down in the area by Grima. From the spot-kick, Valenzia drilled the ball past Cassar.

The match turned on its head and Melita were awarded a second penalty on 71 minutes when Cassar was adjudged to have tripped Micallef in the box with Irish referee Paul McLoughlin pointing to the spot before dismissing the keeper.

Anthony Curmi entered the fray with Micallef making way.

This time it was Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho who took the penalty, the Spaniard beating Curmi despite the latter touching the ball on its way into the net.

The Spartans tried to respond and on 79 minutes Grima hit a long-range shot that flew just wide.

Ħamrun drew level nine minutes from time when Abela was ruled to have blocked Lattes’s run inside the area. Grima made no mistake from the spot.

Yet, it was Melita who had the final say as, four minutes from time, Galea profited from some hesitant defending by the Spartans to run clear and lob the ball over Curmi.

There was still time for Melita to hit their fifth goal. In a swift raid, Micallef released Galea who fired past Curmi to cap a fine afternoon for the Amateurs.

Micallef almost grabbed a sixth but his firm drive came off the Ħamrun upright.

Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar, M. Busuttil-6 (62 G. Azzopardi-5), D. Camilleri-5.5, A. Micallef-6 (71 A. Curmi-4), T. Scerri-5, G. Favero-6.5, E. Lattes-6, M. Grima-6, A. Borg-5.5, L. Grech-5, C. Catalan-5 (68 R. Spiteri-5).

Melita
A. Abela-5, K. Vella Petroni-5 (46 L. Sammut-7), L. Bianco-5.5 (61 A. Borg Olivier-6), R. Alhinho-6, M. Sierra Camacho-6, M. Valenzia-6, A. Caruana Scicluna-6.5, M. Borg-6, J. Galea-7.5, D. Cabanillas-5 (46 J.P. Attard-7), L. Micallef-6.5.

Referee: P. McLoughlin (N. Ireland FA).

Yellow cards: Grima; Scerri; Abela; Favero.

Red card: Cassar (ĦS) 71.

BOV Player of the match: Julian Galea (Melita).