Ħamrun Spartans 0
Floriana 1
Woods 40;
Floriana’s success owed much to the tactical nous of coach Michael Woods whose decision on the half-hour mark to replace Tyrone Farrugia and drop back Pablo Doffo for a more watertight defence had a decisive effect on the game.
The Greens are now joint leaders with Valletta but with a game in hand. They had struggled to contain Ħamrun’s pace but the inclusion of Argentine Doffo in the back four restricted the incursions of wingers Anderson Ribeiro and Toneto Porcari to the minimum.
On the other hand, Jesmond Zammit’s men had only themselves to blame for being in a frantic state. They had plenty of possession but too often let themselves down by overlaying in the final third.
Floriana were without suspended goalkeeper William Amamoo so stand-in Manuel Bartolo was between the posts. And he came to Floriana’s rescue inside the first two minutes when he had to deal with a nervous back pass by Owen Bugeja.
At first, the Spartans looked the more cohesive of the two sides and with midfield congested they made inroads down the flanks. Ribeiro was a constant threat on Floriana’s right wing, giving Pisani a torrid time.
Gaetan Spiteri will be wondering how he did not score with two clear opportunities, first when Bartolo saved his shot and then when he failed to capitalise on a mix-up by the Floriana defence before coach Woods opted to reshuffle his pack in defence.
The Greens immediately took advantage of the defensive re-adjustment to break the deadlock five minutes before the break.
Ivan Woods chested the ball down and beat Omar Borg with an impressive volley.
Spiteri was replaced at half-time by Lee James Agius.
Floriana suddenly lost their impetus as the Spartans began to find their feet but there were few signs that the Greens could spoil their evening.
On 53 minutes, Joseph Borg got on to the end of Clyde Borg’s centre but rifled his shot over the Reds’ bar.
Midway through the second half, Mangion split the Floriana defence with a pinpoint free-kick to unleash Carlos Toneto Porcari but his header was stopped by Bartolo.
Right on the hour, Floriana almost punished Ħamrun’s flat-out approach with a counter-attack but Borg was alert as John Mintoff tried his luck with a neat shot.
Ħamrun had exerted a small measure of supremacy as the half wore on but Floriana’s threat was still in evidence.
Substitute Christian Caruana started a move with some deft footwork that ended with Mintoff miskicking in front of Borg’s goal.
With the clock ticking down, the Spartans pressed with more urgency and six minutes from time Massimo Grima’s header was blocked on the line by Bartolo.
Ħamrun’s growing desperation summoned up at the death when Ribeiro’s goalbound shot came off team-mate Toneto Porcari.
Ħamrun Spartans: O. Borg-6, N. Gacesa-6, M. Grima-6.5, R. Mangion-6.5, A. Ribeiro-6, K. Sammut-5, M. Gauci-5, C. Polli-5, G. Spiteri-5 (46 L. Agius-5.5), L. Silva- (21 C. Toneto Porcari-6.5), G. Calabretta-5 (80 S. Bonnici).
Floriana: M. Bartolo-6, O. Bugeja-7, M. Micallef-6.5, T. Farrugia-5 (32 C. Borg-6.5), D. Pisani-6, P. Doffo-8, I. Woods-7, C. Cassar-6.5, J. Borg-6.5 (71 C. Caruana), J. Mintoff-5 (77 T. Paris) B. Odwong-6.
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Calabretta, Ribeiro, Micallef, Grima, C. Borg.
BOV player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).
Attendances: 1,150.