Marsaxlokk 3
Hamrun 1
With a top-of-the-table showdown against Valletta looming large, Marsaxlokk gained a much-needed psychological fillip yesterday by easing past Hamrun Spartans 3-1.
The pressure was all on the champions after the 2-1 reverse to Birkirkara last weekend but two goals inside the first 20 minutes set Marsaxlokk on their way to victory.
Julio Alcorse hit a brace, the second, from a penalty 17 minutes from time, proving to be the killer goal after Hamrun had briefly threatened to capitalise on their opponents' mid-game sloppiness.
The Spartans had endured a poor start but a goal by Diego Cucciardi late in the first half had raised hopes of a possible fightback. However, Marsaxlokk's skills proved too much for them.
Aleksandar Madzar's absence through suspension paved the way for Steve Wellman's recall to Marsaxlokk's first team. He was detailed to operate in attack.
Marsaxlokk coach Brian Talbot also restored young Mark Barbara to the first team as a replacement for the injured Cleaven Frendo. Defender Renato Conceicao was named among the substitutes as were Malcolm Licari and Gareth Sciberras.
Hamrun coach Marco Gerada, yesterday serving the first of a two-match touchline ban, had Alfred Effiong partnering Gaetan Spiteri in attack. Mark Anthony Bonnici and Roderick Fenech were back in the frame after suspension but midfield lynch-pin Rupert Mangion and Precious Monye were both missing.
Marsaxlokk broke the deadlock after 12 minutes. A fine cross by Kevin Sammut soared towards the centre of the penalty area where Alcorse used his height to get first to the ball.
His downward header looked to pose no particular danger for Sean Sullivan but the goalkeeper could only watch incredulously as the ball evaded his grasp and rolled into the net.
Marsaxlokk set the early pace and their superiority yielded another goal on 20 minutes. William Camenzuli turned back the clock with a thunderbolt from a free-kick that whizzed past the startled Sullivan.
The Spartans' attacking threat was as good as nil up to that point. It was not before the 27th minute that they showed up in Marsaxlokk's half after Spiteri supplied a pass to Effiong who dribbled his way into the box but his final effort was too weak to trouble Reuben Debono.
Just as Marsaxlokk began to show signs of easing off, the Spartans issued their opponents with a wake-up call in the shape of a goal.
Having forced two corners, Gerada's men hit the target from the second one as Ryan Fenech's cross was not cleared and Cucciardi was on hand to lift the ball into the net from close range.
The first genuine scoring chance of the second half fell to Marsaxlokk, precisely to Jamie Pace.
He blasted over from an excellent position in the centre of the box after Wellman had punished lax Spartans defending by lofting the ball into the path of his midfield team-mate.
At the other end, Alcorse headed the ball away from Bratislav Timotic who had leapt to reach a set-piece from Ryan Fenech.
Wellman then threatened to restore Marsaxlokk's two-goal cushion when diving forward to head Sammut's cross from a free-kick but his effort was blocked by Sullivan.
By and large, the game remained a soporific affair, the tedium on the pitch reflected in the subdued atmosphere on the terraces of the sun-drenched National Stadium. A perfectly-timed tackle by Roderick Fenech denied the advancing Alcorse and, for Hamrun, Steve Meilak fired wide of the near post.
Midway through the second half, Pace produced a powerful but central shot which was smothered away by Sullivan but Marsaxlokk continued to stutter their way forward.
All that changed 17 minutes from time when Sammut finally summoned a surging run from the right and into the box where his progression was cut short by Roderick Fenech's late tackle.
Referee Joe Attard pointed to the spot and Alcorse sent Sullivan the wrong way to put Marsaxlokk's minds at rest.
Marsaxlokk: R. Debono-6, C. Mamo-6, C. Magro-6, W. Camenzuli-6.5, J. Pace-6, K. Sammut-7, S. Wellman-6 ('89 S. Tellus), P. Pullicino-6.5, J. Alcorse-6, T. Templeman-6 ('86 M. Licari), M. Barbara-5.5 ('56 R. Conceicao-5.5).
Hamrun: S. Sullivan-5, M.A. Bonnici-5 ('46 C. Cacciattolo-5), D. Cucciardi-6 ('83 L. J. Agius), K. Borg-6, Roderick Fenech-7, S. Meilak-6, Ryan Fenech-7.5, N. Galea-6.5 ('49 J. Debattista-5), B. Timotic-6.5, G. Spiteri-6.5, A. Effiong-5.
Referee: Joe Attard.
Scorers: Alcorse 12, 73 pen.; Camenzuli 20; Cucciardi 33
BoV Player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk).