Hamrun face Pietà in second round

Premier League sides Hamrun Spartans and Pietà Hotspurs will renew their rivalry in the FA Trophy after they were pitted against each other in the second round of the knock-out competition yesterday.

A less difficult task awaits Premier League leaders Valletta and Floriana who will be facing Division One opposition in the shape of Tarxien Rainbows and Senglea Athletic respectively.

The other tie that completes the second round draw is the match between Mqabba and Dingli.

With no teams seeded for the draw, the chances of having Premier League teams drawn against each other was among the possibilities.

That duly materialised as Hamrun Spartans and Pietà Hotspurs will be meeting each other for the third time this season.

In the previous two clashes in the league, Pietà won the first-round fixture 3-2 while the Spartans prevailed in the second round, winning the match 3-0.

Valletta, winners of the FA Trophy 11 times, and Floriana who lifted the Cup 18 times, should prove too strong for Tarxien and Senglea and book their place in the quarter-finals .

Holders Hibernians, Sliema, Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara will enter the FA Trophy in the quarter-final stage.

The second round matches will be played in the weekend of March 1 and 2.

The draw: Mqabba vs Dingli S.; Floriana vs Senglea A.; Hamrun S. vs Pietà H.; Valletta vs Tarxien R.