Birkirkara score twice against Hamrun Spartans

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd January 2011

Birkirkara returned to winning ways as yesterday afternoon they managed to beat Hamrun Spartans with a score of 2-0, thanks to goals by Emiliano Lattes and Paul Fenech.

Birkirkara had once again several players missing as both Trevor Cilia and Simon Zahra failed to recover for this match while the two new signings namely Andrei Aguis and Rodolfo De Oliveria were also not available for selection since international clearances did not arrive in time.

'The Stripes' had a good performance and the score might have been bigger especially when one considers that Birkirkara failed to convert a penalty and had a goal disallowed for a doubtful offside position. On the other hand, in the final minutes the yellow-reds rear guard was put under pressure till Paul Fenech scored the second goal for Birkirkara.

Birkirkara opened well but it was Hamrun who almost scored on the 12th minute when a cross by Marcelo Perreira founds Dylan Kokavessis, with the latter's effort ending wide.

On the 20th minute, Michael Fraser performed a wonderful save when James Lee Aguis advanced on the wing before his low cross found Gaeten Spiteri who from inside the box saw his powerful effort blocked by the goalkeeper and from the rebound Dylan Kokavessis had his effort cleared from the goal-line.

On the other side of the field, Angus Buhagiar unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box which was turned into a corner kick.

Hamrun were the most dangerous once again. On the 29th minute a cross by Gaeten Spiteri found Dylan Kokavessis whose first attempt was blocked by Fraser. A second attempt from the rebound by the same striker almost surprised the goaler but he neutralised the effort in two occasions with the Hamrun players protesting that the ball had crossed the goal line.

On the 37th minute, one of the most dangerous players for Birkirkara, Joseph Zerafa crossed the ball perfectly to Terence Vella with the latter's effort ending over the bar.

The 1st half ended in a goal-less draw.

What Birkirkara failed to do in the first half, it only took them two minutes in the second half, and on the 47th minute they opened the score. Michael Galea's perfect pass found Emiliano Lattes and the latter advanced on the flank and into the box and with a powerful shot beat Omar Borg.

'The Stripes' continued to press forward and on the 69th minute they had a golden opportunity to increase the score. Terence Vella was dropped in the box and Marco Borg ordered a penalty kick. However Emiliano Lattes' shot from the eleven meters spot was saved in style by the Hamrun goalkeeper, Omar Borg.

The game was not over and there was still more actions to follow. Michael Galea made the best from Hamrun defense's blunder following a cross and put the ball into the net but the assistant referee disallowed the goal due to a dubious offside position.

Hamrun began to increase pressure on the rear-guard and they put everything forward while 'The Stripes' counter attacked. Four minutes in the added time Birkirkara made sure of the win. From a counter attack, Michael Galea served Paul Fenech with the latter's rising shot ended into the net to score his fourth goal this season. The referee immediately blew the final whistle as there was not even a second to go.

With this win, Birkirkara remained fourth, one point behind Floriana and Tarxien respectively who both have a match in hand while 'The Stripes' closed the gap on leaders Valletta by two points. Birkirkara are now fourteen points behind the Lilywhites who yesterday failed to grab the maximum points as they were held in a goal-less draw against Marsaxlokk.

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