U*BET FA Trophy: Floriana, Mosta, M’Xlokk and Hamrun through to second round

Floriana and Mosta secured a place in the second round of the U*BET FA Trophy after defeating Lija Athletic and Dingli Swallows respectively. Marsaxlokk registered a narrow win over Mqabba while Hamrun Spartans defeated Melita.

At the Hibernians Stadium, Ivan Woods scored twice as Floriana defeated First Division side Lija Athletic 3-0.

Ivan Woods gave Floriana an early lead putting them ahead on the 7th minute when off a perfect pass by Christian Cassar, the former Sliema striker advanced before hitting low past goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

The Greens doubled the score on 71 minutes with a direct freekick by Ivan Woods and eight minutes from time, substitute Clyde Borg sealed the issue with a third goal when served by a Manolito Micallef cross from the left.

LIJA Sean Mintoff, Andrea Spiteri, Antonio Saliba, Daniel Scerri, Antoine Saccco, Marko Potezica, Wayne Borg St. John (Glenn Barry 81), Keith Darmanin, Andre Scicluna, Admir Dzanovic (Ayrton Buhagiar 57), Matthew Fleri Soler.
FLORIANA Lotfi Saidi, Owen Bugeja (Clyde Borg 29), Brian Said, Duncan Pisani, Tyrone Farrugia, Mark Gauci (Christian Caruana 60), Pablo Doffo, Christian Cassar, Mano Micallef, Ivan Woods, Ryan Darmanin (Michael Mecerod 69).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Asst referees: Philip Agius, Malcolm Mercieca
Fourth official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow: D.Scerri, A.Saliba, M.Potezica

At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Mosta defeated Dingli Swallows 5-3 after extra-time in a clash between two First Division sides. An entertaining clash which featured eight goals – including three penalties – and two red cards.

Dingli took the lead on the 13th minute when Chris Ciappara was floored inside the area by Mark Brincat. The Dingli striker made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Joreilly Chirino doubled the score on 32 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the area but two minutes later, Mosta pulled one back when William Camenzuli exchanged the ball with Simon Shead, the ball reached Ryan Deguara who hit home from close range.

Mosta levelled matters on 42 minutes. Roderick Briffa brought Simon Shead down inside the area. Referee Sammy Attard ordered a penalty and Mark Briggs converted.

However in added time, the Blues were reduced to ten men after having Quincy Bregman sent off.

Five minutes in the second half, Dingli regained the lead when off a Chirino cross from the right, the ball was not held by goalkeeper Noel Attard and Ryan Sammut hit home.

Mosta restored equilibrium on the 67th when Briggs served Ryan Deguara who rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net.

With the score still 3-3, the game went into extra-time. Mosta forged ahead on 96 minutes when off a cross by Camenzuli, Kurt Formosa headed the ball past fellow goalkeeper Farrugia for an own goal.

Five minutes later, Ryan Sammut floored Simon Shead inside the area and Mark Briggs made no mistake from the penalty spot.

A few seconds later, Chris Ciappara was sent off for Dingli.

DINGLI Jeffrey Farrugia, Ryan Sammut, Shawn Tellus, Reuben Vella, Chris Ciappara, Kurt Formosa (105′ Julian Camilleri), Matthew Pace (90′ Jonatha), Etienne Farrugia, Clayton Caruana, Roderick Briffa, Joreilly Chirino (105′ Karl Asciak).
MOSTA Noel Attard, Adrian Borg, Simon Shead, Mark Brincat (71′ Alex Cini), William Camenzuli, Quincy Bregman, Nikola Bogdanovic, Mark Briggs, Ryan Deguara, Lee Grima (46′ Kane Farrugia), Lyden Micallef (46′ Gilbert Martin).
Referee: Sammy Attard
Asst Referees: Mariano Debono, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Andre Arciola
Yellow Cards: Brincat, Camenzuli, Shead, Tellus
Red Cards: 45+1′ Bregman, 101′ Ciappara

Hamrun Spartans beat ten-man Melita 5-0.

The Spartans managed to take the lead on the 4th minute when off a perfect pass by Ryan Fenech from the left, Marcelo Pereira tapped the ball home from close range.

The Amateurs were reduced to ten men on the 14th when Rudi Alhinho was given marching orders by referee Clayton Pisani for a foul on Marcelo Pereira just outside the area. Massimo Grima hit the upright from the resulting freekick.

Hamrun doubled the score on 17 minutes when off a David Camilleri cross from the left, Gaetan Spiteri chipped the ball over Sapiano and into the net with a great first-timer.

The Spartans increased the lead five minutes in the second half when Spiteri lobbed the ball over the Melita goalkeeper with Marcelo Pereira tapping the ball in.

Ryan Fenech made it 4-0 on 66 minutes with a powerful rising shot from the left which was not held by Sapiano.

Ten minutes from time, Gaetan Spiteri released Marcelo Pereira on the right and the latter’s powerful shot hit the crossbar before the ball ended at the back of the net.

HAMRUN Omar Borg, Mark Anthony Bonnici (61′ Karl Magro), Rupert Mangion, Roderick Fenech, Ryan Fenech (70′ Lee James Agius), Marcelo Pereira, Gaetan Spiteri, Martin Hrubsa, David Camilleri (67′ Mead Mifsud), Steve Bonnici, Massimo Grima.
MELITA Matthew Sapiano, Rudi Ahinho, Luca Martinelli, George Gribbon, Andrew Caruana Scicluna (60′ Tobias Terpougoff), Kane Micallef, Matthew Borg (18′ Jonathan Mifsud), Julian Galea, Luke Micallef, Karl Vella Petroni (69′ Malcolm Mamo), Maxime Batel.
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Mangion, MA Bonnici
Red Cards: 14′ Alhinho

At the Hibs Stadium, Marsaxlokk overcame a stiff challenge offered by Mqabba, beating them 1-0.

Julio Alcorse scored the all-important goal on 33 minutes when he headed the ball home past goalkeeper Kris Calleja following a cross from the right by Dylan Kokavessis.

M’XLOKK Glenn Zammit, Malcolm Licari, Andrew Spiteri, Gareth Sciberras, Rumen Galabov, Peter Pullicino, Trevor Templeman, Ruben Guerrero, Dylan Kokavessis (Alfred Effiong 71), Martin Deanov (Gary Caruana 88), Julio Alcorse.
MQABBA Kris Calleja, Andrew Scicluna, Mauro Bonnici, Mark Anthony Psaila, David Azzopardi (Pierre Grima 46), Chris Cuschieri, John Debattista (Branislav Timotic 51), Iro Curmi, Martin Anastasi, Mauro Grioli (Marlon Briffa 73), Shaun Magro.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Asst refs: Konrad Borg, Chris Francalanza
Fourth official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: J. Debattista, I. Curmi (Mq), M. Licari (MX)