Rabat Ajax 1 Ħamrun Spartans 2

With just one point separating the sides and nine games to play, this evening's encounter between Rabat and Hamrun was considered as a classic relegation six-pointer which eventually went Ħamrun’s way.

The Spartans turned the tables on Rabat Ajax to take all points when David Camilleri scored directly from the corner five minutes from time.

Ħamrun made a stronger start as they looked for an early goal. The Spartans were enjoying the lion’s share of possession but Rabat adopted a cautious, counter-attacking strategy.

But the Magpies’ passing and movement quickly came to the fore as Licari profited from a misunderstanding between Bledjon Guga and Curmi who got in each other’s way as they tried to close down the Ajax player after eight minutes.

The striker’s effort was blocked, Manuel Fuster retrieved the loose ball but blasted over from a good position.

Five minutes later, the Spartans’ defence nearly was unlocked by a neat three-move as Negrin almost got on the end of Licari through-ball.  After 23 minutes, Grima had to smother in a goalmouth melee following a corner by Diego Carrillo Pendas.

Rabat took the lead six minutes from the break after Licari got himself  on the end of a Carrillo cross, before he headed the ball into the top corner of the net with Negrin’s dummy fooling the Ħamrun goalkeeper.

A quick interchange between David Camilleri and Grima just after the break, had Rabat in a tangle as the latter raced on the left flank but Loic Lumbilla made the impossible and headed the ball over bar from a good position.

Shy of the hour mark, Lumbilla tested the Rabat custodian Sean Mintoff to the limit with a curling effort destined for the right corner but the goalkeeper stretched out his hands to claw the ball away.

Ħamrun’s pressure produced an equaliser and Camilleri’s corner sailed into the box where Adrian Borg poked home from just outside the box.

Five minutes from time, the Spartans were awarded a corner and Camilleri’s inswinger eluded the Rabat defence with the ball bouncing into the back of the net.

Rabat surged forward and in stoppage time and were unlucky not to draw level when substitute Wayne Borg headed the ball into the path of Carillo Pendas who shot just over the bar.