Spartans crush inept Qormi

Qormi 1
Da Silva 14
Ħamrun Spartans 4
Comvalius 10, 32; Ryan Fenech 59; Cucciardi 81

Ħamrun Spartans sent out another firm warning to their relegation adversaries yesterday when they easily disposed of Qormi's challenge in what turned out to be a surprisingly one-sided match.

Pre-match forecasts pointed towards a tight, fiercely-contested duel between these two relegation rivals as both Hamrun and Qormi came into this match buoyed by positive results in their last outings.

While the Spartans confirmed that their 1-0 defeat of Msida was no flash in the pan, Qormi flattered to deceive. They were a pale shadow of the team that rattled champions Valletta four days earlier, their lack of enthusiasm and creativity being brutally exposed by the brilliant Spartans for whom Sylvano Comvalius had another outstanding match.

Mark Anthony Bonnici was absent for Ħamrun after the right-back suffered an injury during training.

Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa limited himself to one change from the team he fielded for Monday's goalless draw with Valletta. Anatole Debono's industrious performance after replacing Paul Camilleri earned him a starting berth at the expense of the latter.

The Spartans started the game in adventurous mode. Roderick Fenech might have given his team an early lead but he headed just wide of the right-hand post after a good cross from Jonathan Bondin.

Reuben Gauci, the Qormi goalkeeper, did well when fielding Rupert Mangion's inswinging cross from a corner.

Qormi ignored the alarm signals and the Spartans meted out instant punishment after 10 minutes. Steve Wellman conceded a free-kick after clattering into the legs of Ryan Fenech just outside the penalty area. Comvalius took responsibility for the free-kick and his curling effort took a deflection which completely wrong-footed Gauci.

The Dutch striker threatened to deepen Qormi's woes. Latching on to a dipping pass from Rupert Mangion, Comvalius cut inside Ramon Dos Santos but his central effort was repelled by Gauci.

Gauci's crucial intervention would take on added significance three minutes later as Qormi equalised in their first notable attack of the game.

Debono's grounder proved too hot for Ivan Casha who failed to hold the ball much to the delight of Josivan Da Silva who fired home from the rebound.

It was end-to-end stuff in these early stages, the Spartans threatening to restore their lead but Manolito Micallef hit wide after Mangion had headed Florin Anton's cross into his path.

Zerafa and Steve D'Amato, his opposite number at Ħamrun, sought to offer increased protection to their four-man defences by deploying a holding midfielder. Ryan Fenech patrolled the area in front of defence for the Spartans and Massimo Grima did likewise for Qormi.

On 25 minutes, Zerafa had to make his first substitution after Adrian Ciantar succumbed to injury. His place was taken by Camilleri.

Two minutes past the hour mark, the Spartans went 2-1 up. Micallef was the provider with a peach of a pass from near the right touchline towards Comvalius who muscled his way past Dos Santos before hammering the ball past Gauci.

Comvalius's astute movement and physical presence was a constant cause of concern for Qormi who were also finding it difficult to cope with Mangion's probing in the middle and the incursions of Micallef down the right.

Qormi's predicament deepened 14 minutes into the second half when Ryan Fenech's thunderbolt from long range ripped past Gauci.

Comvalius was unfortunate not to triple the Spartans' lead when his scrambled effort, following a backheeled pass from Fenech, ricocheted off Wellman and flashed against the base of the near post. With Qormi in a state of shock, Ħamrun kept pushing forward. Mangion almost struck goal no. 4 but his looping effort sailed high.

Comvalius then spurned the chance to complete his hat-trick when firing over the bar after receiving from Micallef.

Diego Armano Cucciardi, a late replacement for Steve Meilak, just failed to make contact with Comvalius' cross but nine minutes from time, the Spartans substitute hit the target.

Another devastating Ħamrun move unhinged Qormi as Spiteri squared to Cucciardi who curled the ball past Gauci.

At the other end, Grima was unlucky not to pull one back for Qormi when his deflected free-kick sailed against the crossbar.

Qormi
R. Gauci-5, C. Ciantar-5, R. Dos Santos-4. R. Sammut-5, S. Wellman-4 ('64 M. Borg-4), A. Debono-5 ('60 C. Nwoko-4.5), M. Grima-4, J. Chetcuti-4, J. Farrugia-4, J. Da Silva-5, A. Ciantar ('25 P. Camilleri-4).

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6, Z. Levnaic-6.5, S. Comvalius-7.5, Roderick Fenech-6.5, S. Meilak-6 ('78 D.A. Cucciardi), Ryan Fenech-7.5, R. Mangion-7.5 ('86 L.J. Agius), F. Anton-6, G. Spiteri-6 ('84 S. Sultana), J. Bondin-6.5, M. Micallef-7.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Wellman; Ryan Fenech; Debono; Grima.

BOV player of the match: Sylvano Comvalius (Ħamrun).