Hamrun Spartans failed to keep the pace with Floriana as they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Mosta at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The Spartans therefore suffered their first defeat this season after three wins and two draws in the first five matches. Hamrun are now third, three points behind Floriana and two behind Sirens but one ahead of Gzira and Hibernians.
Mosta, on the other hand, returned to winning ways after losing three out of the last four matches, earning a point in a draw with Birkirkara.
The Blues managed to take the lead on the 23rd minute when Manuel Bartolo partially saved a freekick from the right by Rafael Morisco and Nikita Kotlov headed home off the rebound.
On the 75th minute, Mosta doubled the score when Matias Muchardi sent Nikita Kotlov through and the latter beat Manuel Bartolo with a low angled shot.
HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Alessio Capitelli (57′ Ryan Darmanin), Triston Caruana, Wilfried Domoraud, Clayton Failla, Nicola Leone (90+2′ Darren Borg), Soufiane Lagzir, Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Valdo Alhinho Goncalves, Mattia Cinquini.
Subs not used: Jean Claude Debattista, Karl Luke Schembri, Christopher Galea, Miguel Tabone, Bradley Schembri.
Coach: Manuele Blasi
Asst. Coach: Fabrizio AntoniniMOSTA Andreas Vella, Edin Murga (83′ Zachary Brincat), Akeen Garnet Roach, Duane Bonnici (90+1′ Kyle Gatt), Nikita Kotlov (90+2′ Christian Grech), Dexter Xuereb, Rafael Morisco, Momodou Jallow, Tyrone Farrugia, Sergio Leonardo Villareal, Matias Muchardi.
Subs not used: Andre Spiteri, Luke Formosa, Gabriel Aquilina, Liam Portelli.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Joseph GrechReferee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Domoraud, Leone, Xuereb, Roach, Villareal
BOV Player of the Match: Nikita KotlovAttendance: 1,009