Spiteri hat-trick downs Swallows

Hamrun Spartans 3
Dingli Swallows 1

Hamrun Spartans could not have hoped for a better draw in the quarter-finals of the U*BET FA Trophy as they were pitted against Division One side Dingli Swallows. The six-times FA Trophy winners have not featured in the final of this competition since 1995 and their match-up with Dingli was perceived as a golden opportunity for them to book a place in the semi-finals.

A 3-1 scoreline put Marco Gerada's side through to the last four but Hamrun had an early scare after Jeremy Agius gave Dingli a surprise lead in the first half.

Striker Gaetan Spiteri put the tie on an even keel before setting the Spartans on their way to victory early in the second half. Spiteri's third goal, in stoppage time, sealed the Spartans' passage to the semi-finals.

In reality, Hamrun should have won at a canter as they enjoyed a welter of possession and created a hatful of chances.

Rupert Mangion and Neville Galea made a return to the Spartans' fold as veteran Stefan Sultana had to miss the tie due to injury. Roderick Fenech was named as a substitute, probably as a precaution as the lanky defender, having picked a yellow card earlier in the competition, risked getting a suspension if he was booked again.

Fenech came on as a substitute in the final 10 minutes as Gerada bolstered his defensive lines to quell Dingli's late charge.

Aware of their limitations, Dingli, who eliminated Mqabba in the previous round, took to the pitch with Uchanna Anywanna and former Valletta striker Agius leading their attack. These two players had a dream start as they combined to fire Dingli ahead after 19 minutes.

A slick one-two between Anywanna and Agius ended with the latter beating Hamrun goalkeeper Sean Sullivan with a powerful shot after the Spartans' rearguard failed to stop the Dingli man from running free into the penalty area.

Dingli's opener must have shocked Hamrun but they were quick to regroup and laid siege on their opponents' goal. The equaliser duly arrived just past the half hour.

Nigerian striker Alfred Effiong delivered a cross from the right and Spiteri had enough space and time to head past a helpless Jeffrey Farrugia and get the Spartans back on level terms.

Ten minutes from half-time, the sprightly Swallows once again threatened to punish the Spartans as Anywanna latched onto a cross and whipped a low diagonal shot that narrowly missed Sullivan's goal.

At the other end, Galea lofted the ball towards Diego Cucciardi whose header sailed over the bar.

Hamrun were now surging forward with a sense of urgency and on 38 minutes, the hard-working Effiong did well to serve Spiteri inside the penalty area. The latter calmly controlled the ball and, despite having his back to goal, still managed a snapping shot on the half turn that rebounded off the bar.

Three minutes before the players headed for the dressing rooms, Spiteri thought he had done enough to fire the Spartans ahead as his fine lob seemed destined for goal only for experienced defender Jason Cachia to clear off the goal-line.

The Swallows, clearly under pressure and struggling to contain the menacing runs of Effiong, nearly wilted on the stroke of half-time.

The Nigerian again masterminded the Spartans' move as he soared into the air to head the ball down towards the unmarked Ryan Fenech who wasted a golden opportunity by trekking a low shot wide of goal from close range.

Seven minutes after the change of ends, the Spartans stormed into the lead for the first time. Fenech's free-kick was met by Spiteri who headed forcefully into the net.

With the tide swiftly turning against them, Dingli struggled to maintain their momentum and shy of the hour, Farrugia pulled off two saves in quick succession to deny Effiong and Steve Meilak.

Spiteri should have completed his hat-trick midway through the second half as Dingli failed to clear a loose ball and Effiong was quick to feed the unmarked striker whose thunderous shot was saved by Farrugia.

Into the last 15 minutes, the Spartans were let off the hook as Precious Monye fumbled an easy clearance with the ball rebounding off Bratislav Timotic but Sullivan rescued his side by palming Mark Galea's shot away for a corner.

Spiteri did make it a hat-trick in stoppage time, albeit in a controversial manner.

Dingli's Spiteri was down injured in his penalty area when Ryan Fenech floated a ball towards the unmarked Spiteri who headed home.

The Spartans' third goal angered the Dingli defenders who had expected Hamrun to put the ball out of play so their injured team-mate could be attended to by medical personnel.

Hamrun: S. Sullivan, D.A. Cucciardi, P. Monye, S. Meilak ('81 Roderick Fenech), Ryan Fenech, J. Debattista ('73 A. Attard), R. Mangion, N. Galea, B. Timotic, G. Spiteri, A. Effiong.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, F. Cauchi ('80 E. Casha), R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara ('71 M. Galea), K. Formosa ('84 J. Sapiano), V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, U. Anywanna.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Scorers: Agius 19; Spiteri 31, 52, 90. YELLOW CARD: Cucciardi.