Marsaxlokk 1
Stoskovic 59;
Ħamrun Spartans 6
Sammut 13, 73, 88; Ribeiro 32, 44, 47;

Ħamrun Spartans stepped up their drive to retain their Premier League status with a 6-1 thrashing of bottom side Marsaxlokk yesterday.

There was never any doubt as to which team would gain maximum spoils as the Spartans were in control from the outset.

Inspired by the strong running of Kevin Sammut and the lethal finishing of Anderson Ribeiro, both of whom scored a hat-trick, they swept past the southerners who were a shadow of the team that had the better of Qormi in their first Relegation Pool outing.

With this win, the Spartans have moved up to eighth in the table (second in the Relegation Pool) and on this form, the former Malta champions will fancy their chances of securing survival with something to spare.

Trevor Templeman returned from suspension for Marsaxlokk but the midfielder had to settle for a place on the bench as coach Anton Cremona kept faith with the same 11 players who started the 1-0 defeat of Qormi.

Ħamrun, for their part, effected two changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Mosta last week. Lee James Agius was recalled to the starting formation, replacing the injured Daniel Zerafa, while David Camilleri came in for the suspended Matthew Gauci.

The Reds attacked from the start. After nine minutes, they won a corner and Camilleri’s cross was met by Ronnie Hartvig whose firm header came off the bar.

That was the prelude to the Spartans’ opener that came on 13 minutes. In a swift break, Scottish forward Dene Shields sped into the area and crossed for Gaetan Spiteri who nodded the ball into the path of Sammut who rifled home.

Two minutes later, the dominant Spartans were again denied by the woodwork as Camilleri’s swerving cross from a corner flashed off the far post with the ball sailing into the hands of Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

Marsaxlokk’s response arrived on 24 minutes when Nemanja Stoskovic’s cross from a free-kick soared towards Nigerian striker Peter Oladotun who did well to calibrate his body but his overhead kick rolled wide.

Three minutes later, Camilleri picked out Shields on the edge of the area and the Scottish striker ran past his marker but fired wide.

Ħamrun remained on top and on the half hour, Sammut released Spiteri who tried to lob the ball over Cassar but missed the target.

The Spartans doubled their lead a minute later when Ribeiro anticipated Eboh and burst into the area before planting a low shot past Cassar.

Marsaxlokk came close to pulling one back four minutes from the break when Oladotun’s angled drive flashed wide.

The game was all but over as a contest on 44 minutes when, in a fast break, the impressive Sammut fed Ribeiro who turned past his marker before beating Cassar with a low drive.

On the restart, Cremona made two substitutions as Templeman and Clive Brincat replaced Modesto Valeriani and Jermain Brincat.

However, these changes failed to shore up Marsaxlokk’s defence as, two minutes into the second half, Sammut sent a teasing cross towards the unmarked Ribeiro who beat Cassar with a firm header.

The Spartans were in complete control and on 57 minutes Spiteri should have added a fifth when the Ħamrun skipper was put through by Sammut but hit wide with only Cassar to beat.

Marsaxlokk narrowed the deficit on 59 minutes when Alex Cesar Pedrozo crossed for Stoskovic at the far post and the Serbian midfielder dived full stretch to head past Omar Borg.

The Blues suddenly came more into the picture and two minutes later, Jean Paul Farrugia found Oladotun in the area but the Nigerian headed just wide.

On 63 minutes, Ribeiro should have restored the Spartans’ four-goal cushion when the Brazilian powered through and rounded Cassar but his shot hit the upright.

The Spartans continued to dominate. With 20 minutes left, Shields went clear on the right and sent in a cross towards Sammut. The Ħamrun midfielder nodded the ball into the path of Massimo Grima who fired just over.

Ħamrun made it 5-1 on 73 minutes when substitute Glenn Azzopardi passed to Sammut who skilfully turned around his marker and lobbed the ball over Cassar.

The Spartans completed the rout two minutes from time. Referee Marco Borg awarded the Spartans an indirect free-kick from inside the area after goalkeeper Cassar was adjudged to have collected Eboh’s backpass.

Grima set up Sammut who chalked up his hat-trick with a simple finish.

Marsaxlokk
C. Cassar-4, M. Valeriani-4 (46 T. Templeman-5), P. Borg-4 (53 S. Borg-5.5), L. Agius-5, J. Brincat-4 (46 C. Brincat-5), N. Stoskovic-5.5, S. Eboh-4, J.P. Farrugia-5, G. Caruana-5.5, P. Oladotun-6, A. Pedrozo-5.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-6, M. Grima-6.5, A. Ribeiro-8, L.J. Agius-7, K. Sammut-8, R. Hartvig-6.5, G. Spiteri-7 (71 R. Mangion), D. Camilleri-6.5, S. Bonnici-7, G. Calabretta-6.5 (72 G. Azzopardi), D. Shields-7.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: C. Brincat; Eboh.

BOV player of the match: Anderson Ribeiro (Ħamrun Spartans).

Standings