U*BET FA Trophy: M'Skala, Gudja, Lija and Balzan through to fourth round

Marsaskala and Gudja United were the first two teams to reach the fourth round of the U*BET FA Trophy after defeating St. Venera Lightnings and Senglea Athletic respectively.

At the Centenary Stadium, BOV Third Division joint-leaders Marsaskala defeated Second Division side St. Venera Lightnings 3-1.

Matthew Gauci put Marsaskala ahead but Alessandro Pirrone levelled matters. Marsaskala regained the lead through another goal by Gauci and sealed the issue with a goal by Bjorn Dalli.

MARSASKALA Renald Attard, Christian Bordieri, Mario Bajada (Sinclair Camilleri), Marko Milutinovic, Ryan Cauchi, Elvin Gauci, Juan Galdes, Andy Portelli (Jurgen Gerada), Nazzareno Abela (Clive Lanzon), Matthew Gauci, Bjorn Dalli.
ST. VENERA Warren Cuschieri, Karl Cilia, Kurt Zammit, Mark Muscat, Redeemer Borg, Andrew Hili, Alessandro Pirrone, Jonathan Micallef, Glenn Micallef, Adam Wingfield, Jon Ander Alesanco Salcedo (Jeffrey Zammit)
Referee: Andrew James Sammut
Assistant Referees: Gordon P. Barbara and Mitchell Scerri
Scorers: 45′ Matthew Gauci, 75′ Alessandro Pirrone, 90+2′ Matthew Gauci, 90+3′ Bjorn Dalli

In another match, BOV First Division leaders Lija Athletic turned defeat into victory beating Gharghur 2-1.

Strati Iliev put Gharghur ahead but late goals by Erjon Beu and Rosalino Martins Pais de Almeida put Lija in the fourth round.

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Clayton Giordimaina, Timothy Fleri Soler, Matthew Fleri Soler, Daniel Scerri, Eman Borg (46′ Erjon Beu), Evano Briffa (71′ Andre Scicluna), Ben Camilleri, Benoir Fenech, Abdullahi Ige Adeshina, Antoine Sacco (62′ Rosalino Martins Pais de Almeida).
Coach: Brian Spiteri
GHARGHUR Dwayne Carabott, David Mamo, Strati Iliev, Keith Fedele, Ansil Briffa, Dale Camilleri, Adrian Fenech, Chris Vella, Matthew Agius, Mauro Busuttil (77′ Dassier Sammut), Neil Scerri (84′ Edward Vella).
Coach: George Draganov
Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap
Scorers: 7′ Strati Iliev; 79′ Erjon Beu, 90′ Rosalino Martins Pais de Almeida

On the other hand, First Division side Gudja United beat BOV Third Division joint-leaders Senglea Athletic 2-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Alan Abela put Gudja ahead and Cosmin Anton doubled the score.

GUDJA Matthew Xerxen, Ranier Buhagiar (80′ Josef Tonna), Alan Abela, Daniel Bonnici, Radoslav Kovachev, Keith Bonello (62′ Peter Paul Sammut), George Chircop, Ivan Kurtusic, Cosmin Anton, Ryan Sell, Kiril Aleksandrov (88′ James Mallia).
SENGLEA James Mercieca, Erin Azzopardi, Rodney Galea, Simon Aquilina, Vince Camilleri, Robert Perkins, Glenn Brincat, Philip Camilleri (75′ Trevor Thomas), Brady Zerafa (85′ Rennie Tanti), Kevin Galea, Dylan Xuereb (87′ Julian Spiteri).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Sandro Spiteri and Luke Portelli
Scorers: 73′ Alan Abela, 84′ Cosmin Anton

Balzan needed extra-time to beat First Division side Naxxar Lions.

Elton da Silva put Balzan ahead on 15 minutes but Andre Rocha Da Silva levelled matters on 23 minutes from the penalty spot. An own goal by Victor Bellia four minutes in the second half and Jamie Pace three minutes later seemed to be enough for Balzan as they went 3-1 ahead but Naxxar had other ideas and hit back in the dying minutes, reducing the gap two minutes from time through Ivanilson Serino Junior and equalising three minutes in added time thanks to Daren Falzon.

Six minutes in extra-time, a penalty by Elton da Silva made it 4-3 for Balzan to move on to the next stage.

BALZAN Fredrick Tabone, Malcolm Licari (77′ Jonathan Francica), Stefan Giglio, Yessous Camilleri, Renato Garcia Conceicao, Matthew Mendy, Jamie Pace, Bjorn Bondin, Martin Deyanov (72′ Dylan Grima), Christian Caruana (64′ Rennie Forace), Elton da Silva.
NAXXAR Luke Pecorella, Julian Vella, Angus Buhagiar (72′ Gilbert Camilleri), Mattia del Negro (46′ Ivanilson Serino Junior), Sunday Eboh, Victor Bellia, Pablo Doffo, Andre Rocha da Silva (83′ Kurt Drago), Lydon Micallef, Daren Falzon, Anthony Ewurun.
Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Scorers: 15′ Elton da Silva, 23′ Andre Rocha da Silva pen; 49′ own goal Victor Bellia, 52′ Jamie Pace, 88′ Ivanilson Serino Junior, 90+3′ Daren Falzon; 96′ Elton da Silva pen