Watch: Ħamrun Spartans battle past Melita to go top

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS   2

Mbong 22

Montebello 73 pen.

MELITA            1

Debattista 8

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, M. Ellul, S. Xerri, L. Montebello, J. Mbong, R. Prsa, Eder (62 E. Freitas), J. Corbalan (62 W. Barros), Mayron, R. Camenzuli (62 S. Attard), R. Lopes Silva (46 Vitao).

MELITA

G. Mizzi, Aldair, J.P. Attard, K. Mohnani, Andre Carlos, M. Debattista (76 P. Galea Testaferrata), A. Borg Olivier,M. Bovenkamp, J. Yepez (69 N. Cutajar), K. Bondin, H. Motta (46 G. Barone) (83 B. Cassar).

Referee: Daniel Casha.

Yellow cards Barone, Bovenkamp, Mizzi, Andre Carlos, Mayron.

Ħamrun Spartans survived an early scare to see off newly-promoted Melita and move top of the Premier League standings.

It was far from a routine victory for the Malta champions who had to recover from an early defensive howler that regaled Melita the opener.

But gradually, the Spartans’ experience came to the fore and after Joseph Mbong equalised it was Luke Montebello who won and converted a second-half penalty to hand his team the spoils that lifted them on the seven-point mark, one clear of Sliema and hibs who face off today.

Melita were handed an early gift inside the first eight minutes when Mayron left Mattias Ellul’s backpass drift towards a surprised Henry Bonello with the ball hitting the bar before Matthew Debattista was first to react and fire the ball into an empty net.

The Spartans tried to hit back and a minute later Raphael Lopes Silva was played through but the Brazilian miscontrolled the ball and Gosef Mizzi was on hand to close the Brazilian forward.

Melita came again close on 14 minutes when Yepes hit a firm drive that flashed just wide.

Ħamrun managed to draw level on 21 minutes when after a fine passing move, Juan Corbalan sent a fine cross into the path of Joseph Mbong who headed into the roof of the net.

Melita fought back and on 26 minutes Yepes played in Andre Carlos but his shot was turned to a corner by Bonello.

Minutes later, Yepez tried his luck from the distance but fired over.

The match maintained its high tempo with the Spartans dictating play and Melita tried to break with quick transitions.

Three minutes from the break, Mohnani’s cross was deflected into the path of Debattista who saw his shot deflected just wide.

After the break, Debattista came again close for Melita when his shot flew over while at the other end, Vitao, who replaced Lopes Silva, was denied by Mizzi.

On 65 minutes, the Melita goalkeeper produced a fine save to keep out Roko Prsa’s downward header from inside the area.

Ħamrun were awarded a penalty on 71 minutes when Montebello was picked inside the area by Wendell Barros but the Malta striker was upended by Barone.

From the spot, Montebello blasted the ball into the top corner to put the Malta champions ahead.

Melita tried to react and seven minutes from time, Simanca headed wide from a few metres out.

Six minutes from time, Barros should have killed off Melita when he rounded Mizzi but his shot was cleared off the line by Gareth Tabone.