Ħamrun Spartans 3
Lattes 5; Fenech 26; Favero 56;
Balzan 2
Aboulezz 11; N’Dekre 88;

Ħamrun Spartans’ hopes of retaining their place in the Premier League received a massive boost last night after they produced a lively attacking performance to edge Balzan by the odd goal in three.

The final scoreline might suggest that the game was a tight affair but in reality the Spartans outshone their opponents for long stretches, racing into a 3-1 lead.

But Balzan pulled a goal back two minutes from time to set up a nervy finale for the Spartans who managed to hold on to their advantage to claim three priceless points that lifted them outside the relegation zone.

The Spartans are now two points ahead of relegation rivals Rabat, their impending oppo-nents on Friday. Should the Spartans emerge from that clash unscathed then they will surely be in the driving seat to prolong their stay in the top flight.

Aaron Agius and Firas Aboulezz were handed first-team roles by Balzan’s caretaker coach Riccardo Tumiatti, who was making his first appearance in the Balzan dug-out since replacing Ivan Zammit who was relieved off his duties last week.

Ħamrun, on their part, welcomed back in the fray Adrian Borg who replaced the suspended Blejdon Guga as coach Stefan Sultana effected only one change from the team that drew against Melita last week.

The Spartans had the better of the early exchanges and their pressure unsettled Balzan.

Tumiatti’s men were found wanting at the back inside the first five minutes. Ryan Spiteri made good progress on the left before guiding a cross-field cross towards Emiliano Lattes who twisted his body to slip behind the Balzan rearguard and flicked the ball past Balzan goalkeeper Daniel Martinez to give his side the lead.

The Spartans’ unexpected ope-ner forced Balzan to respond quickly. They came close to an equaliser a minute later when Stefan Giglio headed wide after meeting Aboulezz’s cross.

Balzan managed to draw level six minutes later when Aboulezz connected to a teasing cross by Dylan Grima and deposit the ball into the net.

But the Spartans refused to lie down and a second spell of pressure from the Reds culminated in a second goal.

The clock marked 26 minutes when Roderick Fenech punished some hesitant defending by Balzan and headed home from Luke Grech’s corner.

Balzan’s sprightly approach at the start of the second half had Ħamrun on the ropes.

In the 54th minute, Curmi denied Balzan as he touched away Renato Conceicao’s free-kick, awarded after Massimo Grima’s charge on Dylan Grima was judged as illegal.

Two minutes later, Ħamrun punished Balzan’s flat-out approach with a quick counter-attack.

Spiteri charged his way past Jacob Borg, before intelligently releasing the unmarked Giacomo Favero and the Italian midfielder had little problems to tap the ball home.

Three minutes from time, Terence Vella should have put the game to bed when in a counter-attack, Favero freed the Malta striker who tried to chip the ball over Martinez but his effort crashed against the post.

The Spartans paid dearly for that miss as Balzan scored their second. Latching on Martinez’s delivery, Elie Moises N’Dekre bore down on goal through the middle to unleash a rising shot in the top corner.

Here tension was evident on the Spartans clan but the Reds manage to preserve their advantage to clinch a very important victory.

Ħamrun Spartans
A.Curmi-7, G. Azzopardi-6, D. Zerafa-6, A. Borg-6, M. Grima-6.5, L. Grech-7, G. Favero-6.5, R. Fenech-6, T. Vella-6 (88 T. Scerri), E. Lattes-7, R. Spiteri-7.5 (83 A. Micallef).

Balzan
D. Martinez-6, F. Aboulezz-6.5, A. Agius-5, E. Moises N’Dekre-6, J. Borg-4, R. Darmanin-5 (71 C. Grixti), R. Conceicao-6.5, D. Grima-5, S. Giglio-5, M. Mendy-6, J. Pace-5 (64 B. Bondin).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: A. Agius; Renato; N’Dekre.

BOV player of the match: Ryan Spiteri (Ħamrun Spartans).

Attendance: 317.

Standings