Ħamrun Spartans 0
Mqabba 0

Ħamrun Spartans extended their unbeaten run to five matches yesterday but in the end they had their lucky stars to thank for the point won as Mqabba saw more of the ball and ventured forward more freely only to be let down by their poor finishing.

Mqabba are still in deep trouble. They were looking to win this match and ease their relegation worries but strikers John Nwoba and Bojan Mamic had an off day.

Both were responsible for some shocking finishing with only the opposing goalkeeper to beat on some occasions.

In the end, the outcome was more than acceptable for the Spartans who remain four points clear of the second-bottom team but not the same can be said of Mqabba who have lots of work to do to retain their status.

Ħamrun coach Stefan Sultana had to do without Scottish striker Dene Shields who failed to recover from a knee injury.

Gaetan Spiteri was also ruled out with a one-match ban and was replaced by his younger brother Ryan Spiteri. Steve Bonnici was back in the fray after suspension. He partnered Ronnie Hartvig in the heart of defence with Massimo Grima moving upfield in the middle of the park.

Mqabba had combative midfielder David Fenech suspended as the returning Julian Briffa replaced Rene Duca who was dropped to the bench.

It was the Spartans who showed the better ideas early on and after three minutes Grima picked Anderson Ribeiro inside the box but his shot whizzed past the upright.

Mqabba missed a glorious chance to take the lead on 10 minutes when Mauro Bonnici picked Mamic who fired into the side-netting from a good position.

Ħamrun were struggling to keep up with the pace of the Mqabba forwards and three minutes later Nwoba moved past Bonnici but incredibly fired wide with only Omar Borg to beat.

Grima tried his luck from the distance for Ħamrun but his shot finished just over as Mqabba hit back with a Claudio Calleja drive that flew off target.

The Spartans created their best chance on 31 minutes when Spiteri released Gianluca Calabretta who shot badly from routine distance.

At the other end, keeper Borg was forced to make a fine save to keep out Bonnici’s speculative shot.

Calabretta then lost possession just outside the area and the mishap almost procured an Mqabba opener as Pierre Grima’s cross found the unmarked Nwoba who again failed to find the net from an ideal scoring position.

In time added on, Nwoba threatened again, this time his effort was pushed to a corner by the alert Borg.

Mqabba still looked the better side after the restart. On 47 minutes, Mamic released Calleja whose shot was deviated to a corner by Matthew Gauci.

Nwoba was doing well to carve spaces for himself inside the Ħamrun half. He was again dangerous on 57 minutes when his shot almost had the better of keeper Borg.

Sultana was clearly unhappy with his team’s showing and withdrew Grima on the hour and roped in Daniel Zerafa.

But Mqabba still held the initiative and Nwoba again forced his way through but was anticipated by Calabretta as he was about to shoot home.

In a quick raid, the Spartans almost got a breakthrough. Sammut released Ribeiro who anticipated the onrushing Calleja but his shot lacked precision.

With Mqabba more focused in attack, Ħamrun had another good chance to score late on but Ribeiro, set up Spiteri, who fired wide in front of a gaping goal.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-6, G. Calabretta-5.5, D. Camilleri-6, S. Bonnici-6.5, R. Hartvig-7, M. Grima-5 (60 D. Zerafa-6.5), L.J. Agius-5.5, K. Sammut-6, R. Spiteri-5.5, A. Ribeiro-6.5, M. Gauci-6.5.

Mqabba
K. Calleja-6, J. Briffa-6, M.A. Psaila-6.5, B. Timotic-6.5, P. Grima-5.5, C. Calleja-6.5, M. Potezika-7.5, M. Bonnici-7, D. Azzopardi-7.5 (84 J.P. Muscat), B. Mamic-5 (81 T. Mazzitelli), J. Nwoba-5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Briffa, Ribeiro, Azzopardi, Timotic, Psaila.

BOV Player of the match: Marko Potezika (Mqabba).

Standings