Favourable draw for Floriana and Valletta

Floriana and Valletta were handed an easy-looking start to this season's FA Trophy competition after the first round draw was held yesterday during the MFA programme on Smash TV.

There were 16 teams in the draw, with the six Premier League teams joined by the ten Division One sides.

Seeded teams Hibernians, the holders, Sliema Wanderers, Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk will enter the competition in the quarter-final stage after finishing in the top four places of the Premier League last season.

Floriana, last season's finalists, were paired with Division One side Mosta while Valletta face San Gwann, who this season are led by player-coach Danilo Doncic, a former City and Sliema striker.

Pietà Hotspurs were drawn against Vittoriosa while Msida St Joseph take on Naxxar Lions. The other two Premier League sides, Marsa and St George's were handed ties against Qormi and Mqabba respectively.

The other two first round matches will involve first division sides with Hamrun Spartans facing Tarxien while St Patrick play Senglea Athletics.

Matches will be played on October 28/29 and November 4/5 at the Centenary Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Preliminary round draw of the new Division One KO competition was also held yesterday. Hamrun Spartans were drawn to face Senglea Athletic while Naxxar Lions play Mqabba. These two matches will take place on November 18.

FA Trophy: (first round) Valletta vs San Gwann; Vittoriosa vs Pietà; Marsa vs Qormi; Mqabba vs St George's; Floriana vs Mosta; Naxxar Lions vs Msida St Joseph; Tarxien Rainbows vs Hamrun Spartans; St Patrick vs Senglea Athletic.

Division One Knock-Out: (preliminary round) Hamrun Spartans vs Senglea Athletic; Naxxar Lions vs Mqabba.