Spartans crowned champions

Naxxar Lions 1
Hamrun Spartans 3

The Victor Tedesco Stadium was yesterday tinted with red and black as Hamrun Spartans were crowned Division One champions after seeing off the challenge of Naxxar Lions.

The Spartans, who had already sealed promotion to the Premier League last week, needed a draw or a win from their final encounter against the Lions to make sure they finished the campaign on top of the standings.

They reached this target in comfortable fashion as goals from Gaetan Spiteri and a Stefan Sultana brace handed them a 3-1 win to give them an unassailable four-point lead over second-placed Mqabba.

Michael Degiorgio's men took control of proceedings right from the start. After just three minutes, a Kevin Borg free-kick was headed just wide by Spiteri. Three minutes later Hamrun were close again when Spiteri exchanged the ball with Diego Cucciardi but his shot was kept out by Naxxar goalkeeper Franco Scicluna.

The Spartans kept pushing forward and in the seventh minute Cucciardi was unlucky to see his shot hit the post and Fabri's effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Matthew Spiteri Gonzi.

Hamrun finally forged ahead in the 11th minute. Spiteri was first on a Cucciardi cross and his header was somehow blocked by Scicluna but the nippy forward showed quick reflexes to tuck in the rebound.

The Spartans doubled their advantage five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Cucciardi was fouled in the area by Victor Bellia and Sultana sent the Naxxar 'keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0.

Naxxar's response finally arrived on 20 minutes when Jerry Ani's free-kick hit the bar with Jason Cordina beaten. A minute later, Hamrun also hit the woodwork when Sultana's volley smacked against the crossbar, Spiteri took the rebound but his shot was palmed away by Scicluna.

The Lions surprisingly pulled one back four minutes before the break. Simon Muscat sent a ball towards Ani who headed home from close in. On the stroke of half-time, Hamrun hit the woodwork a third time from another Spiteri effort.

The Spartans restored their two-goal advantage five minutes into the second half. Borg's free-kick was met by the towering Sultana who headed powerfully into the Naxxar net.

From then on Hamrun administered their advantage and could have increased further their lead but Briffa's volley was well saved by Scicluna and seconds later Spiteri had a shot cleared off the line by substitute Justin Zammit.

At the end of the match, MFA vice-president John Farrugia presented the trophy to Hamrun skipper Stefan Sultana as their numerous supporters kicked off their celebrations party.

Naxxar: F. Scicluna, J. Mifsud, M. Spiteri Gonzi, D. Zuccaro, A. Galea (J. Zammit), V. Bellia, T. Fenech, S. Muscat, M. Gauci, G. Camilleri (G. Magri), J. Ani.

Hamrun Spartans: J. Cordina, A. Attard, J. Debattista (N. Galea), J. Magri Overend, N. Slavtchev, K. Fabri, K. Borg, G. Spiteri, R. Fenech, D. Cucciardi (E. Briffa), S. Sultana (Q. Refalo).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Balzan Youths 5
Gozo FC 0

Balzan Youths waved goodbye to First Division football in style with a comfortable win over Gozo FC, in a match that pitted against each other the two relegated teams.

This was Balzan's only double this season, completed against a Gozitan side who presented themselves at the Victor Tedesco Stadium with only 13 players as the inclement weather made their journey from the sister island a difficult one.

As the scoreline clearly underlines Balzan were the better team and had they taken the chances that came their way they could have registered a more pronounced success.

After only nine minutes a Beppe Pace free-kick for Balzan was punched away by Gozo goalkeeper Donald Gauci, the ball fell into the path of David Mamo who shot wide from close range. Mamo had just come on for Jerryton Agius who limped off injured.

The Gozitans responded in the 11th minute, when Philip Bajada released Joseph Grech but the striker shot straight into the hands of Balzan goalkeeper Brian Bonello.

Gradually Balzan took control of proceedings and deservedly took the lead in the 22nd minute. Simon Mizzi picked the unmarked Alistair Camilleri who fired the ball home from close in.

It was 2-0 two minutes later when Matthew Sciortino served again Camilleri and the Balzan striker lobbed the ball beautifully into the Gozitan net.

Balzan were now cruising and could have easily struck on two other occasions but were twice denied by the upright through efforts of Marlon Monreal and Pace.

Five minutes into the second half, Mizzi hit Balzan's third after being set up by Camilleri.

On 62 minutes Balzan netted their fourth goal. Mizzi nodded the ball towards Camilleri who fired in his third goal with a spectacular scissors-kick.

Eleven minutes later, Balzan netted their fifth and final goal when Aaron Agius served Camilleri who shot the ball home.

Balzan Youths: B. Bonello, A. Agius, R. Grech, M. Monreal (C. Vella), B. Pace, K. Curmi, J. Agius (D. Mamo), L. Mangion, A. Camilleri, M. Sciortino, S. Mizzi (N. Farrugia).

Gozo: D. Gauci, P. Bajada, F. Grima, C. De Oliveira, A. Grech, M. Vella, M. Francalanza, N. Borg, J. Grech, M. Muscat, J. Camilleri.

Referee: Ian Miller.

Today's matches: 9 a.m. Mosta vs San Gwann; 11 a.m. Marsa vs Senglea.