Tarxien Rainbows 2
Hamrun Spartans 1

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Six-time winners Hamrun Spartans crashed out of the first round of the 2006/07 FA Trophy following a 2-1 shock defeat to Tarxien Rainbows yesterday.

Hamrun, who last made it to the final in 1995, seemed to be on the right track for a second-round berth following an early penalty goal converted by veteran skipper Stefan Sultana.

The Spartans may have fallen on some hard times of late but they were still expected to rely on their wealth of experience and cup passion to conquer Tarxien.

Indeed, Hamrun could have easily raced into a more comfortable lead by the end of the first half but some wasteful finishing and careless passing in front of goal kept the Rainbows in the match.

After the interval, Tarxien looked a more sprightly outfit and equalised with their first move of the second half.

They scored again on 55 minutes and held on to their slim lead even though Hamrun could have levelled matters four minutes from time had Sultana not missed a penalty which was saved by goalkeeper Sean Cini.

The Spartans took the lead after only two minutes. Sultana delivered a cross inside the box which was handled by John Schembri. Referee Esther Farrugia rightly pointed to the spot and Sultana notched another cup goal to add to his illustrious tally, now spanning over two decades.

Close to the half hour, Gaetan Spiteri nearly added Hamrun's second with some brilliant footwork.

He first dummied past Schembri before dribbling his way past goalkeeper Cini but the ball took an awkward bounce in front of goal and rolled agonisingly off target.

With the Spartans dictating play for long stretches, a goal was always in the offing but somehow the Rainbows rearguard held on.

Ten minutes from half-time, substitute Omar Grech could have levelled matters for Tarxien but his whipping shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Roderick Camilleri.

A minute later, Spiteri missed a sitter in front of goal after being served by Evano Briffa's free-kick. Spiteri skewed the ball over the bar.

The Rainbows stunned their opponents with an equaliser one minute after the restart.

The goal owes everything to Ryan Darmanin. He lobbed over the goalkeeper and with the ball rebounding off the crossbar, Darmanin nipped in to head inside an empty net.

On 49 minutes, Hamrun went close to restoring their lead as Briffa executed a free-kick and Roderick Fenech flashed in with a header that just missed the target.

From the possibility of going 2-1 up the Spartans found themselves a goal down as the Rainbows took the lead on 55 minutes following a goalmouth scramble. Camilleri got a hand to the ball but it was not enough as Aaron Guazzo stretched his leg to divert the ball into the net.

Substitute Marlon Vella sent an inch-perfect cross from the right towards the unmarked Sultana but Schembri's diving header diverted the flight of the ball in the nick of time.

Seven minutes from time, Hamrun surged forward again. Kevin Borg was clear inside the box and powered a header from close range. Cini, however, was alert to palm away splendidly.

The Spartans were handed a lifeline four minutes from time when Borg was sent tumbling while attempting to control the ball inside the Tarxien box.

The referee ordered a second penalty for the Spartans but this time Sultana's shot was saved by Cini.

The last minutes saw the Rainbows defending frantically until the final whistle to emerge victorious.

Tarxien: S. Cini, S. Sadowski, J. Francica, S. Farrugia, S. Shead, A. Tabone ('15 O. Grech), P. Camilleri, N. Micallef, A. Guazzo ('81 M. Caruana), R. Darmanin ('75 G. Cutajar), J. Schembri.

Hamrun: R. Camilleri, A. Attard ('76 G. Micallef), B. Timotic, Roderick Fenech ('62 M. Vella), N. Galea, K. Borg, Ryan Fenech, E. Briffa, S. Sultana, G. Spiteri, C. Cacciatolo ('46 S. Meilaq).

Referee: Esther Farrugia.

Scorers: Sultana 2 pen; Dar-manin 46, Guazzo 55.

Missed Penalty: Sultana 86.

Yellow Cards: Roderick Fenech, Attard, Spiteri, Timotic.

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