Mawete at the double

Ħamrun Spartans 3
Mawete 23, 52; Spiteri 28
St George's 0

Ħamrun Spartans gained their second win in seven days over Division One side St George's to breeze into the fourth round of the Anniversary Cup yesterday.

After a rather shaky start, the Spartans stormed ahead thanks to Joao Mawete midway into the first half. The Saints were down and out after they conceded again five minutes later and had Emerson Amaira sent off nine minutes from half-time.

The Spartans added a third goal early in the second half to seal their fourth successive win in cup and league matches.

Ħamrun coach Stephen D'Amato effected one change from the team that beat Dingli Swallows 3-0 in the Premier League in midweek, Clyde Camoin replacing the injured Mark Anthony Bonnici.

Joey Falzon, the St George's coach, was without Anthony Bonello and Manuel Sevasta, who were suspended after both saw red in the 3-0 loss to Ħamrun in the FA Trophy.

St George's almost took a surprise lead on 12 minutes when Anthony Ewurum profited from some hesitant defending by Aaron Attard and found himself clean through but his shot finished wide.

The Spartans looked disjointed in these early stages but their aspirations received a huge boost after 23 minutes. Daniel Galea's attempt to clear Camoin's cross came off team-mate Josef Dalli with the ball falling to Mawete who had an easy task tapping the ball into an empty net.

Boosted by this opener, the Spartans stepped up their game and doubled their lead on 28 minutes. Camoin's corner was met by Gaetan Spiteri who headed the ball home.

Spiteri almost struck again four minutes later when he was put through by Mawete but his shot was blocked by Thomas Galea.

St George's were dealt another hammer blow nine minutes from the break when Amaira was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Roderick Fenech. Minutes later it was the turn of St George's coach Falzon to receive his marching orders for dissent.

Ħamrun should have made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when Dalli was judged to have handled the ball in the box but Marcelo Pereira's penalty strike was stopped by Galea.

The Spartans continued to dominate after the interval. Seven minutes into the second half, Rupert Mangion sent a fine pass towards Attard who ran into the area before crossing for the unmarked Mawete who slotted the ball home. Two minutes later, St George's finally threatened when Silvio Sciberras's curling free-kick was well blocked by Ivan Casha.

As the second half wore on, scoring chances became scarce as the Spartans seemed content to preserve their three-goal cushion while St George's had long switched to damage-limitation mode.

Twelve minutes from time, Spartans substitute Diego Cucciardi came close to add to his team's lead but his header was kept out by Galea.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha, A. Attard ('69 T. Fleri Soler), R. Mangion ('67 M. Barbara), R. Fenech, M. Micallef, M. Pereira, G. Spiteri, M. Hrubsa, J. Mawete, J. Holland ('57 D.A. Cucciardi), C. Camoin.

St George's
T. Galea, C. Schiavone, G. Bonello, E. Amaira, G. Mallia, N. Caruana, C. Ciappara ('89 J. Grech), A. Ewurum, D. Galea, J. Dalli ('76 C. Bugeja), S. Sciberras ('85 S. Farrugia).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Missed penalty: Pereira (Ħ) 45.

Yellow cards: Fenech; Amaira; Sciberras.

Red card: Amaira (SG) 36.