Hamrun Spartans 1
Msida St Joseph 0
Hamrun are alive and kicking.
A depressing run of four straight defeats had raised doubts about their ability to mount a strong challenge to avoid the drop but the Spartans yesterday delivered a bold riposte.
Pitched in a direct confrontation with Msida, Hamrun turned in a sound, albeit unspectacular, display to edge a turgid encounter 1-0 and collect their first victory of the season.
Coming from commendable draws against Valletta and Tarxien, Msida were billed as slight favourites but the Saints were overpowered by opponents who showed more hunger to take the three points.
Hamrun coach Steve D'Amato was buoyed by the return to fitness of three players, Mark Anthony Bonnici, Jonathan Holland and Manolito Micallef.
D'Amato restored Czech Martin Hrubsa to a central role in a four-man defence. Gaetan Spiteri was the spearhead of Hamrun's 4-1-4-1 formation which had Micallef and Mark Barbara taking up advanced midfield positions.
Adam Spiteri was preferred to Kevin Mifsud in the only change Msida coach Mark Marlow made from the team that drew 1-1 with Tarxien.
Msida played 4-4-1-1 in their opening four matches but Marlow switched to 4-4-2 yesterday with Emiliano Lattes and Olushola Aganun leading their forward line.
The Spartans scored the goal that mattered after 12 minutes.
They were awarded a free-kick after Zoran Levnaic was adjudged to have tripped Spiteri. Rupert Mangion swung over a dangerous cross and Roderick Fenech stormed in front of goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo to head the ball home.
Msida threatened to make it 1-1 soon after but Adrian Farrugia's cross-shot was belted away by the opposing defenders.
Creative football was at a premium but Hamrun had a solid look about them. On one occasion, Spiteri drifted inside the box and mustered a rising shot that whistled past the far post.
The Spartans would have doubled their advantage but for a fine save by Bartolo. The danger for Msida stemmed from another set-piece cross by Mangion which was nodded on by Micallef but Holland's point-blank header was stopped by the keeper.
Msida continued to struggle. Aganun, an erstwhile subdued figure in attack, tried his luck with a free-kick that sailed wide.
On the stroke of half-time, Holland directed a through-ball to Spiteri who charged towards the byline after evading Bartolo. The cross-cum-shot flew across the face of goal but there were no Hamrun players to tap the ball in. Actually, Barbara had followed the action but ended on the turf after being challenged by Roderick Baldacchino.
Hamrun's pleas for a penalty were ignored by the referee.
After an interlude of scrappy football at the start of the second half, Mangion interrupted the boredom with another effort that almost caught Bartolo unawares but the keeper shifted to his right to palm the danger away.
The Spartans missed a great opportunity to seal victory.
Holland, an influential performer for his team, slipped a through-ball to Barbara who was clean through but hesitated as he entered the box and Cedric Sciberras dispossessed him.
With Msida showing no signs of a reaction, it was the Spartans who threatened again.
Mangion's corner was met with a header by substitute Diego Cucciardi that was pawed away by Bartolo. The ball looped towards the far post but Stefano Grima cleared.
Two minutes from time, Msida squandered a glorious chance to equalise.
Substitute Iro Curmi delivered a fine centre from a corner and Aganun's header was smothered away by Casha. The danger was not over for Hamrun as the ball dropped to Mifsud but he lofted the ball high before the Spartans cleared.
Hamrun Spartans I. Casha-6.5, A. Attard-6, M.A. Bonnici-6, R. Mangion-6.5, R. Fenech-6.5, M. Micallef-6 ('68 D. Cucciardi-6), M.Barbara-6 ('83 M. Mifsud), N. Galea-7, G. Spiteri-7 ('90 L.J. Agius), M. Hrubsa-6, J. Holland-7.5.
Msida St Joseph M. Bartolo-7, S. Grima-5, R. Baldacchino-5, C. Sciberras-6, T. Farrugia-5. A. Spiteri-4 ('62 I. Curmi-5), O. Aganun-5.5, Z.Levnaic-6.5, A. Farrugia-4 ('79 K. Mifsud), E. Lattes-5, K. Ebejer-6 ('71 A. Formosa).
Scorer Fenech 12 (Hamrun)
Referee Anton Zammit.
Yellow cards Micallef; Bonnici; Aganun; Baldacchino; T. Farrugia; Attard; Cucciardi.
BoV player of the match Rupert Mangion (Hamrun Spartans).