Kind draw for holders as Stripes play Rainbows in quarter-finals

Holders Birkirkara were paired with Premier League strugglers Tarxien Rainbows in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy following the draw which was held yesterday evening at the Malta FA offices in Ta' Qali.

The Stripes, who beat Ħamrun Spartans 2-1 in last year's final, will be making their first showing in the 2008/09 knock-out competition, having received a bye in the opening rounds as Tarxien, currently languishing in bottom place of the Premier League, have already negotiated two rounds to qualify for the last eight.

They eliminated Mqabba and Msida St Joseph on the way.

The quarter-finals draw involved an all-Premier League line-up as none of the Division One teams survived the preliminary phase of the competition.

The most attractive tie in the draw is the derby between Valletta and Floriana while current league leaders Hibernians will play Sliema Wanderers, the most successful club in the FA Trophy with 19 successes.

This match will be a repeat of last weekend's league clash which the Paolites won 1-0.

The last time Valletta and Floriana clashed against each other in the FA Trophy was in quarter-finals of the 2003/04 competition. On that occasion, the Citizens progressed to the semi-finals with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to a Nenad Veselji goal.

Eighteen-times trophy winners Floriana eliminated Dingli Swallows (3-0) and St Patrick (1-0), both Division One teams, in the previous rounds to reach the last-eight stage of the competition.

The Spartans are currently faring well below expectations in the league and will be looking to make up for last year's upset in the final with another positive run in the FA Trophy. First, however, Ħamrun will have to deal with Marsaxlokk, another team misfiring badly in the championship.

Like Birkirkara, Valletta, Sliema and Marsaxlokk were not involved in the opening rounds thanks to their high placing in the final standings of the 2007/08 Premier League.

Ties will be played on February 6 and 7 at the National Stadium.