Hamrun Spartans returned to winning ways as they defeated bottom-placed Pembroke Athelta 2-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday.
For Pembroke, this was the eighth defeat in ten matches and this leaves them at the bottom of the table with four points.
Pembroke had one change from the team which lost to Sliema as Asani Djeljilj replaced Mateus Regis da Silva. On the other hand, with David Cassar still ruled out injured, Fredrick Tabone replaced Matthew Farrugia in goal. Philip Chircop, Luke Sciberras and Luis Vergara Rodriguez made way for Glenn Azzopardi, Luke Grech and Jorge Mesqueu Neto.
The Spartans took the lead on the 14th minute when Jake Grech, served by Nanapere, had a shot from outside the area deflected by Andrea Scozzese past goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.
Hamrun doubled the score on the 19th minute when Saturday Nanapere served Patrick Teixiera on the right and off the latter’s assist, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza slotted past the Pembroke goalkeeper.
Ten minutes in the second half, Pembroke reduced the gap when Jhonathan Bernardo Mariano served Borche Manevski on the left and the latter slotted past goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone.
HAMRUN Fredrick Tabone, Glenn Azzopardi, Patrick Jean Teixeira Maia, Mark Anthony Borg, Luke Grech, Saturday Nanapere, Jorge Mesqueu Neto, Leandro Wallace Motta dos Santos (83′ Trevor Cilia), Jake Grech, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos Raphael (81′ Philip Chircop), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (68′ Massimiliano Giusti).
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Rodney Refalo, Darren Falzon, Luis Vergara Rodriguez.
Coach: Steve D’AmatoPEMBROKE Matthew Calleja Cremona, Asani Djeljilj, Zoran Levnaic, Brandon Muscat, Manolito Micallef, Paltemio Barbetti, Siraj Arab Eddin (71′ Miguel Attard), Clifford Gauci (46′ Haruna Shola Shodiya), Borche Manevski, Jhonathan Bernardo Mariano (89′ Owen Bugeja), Filippo Andrea Scozzese.
Subs not used: Craig Abdilla, Adrian Borg, Tyrone Fenech, David Fenech.
Coach: Artim ShaqiriReferee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Barbetti, Jorginho
Scorers: 14′ Jake Grech, 19′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, 55′ Borche Manevski
BOV Player of the Match: Saturday Nanapere