Lija Athletic 0
Ħamrun Spartans 1

After suffering a 4-0 defeat to Msida St Joseph last week, few gave Ħamrun Spartans a chance to stop promotion-seekers Lija Athletic yesterday.

However, the Spartans, with newcomers Martin Deanov and Aaron Attard in the team, looked a different proposition. Now that they have cancelled the points penalty with which they had started the season and with a whole round of matches still to go, they can aspire for survival and beat the drop to Division Two.

This was Ħamrun’s second win of the season but for third-placed Lija the upset means they have fallen behind in the race for promotion.

Ħamrun played a blinder and even though they had a player less late on, the side showed that with the likes of Deanov and Attard they can achieve a great Houdini escape at the end of the season.

Gianluca Calabretta made his first showing for Lija after joining them from Balzan last week. The former Ħamrun midfielder gave his all but that was not enough to help his new team return home with something in their bags.

Lija went close early on when Ħamrun keeper Jean Claude Debattista mistimed his sortie to intercept a cross but Predrag Babic failed to capitalise from a good position.

The Spartans responded with a Mariano Cornago del Pedro free-kick that lacked precision and flew off target.

Italian striker Antonio Pignataro tried his luck from outside the Lija box but his shot went astray.

Then, on 25 minutes, Ige controlled well in the opponents’ box but dallied to conclude with the Spartans’ rearguard regrouping to avert danger.

A Sergio Hili effort from the distance finished just wide of Calleja’s goal and a Babic free-kick finished just over the Ħamrun goal.

Lija insisted in attack and a minute before the break an Aleksandrov volley was stopped by Debattista. Moments later it was Aleksandrov again who hit just wide following a Clayton Giordmaina cross.

On the hour, Ħamrun missed a sitter through Pignataro who drove the ball wide from close range following a Deanov cross.

The Spartans scored the goal that mattered on 67 minutes.

From a corner, Matthew Fleri Soler handled in the box and a penalty was given. Cornago del Pedro scored from the spot to put the Reds in front.

Lija threw caution to the wind but Debattista did well to preserve Ħamrun’s lead with a superb save off a Giordmaina effort.

Twelve minutes from time Ħamrun suffered a setback when they had Melvin Busuttil sent off for a second booking following a foul in midfield.

It was one-way traffic now with Lija doing their utmost to save the match. But the Spartans held tight to chalk up a morale-boosting victory.

Lija: K. Calleja, C. Giordmaina, M. Fleri Soler, D. Scerri, E. Briffa (B. Chetcuti), J.P. Scerri, P. Babic (F. Zammit), L. Micallef, B. Antignolo (G. Calabretta), K. Aleksandrov, A. Ige.

Ħamrun: J.C. Debattista, A. Attard, M. Busuttil, A. Borg, D. Nazari, A. Micallef, S. Hili (L. Grech), M. Deanov, M. Cornago del Pedro, R. Spiteri (J. Felice), A. Pignataro (J.P. Kameni).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Man of the match: Ryan Spiteri (Ħamrun Spartans).

Standings