Hamrun Spartans 2
Floriana 1
Hamrun Spartans halted a three-match losing run with a 2-1 victory over Floriana which should set them up nicely for their top-six cliffhanger against Hibernians on Monday.
For Floriana, yesterday's fixture was also supposed to be a crucial as far as their chances of Championship Pool football were concerned but Hibs' 2-0 reverse against Msida on Saturday rubberstamped the Greens' qualification to the Championship Pool and alleviated the pressure ahead of their meeting with the Spartans.
In a game that came to life in the second half, Floriana drew first blood but the Spartans hit back with two goals in seven minutes, the second featuring an assist by Ryan Fenech and a decisive header by his brother Roderick.
Hamrun's win yesterday was not just about boosting a flailing morale ahead of their do-or-die clash with Hibs but it also improved the Spartans's chances of landing a top-six slot, now on 26 points, they only need a draw from their final second round game to reach their target.
Changes in the Hamrun team yesterday were enforced on Gerada by the absence through injury or suspension of no fewer than six first-squad players.
Gerada responded to his team's abject defending in heavy defeats to Valletta and Birkirkara by switching Precious Monye to a central role at the back. Roderick Fenech, a regular in Hamrun's rearguard this season, deputised for the suspended Rupert Mangion in the centre of midfield and Ryan Fenech started in attack alongside Alfred Effiong. Gaetan Spiteri missed yesterday's match through suspension while veteran striker Stefan Sultana is still injured.
Clifton Ciantar was the only significant absentee from Floriana's squad yesterday but this did not stop coach Danilo Doncic from reshuffling his team. The likes of Mauro Brincat, Manolito Micallef and Julian Briffa had to be content with a place on the subs' bench as the Serb handed starting roles to Sunday Eboh, Duncan Pisani, Christian Caruana and Yala Bolasie, the latter back in the frame after missing the 3-2 loss to Msida because of suspension.
Hamrun took their game to Floriana in the opening stages but their pressure only yielded a series of speculative crosses and miscued shots which posed little trouble to the Greens' defence.
Scoring chances proved hard to come by in the first half hour but Floriana, whose attacking threat so far had been as good as nil, threatened to forge ahead.
Christian Cassar got enough power and swerve to his cross-cum-shot from a long-range free-kick wide on the left, the ball looping tantalisingly towards the far post before Sean Sullivan appeared to divert it for a corner. To Floriana's disappointment, the game restarted with a goal-kick for the Spartans.
Six minutes from half-time, an intelligent run by Zoran Levnaic opened up the Spartans' defence but the latter's central shot was blocked by the on-rushing Sullivan.
For all their running, Hamrun continued to find it hard to unpick the Floriana defence.
On the stroke of half-time, Eboh headed over from a corner by Trevor Cilia.
Early in the second half, Owen Bugeja dispossessed the steaming Effiong with a well-timed tackle after the Nigerian forward had chipped the ball over Darko Krsteski.
The opening seven minutes of the second half contained more interesting moves than there had been in the whole of the first period.
Cassar, driving forward with more panache now, set up Cilia but the latter drove his shot wide of the far post.
Minutes later, Bolasie advanced down the left and put in a cross towards Caruana who fired a shot that Sullivan saved.
Floriana's improved display in the second half produced a goal on 68 minutes.
Having stopped a surging run by Bratislav Timotic, Floriana were quick to pass the ball to Cilia who in turn directed a cross-field pass to Bolasie. The English winger sped into the box before sweeping a low shot past Sullivan.
Floriana's delight only lasted two minutes, the time it took Hamrun to equalise thanks to Effiong who prodded past Agius from close range after receiving a pass by Ryan Fenech.
Seven minutes later, the Spartans turned the result in their favour. They won a corner after Agius parried Ryan Fenech's shot who proceeded to whip in a fine cross from the set-piece and his brother Roderick darted past a host of Floriana defenders to head home at the near post.
One expected Floriana to stage a reaction but only once, deep into stoppage time, did they really threaten to level matters when Bolasie's overhead kick dropped just wide of the far post.
Earlier, a venomous drive by Hamrun's Mark Anthony Bonnici was off target.
Hamrun: S. Sullivan-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6, P. Monye-6.5, K. Borg-6 ('72 D. Cucciardi-5), Roderick Fenech-6, S. Meilak-6, Ryan Fenech-7, J. Debattista-5 ('90 L.J. Agius), N. Galea-5.5, B. Timotic-6, A. Effiong-6.
Floriana: S. Agius-6, D. Pisani-5 ('87 M. Brincat), S. Eboh-6.5, D. Krsteski-5, O. Bugeja-5, T. Cilia-6 ('76 M. Micallef), C. Cassar-6, Z. Levnaic-6, Y. Bolasie-7, C. Caruana-5.5, R. Darmanin-5.
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Scorers: Bolasie 68; Effiong 71; Roderick Fenech 77.
Yellow cards: Caruana; Levnaic.
BoV Player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Hamrun Spartans).