Watch: Superior Ħamrun Spartans overcome Floriana to go three points clear

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS   2

Guillaumier 4; Mashike 78

FLORIANA        0

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, S. Borg, M. Guillaumier-7 (82 Vinicius), L. Montebello, J. Ailton Soares-6 (68 Eder), R. Prsa, O. Bjelicic, J. Corbalan-6 (90 S. Xerri), Jonny-6 (69 E. Mashike), E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli.

FLORIANA

G. Kitanov, A. Magri Overend-5.5 (85 C. Zammit Lonardelli), C. Rutjens, O. El Hasni, Z. Cassar, K. Reid, F. Juarez-5 (46 L. De Grazia), M. Garcia-5 (85 A. Garzia), L. Trillo-5.5 (74 K. Nwoko), J. Busuttil, E. Hershkovich-5 (46 A. Ciolacu).

Referee T. Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Juarez.

BOV Player of the match Matthew Guillaumier (Ħamrun Spartans).

Ħamrun Spartans preserved their perfect record in this season’s BOV Premier League when they eased past Floriana at the National Stadium.

Goals in each half from Matthew Guillaumier and substitute Elvis Mashike rubberstamped a dominant display from the Spartans who held the edge over their opponents for much of the match.

In fact, Ħamrun enjoyed long spells of possession, with Floriana rarely managing to trouble the Ħamrun defence as the Spartans bagged their fifth successive league win to go three points clear of Birkirkara.

Ħamrun Spartans were off to a storming start as after just over three minutes of play they were already ahead.

Jonny stormed clear on the right and served Roko Prsa who set up Matthew Guillaumier with a delicate backheel and the Malta midfielder drilled the ball past the diving Kitanov.

Floriana looked ratted and two minutes later Kitanov had to be at his best to push over Dodo’s shot from the distance.

The Spartans thought they doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Jonny served Luke Montebello who stabbed home, but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

On 24 minutes, Montebello stoke possession deep into the right flank and fed Jonny who saw his shot deflected just wide.

Floriana were struggling to make inroads as the Spartans’ high-pitch pressing was making it difficult for them to create any scoring chances.

Floriana midfielder Juarez, who was already was lucky to remain on the pitch until the end of the first half when first he effected a late tackle on Steve Borg and then appeared to strike Corbalan’s back but on both occasions he escaped with a verbal warning.

A minute from the break, Prsa came close but his inswinger just missed the upright.

In stoppage time Christian Rutjens almost levelled matters for Floriana but fired wide from Trillo’s cross.

Ħamrun started the second half looking for a second goal and on 49 minutes Montebello was denied by Kitanov.

On 53 minutes Corbalan found the unmarked Prsa who headed over.

Despite their dominance, the Spartans were looking sluggish in search of a second goal and they were almost made to pay by Ciolacu on 68 minutes but the Romanian was denied by Bonello.

Nineteen minutes from time, substitute Elvis Mashike found Camenzuli but the wingback saw his shot pushed away by Kitanov.

But the Spartans finally sealed the points on 78 minutes when Montebello intercepted Magri Overend’s back pass towards Kitanov and in came Mashike who fired the ball into an empty net.

Floriana tried to mount a late rally but Bonello was alert to push over De Grazia’s shot.