Stripes beat Spartans to extend perfect start

by Ayrton Galea - 12th September 2016

Birkirkara FC extended their perfect start in the BOV Premier League when they made them three wins in a row after a goal by Cain Attard and substitute James Brincat enabled them to defeat Hamrun Spartans with a narrow 2-1 score.

It was a match of two tales. The Stripes should have done better in the opening twenty minutes as they lost a number of golden opportunities after taking an early lead. However, after Hamrun deservingly made the score level, both sides had their chances but it was the Stripes who snatched all the points and condemned the Spartans for the first defeat this season.

Coach Mr. Drazen Besek couldn't bank on Christian Bubalovic who is still recovering from an injury and the Birkirkara Coach made just one change from the match against Tarxien Rainbows. Ryan Scicluna regained a place in the first-eleven selection at the expenses of Matthew Guillaumier.

Superior in the opening stages, Birkirkara took a deserved lead after twelve minutes. Cain Attard produced an excellent solo-run that saw him dashing inside the box before hitting a low shot from tight angle past goalkeeper Cassar.

Hamrun pushed forward and they made the score level on the thirty-fourth minute. Leandro Wallace sprinted past Cain Attard before the ball reached Haruna Garba who avoided the challenge of Jovic and hit home from close-range past goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric.

Birkirkara registered the winning goal on the seventy-eight minute. Zerafa, pushing forward from the left side, served James Brincat, who has been substituted in just moments earlier, and beat David Cassar with a firm drive.

Scorer of the first goal, Cain Attard was voted the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Srdjan Dimitrov (76' James Brincat), Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Frank Temile, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna (66' Shaun Bajada), Cain Attard, Predrag Jovic (82' Steven Bonnici).

HAMRUN: David Cassar, Philip Chircop, Glenn Azzopardi, Haruna Garba Zambuk, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos Raphael, Luke Sciberras, Massimiliano Giusti, Leandro Wallace Motta dos Santos (76′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Jake Grech, Jorge Mesqueu Neto, Saturday Nanapere (84′ Daren Falzon).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Martin Borg
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna

Yellow Cards: Vito Plut, Predrag Jovic, Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara) Massimiliano Giusti, Sergio Raphael (Hamrun).

Scorers: 12' Cain Attard, 78' James Brincat (Birkirkara), 34' Haruna Garba (Hamrun).

BOV Player of the Match: Cain Attard.

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