Hamrun Spartans stay three points clear of Balzan following a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Friday.

This was the fourth draw in five league matches for the Spartans as they sought a win in order to close in on fifth-placed Hibernians. Balzan were also aiming to bounce back after the defeat to Hibernians in their last league outing.

The Spartans had one change from their last league outing as Alessio Capitelli replaced Orestis Nikolopoulos. Balzan, on the other hand, had three changes as Ivan Bozovic, Ricardo Correa and Alfred Effiong were preferred to Steve Bezzina, Stefan Dimic and Arthur Faria Machado.

Balzan managed to take the lead on the 6th minute when off a cross from the right by Ljubomirac, Andrija Majdevac controlled before slotting past Manuel Bartolo.

However, two minutes from the end of the first half, the Spartans equalised thanks to Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares who managed to beat Naumovski from the left.

BALZAN Kristian Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Aleksandar Kosoric, Steve Pisani (86’ Dale Camilleri), Michael Johnson, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte, Andrija Majdevac.
Subs not used: Jake Pisani, Marcus Grima, Adam Bradshaw, Zachary Karl Grech, Zak Grech, Kyle Sciberras Balbi.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Alessio Capitelli, Triston Caruana, Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares, Wilfried Domoraud, Clayton Failla, Nicola Leone, Soufiane Lagzir (27’ Darren Borg), Marco Criaco, Karl Micallef, Mattia Cinquini.
Subs not used: Jean Claude Debattista, Karl Luke Schembri, Matthew Robert Gauci, Cain Cutajar, Ryan Darmanin, Bradley Schembri. 
Coach: Manuele Blasi
Asst. Coach: Fabrizio Antonini 

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: Cinquini, Loof, Pisani, Correa
BOV Player of the Match: Andrija Majdevac
Attendance: 278