Holders Hibs face Valletta

Sliema, Floriana in Old Firm KO tie

Holders Hibernians face an arduous task to keep the FA Trophy in their cabinet for a third consecutive year after they were drawn against Valletta, the current Premier League leaders, in the quarter-finals.

The draw for the 2007-08 U*Bet FA Trophy quarter-finals, made during yesterday's broadcast of MFA Magazine on Smash TV, produced two other attractive ties as Sliema Wanderers were paired with Old Firm rivals Floriana and Marsaxlokk came up against Birkirkara.

Hamrun Spartans will surely fancy their chances of reaching the semi-finals of this season's FA Trophy competition as they must contend with Dingli Swallows, the only Division One team left in the competition.

Hibernians, Marsaxlokk, Birkir-kara and Sliema have yet to make their first appearance in the FA Trophy this season as they were seeded until the quarter-final stage.

Last season, Hibernians won the FA Trophy for the eighth time in their history after beating Sliema Wanderers 3-0 on penalties. The score at the end of extra-time was 1-1.

Valletta, who lost 2-1 to Hibs in the semi-finals last season, eased into the quarter-finals after wins over Division One teams St Patrick (4-0) and Tarxien (5-0).

Floriana annihilated Mellieha 7-1 in the first round but then needed extra-time to overcome Senglea Athletics, 3-2, in the second round.

Hamrun Spartans kicked off their Trophy bid with a 2-0 win over Mosta and then edged rivals Pietà Hotspurs 1-0 in the second round.

After trouncing fellow Division One side Marsa 7-0 in the first round, Dingli Swallows surprised Premier League strugglers Mqabba 1-0 to book their place in the last eight.

Dingli are the only team from the second tier of Maltese football still involved in both the FA Trophy and the Division One KO competition. Thus, their Div. One KO quarter-final tie against Marsa will not be played on the weekend of April 12-13 as the Swallows will be facing Hamrun on one of those dates.