Early three-goal blitz propels Spartans to final

Ħamrun Spartans 4
Meilak 24; Effiong 29; Spiteri 31; Ryan Fenech 74 pen.
Floriana 2
Brincat 45; Darmanin 64.

It is for games such as this that we long. The first semi-final of the FA Trophy between Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana unfolded into a typical cup tie as these two former heavyweights of Maltese football tore into each other like two voracious fighters determined not to miss their chance of a return to former glory.

The early indications suggested a comfortable victory for Ħamrun Spartans who jolted Floriana with a three-goal flurry in seven first-half minutes but a well-taken goal by Mauro Brincat on the brink of half-time threw the Greens a glimmer of hope. Having looked dead and buried when the counter-attacking Spartans made the most of their opponents' psychological and tactical collapse, Floriana suddenly sprung back to life and a goal by substitute Ryan Darmanin early in the second half strengthened their hopes of an extraordinary comeback.

For a short period of time in the second half, Ħamrun had their backs to the wall but the Spartans' hit-them-on-the-counter game-plan again paid off when a fast raid ended with Floriana conceding a penalty that was put away by captain Ryan Fenech.

Floriana didn't have more energy left in their tank to muster another rally as the Spartans easily administered their lead to reach their first final in 15 years. The Spartans will face either Valletta or Birkirkara in Saturday's final.

Hardly two minutes from the start of the game had elapsed when Floriana captain Christian Cassar hit a powerful free-kick which ended just wide.

A defensive lapse by Roderick Fenech presented Yala Bolasie with a glorious opening but the English forward's diagonal shot was smothered away by Sean Sullivan.

The Spartans had struggled to make much of an attacking impact early on but their hopes of breaking the stalemate increased when they were awarded a free-kick outside the box after 23 minutes.

Their optimism turned out to be justified as Ryan Fenech's dipping free-kick arced towards the centre of the box and Steve Meilak anticipated his immediate marker to guide a downward header past Simon Agius and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

The Greens were shocked and, barely five minutes later, their predicament deepened when the Spartans surged into a two-goal lead. Fastening onto a high pass from Spiteri, Effiong ran past the dishevelled Floriana defence and deposited the ball into the net.

This came after 29 minutes and in no time, the Spartans were up on their feet again to celebrate their team's third goal, courtesy of Spiteri who flicked the ball home at the far post after Effiong had nudged the ball into his path from another inviting free-kick by Fenech.

Ħamrun's three-goal blitz in just seven minutes deflated the Greens who, in truth, went into freefall from the moment they fell one goal behind. Doncic responded to the adversity by making a double substitution, bringing on Darko Krsteski and Duncan Pisani for Clifton Ciantar and Julian Briffa. Krsteski's participation might have come to an end within three minutes of his introduction as the Serbian literally threw his body in the way to stop Effiong's progression. The sight of referee Chris Lautier hoisting the yellow card was met with a sigh of relief by the Floriana clan.

Four minutes into first-half stoppage time, Floriana revived their flailing spirits when Brincat rifled a first-time volley past Sullivan after receiving a low cross from Cassar.

Early in the second half, Floriana roused themselves to run up a head of steam, Sullivan blocking an effort by Cassar.

The game was only 56 minutes old when Doncic effected his third and final substitution, striker Ryan Darmanin replacing Micallef who had been a peripheral figure during his time on the pitch. Darmanin made an instant impact on an absorbing match, rising high to head the ball powerfully into the net from Cassar's right-wing cross to bridge Floriana's gap on the Spartans to just one goal.

The force was with Floriana now but their fightback was cut short when the Spartans won a penalty for a late tackle by Sunday Eboh on Effiong. Ryan Fenech kept his nerves under control to drill his spot-kick past Simon Agius.

Ħamrun Spartans
S. Sullivan, P. Monye, A. Attard ('84 M.A. Bonnici), Roderick Fenech, S. Meilak, Ryan Fenech ('90 D.A. Cucciardi), R. Mangion, N. Galea ('70 K. Borg), B. Timotic, G. Spiteri, A. Effiong.

Floriana
S. Agius, J. Briffa ('39 D. Pisani), M. Micallef ('56 R. Darmanin), M. Sevasta, S. Eboh, C. Cassar, M. Brincat, Z. Levnaic, Y. Bolasie, T. Cilia, C. Ciantar ('39 D. Krsteski).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Brincat; Galea; Bolasie; Sevasta; Rod. Fenech; Mangion; Meilak; Spiteri.