Hamrun Spartans registered their biggest win so far when they disposed off Balzan by a 7-1 scoreline.
This was a highly disappointing result for Balzan. This game is to be forgotten and the players need to learn from their mistakes and look forward.
Luke Montebello was, without a doubt, the protagonist of the match as he grabbed four goals to further rubberstamp his place at top scorer with 13 goals.
Hamrun started the game under pressure as Floriana won their game against Santa Lucia and momentarily joined them at the top. Things looked more complicated for them as they found themselves a goal behind after only 9 minutes.
Balzan gave the debut to ex Floriana player Jan Busuttil who was involved in a swap deal with Jake Grech during this week.
In the first two minutes Ħamrun threatened twice. First, Elionay Freitas da Silva found himself in space on the edge of the area but his volley finished just wide.
Soon after the Elionay Freitas released Uros Djuranovic who was denied by Balzan goalkeeper Danilo Golovic.
However, it was Balzan who took the lead after nine minutes when Olivier Rummens stole the ball in midfield to set ALEKSANDAR KATANIC, who despite being in a closed angle, blasted the ball past Henry Bonello.
Ħamrun responded quickly with two goals which turned their match in their favour in the 20th minute. Uros Duranovic fed Ryan Camenzuli who was fouled inside the area by Triston Caruana and the referee awarded a penalty.
From the spot, LUKE MONTEBELLO did not fail to restore parity.
This goal encouraged Hamrun to step up their game and four minutes later they took the lead.
Jonny do Nascimento Torres won the ball in a tussle with Samir Arab and quickly served UROS DURANOVIC whose beautiful shot found the corner of the net.
Balzan came close to making it 2-2 seven minutes from the break when Aleksandar Katanic made his way inside the area serving Andreijic whose powerful shot just missed the upright.
But Hamrun left their best for the second period. They could not have it better as Balzan started the second half on a negative note when, after only 20 seconds from their kick off, UROS DURANOVIC took advantage of a defensive lapse by Nikola Braunovic, advanced and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Danilo Golovic to put the Hamrun 3-1 ahead.
This goal hit hard Balzan and could not get over it. It was no surprise when in the 57th minute Hamrun added another goal when Jonny do Nascimento set LUKE MONTEBELLO who managed to find the net.
In the 60th minute, Balzan gave debut to their Australian striker George Blackwood but his effort did not change matters.
Hamrun insisted and in the 73rd minute, they increased the score when substitute Seth Paintsil advanced into the area and his shot came off the bar with the rebound falling to ROKO PRSA who slotted the ball home from close range.
Things went worse for Balzan as in the extra time Hamrun were awarded second penalty when the referee judged Ivan Bozovic pushing LUKE MONTEBELLO inside the box. From the spot, the same player made no mistake to complete a hat-trick
Two minutes inside the extra time, following a corner kick, LUKE MONTEBELLO pounced on an error from goalkeeper Danilo Golovic to tap the ball into an empty net for his fourth goal and seventh of the match.
Balzan: Danilo Golovic, Nikola Zerjal, Samir Arab (Benjamin Hili 70′), Ivan Bozovic, Nikola Braunovic, Triston Caruana (Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosanya 61′), Olivier Rommens, Paul Fenech, Jan Busuttil (Marcus Grima 78′), Aleksa Andrejic (Manyluak Aguek 78′) , Aleksander Katanic (George Blackwood 61′)
Ħamrun Spartans: Henry Bonello, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Ryan Camenzuli (Kian Vella 83′), Steve Borg, Ermerson Marcelina (Ognjen Bjelicic 46′), Roko Prsa, Elionay Freitas Da Silva (Joseph Mbong 65′), Ederson Domingos Bruno, Jonny Robert Do Nascimento Torres (Yulian Rumenov Nenov 65′), Luke Montebello, Uros Duranovic (Seth Paintsil 65′)
Referee: Philip Farrugia
BOV Player of the game: Luke Montebello