Ħamrun Spartans 2
Pereira 44 pen; Fenech 65
Msida St Joseph 0
Hamrun Spartans' charge towards a Championship Pool berth gathered further momentum when they eased past troubled Msida at a packed stadium last night.
There can be little qualms on the legitimacy of the Spartans' success as they were a cut above their opponents from the start with their attacking tandem of man-of-the-match Marcelo Pereira and Joao Mawete a continuous threat with their surging runs that tore apart a ragged Msida defence.
The only sour note for the Reds yesterday was the booking of skipper Rupert Mangion, his fourth of the season. He will now miss the clash against neighbours Qormi.
Still, the Spartans will be delighted with another priceless victory that lifts them to fifth place in the standings, one point ahead of Sliema and Floriana, and in a strong position to finish in the top six at the end of the first phase.
Spartans coach Steve D'Amato handed a full debut to new signing Ian Zammit.
Msida coach Keith Gouder also had a new forward to parade as Nigerian Ndayi Kalenga was thrown in the fray after joining the Saints this week in place of Costa Rican forward Wendell Gabriels.
Tyrone Farrugia and Cedric Sciberras were available and so was Adam Spiteri after recovering full fitness.
The opening minutes were somewhat cagey with both teams looking to assert their dominance in midfield.
The Spartans threatened first on 16 minutes when Pereira burst past two defenders before squaring the ball to Gaetan Spiteri whose goalbound shot was deflected to a corner. From the flag-kick, Mawete's header was cleared off the line by Lydon Micallef.
Mawete showed some deft footwork five minutes later to ease through before serving the sprinting Pereira whose shot hit the outside of the upright.
Zammit almost marked his debut with a goal on 33 minutes. The former Valletta forward was first to a short clearance by Bartolo but his first-time effort was pushed to a corner by the Msida no.1.
Three minutes from the break the Spartans were awarded a penalty when Mawete was floored in the area by Spiteri. Pereira drilled the ball in the bottom right corner of Bartolo's goal.
Msida's first attempt at goal arrived in first-half added time when Lattes picked Kalenga in the area but his dipping header finished over.
Msida started to venture more forward after the break and on 54 minutes Ivan Casha, the Ħamrun keeper, had to dive to his right to push away Lattes's volley.
However, it was the 'hosts' who struck again on 65 minutes when from a corner, Roderick Fenech leaped high above the Msida keeper to head the ball home.
Msida were jaded and could have suffered another goal. Manolito Micallef charged past two defenders but his fierce drive was fisted away by Bartolo.
The match had little to offer as D'Amato's men easily administered their advantage for a useful victory in their quest to finish among the top six.
Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6, M.A. Bonnici-6.5, R. Fenech-7, M. Hrubsa-6.5, C. Camoin-6.5, M. Micallef-7, R. Mangion-7, G. Spiteri-6 ('84 D.A. Cucciardi), I. Zammit-5.5 ('90 M. Mifsud), J. Mawete-7.5, M. Pereira-8 ('90 M. Barbara).
Msida St Joseph
M. Bartolo-6, L. Micallef-5, M. Borda-5, T. Farrugia-5.5, C. Sciberras-5, Z. Levniac-6, A. Spiteri-5 ('61 A. Formosa-4), M. Ciantar-4 ('72 A. Farrugia), K. Mifsud-5, E. Lattes-5.5, N. Kalenga-5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Mangion, Micallef, Mifsud, Sciberras, Mawete, Zammit.
BOV Player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Ħamrun Spartans).