Best drilled team won

Hamrun Zabbar 2 1

The final score does not reflect the true differnce between the two teams as Ħamrun enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges during both periods.

Their short passing and playing the ball on the ground was a delight to watch and they are now in fourth place on 19 points from 11 games while Żabbar are on 18 points, also from 11 games.

Ħamrun created the first action when Dave Polidano pounced on a loose ball in Żabbar’s half and keeper Massimo Magri had to dive and save his hard low drive. At the other end, Jake Degiorgio released Matteo Gambin in the area but he missed the upright.

In another Ħamrun action Nigel Borg from a free kick by Nikolai Micallef, Magri tipped the ball over the bar.

Żabbar then won a free kick as Colton Caruana was fouled outside the area but Ħamrun keeper Renson Bezzina saved in two attempts the free kick by Ickerson Whitelaw.

The Reds regained the initiative by creating more actions. Jacob Brincat served Juan Judy Kandal with a through ball in the area and Magri foiled him as he dived at his feet and smothered the ball. Aidan Abdilla was fouled on the left flank and Micallef missed the bar by inches from the free kick.

In the 27th minute Ħamrun opened the score when after a well-taken flag kick by Demanuele, Jamie Cutajar scored with a header from inside the area.

Three minutes later Demanuele served Mifsud with a square pass outside the area but he missed the bar by inches.

Ħamrun created the first two actions after the resumption. After a Demanuele flag kick Magri saved a flicked ball by Micallef.

Bjorn Buhagiar then served Cutajar with a good pass outside the area but he missed the upright from the distance.

In the 51st minute Ħamrun doubled their lead.

Cutajar was fouled on the right flank and Micallef took charge of the free kick and scored with a hard rising shot in the top left hand corner from 40 metres.

Five minutes later Abdilla served Cutajar with a square pass outside the area and Magri was forced to dive and save his hard low drive from the distance.

Żabbar reduced the gap in the 62nd minute as Gambin served Bonnici with a square pass outside the area and the latter scored with a rising shot from 30 metres.

R.Bezzina, B.Buhagiar, A.Abdilla, J.Borg, N.Micallef, N.Demanuele, J.Brincat, J.J.Kandal, J.Cutajar, R.Mifsud, D.Polidano M.Grima, K.Bonnici, K.Camilleri, L.Camilleri, C.Caruana, J.Degiorgio, I.Whitelaw, J.P.Cassar, D.Ciantar, M.Gambin Jamie Cutajar (Ħamrun) Gerard Zammit Young