Spartans in QFs

Ħamrun Spartans 4
Spiteri 9; Micallef 19; Perreira 64 pen; 80
Mellieħa 1
Borg St John 43

Ħamrun Spartans lived up to expectations and made it to the last eight of the National League 100th Anniversary Cup with a win over Division Two strugglers Mellieħa.

The score may seem reassuring but the Premier League outfit only put their minds at rest midway through the second half when they scored from a penalty after Mellieħa had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 temporarily.

The Spartans took the lead when a Gaetan Spiteri drive from outside the Mellieħa area deceived goalkeeper James Abela, the ball hitting Matthew Vella on its way home.

Manolito Micallef made it 2-0 on 19 minutes when he concluded a fine choral move that was started by Marcelo Perreira. He was quick to release Joao Batista Mawete whose back-heel paved the way for Micallef to score.

Ħamrun were unlucky on 23 minutes when a Claude Camoin cross found Perreira on the right spot but his header was a whisker away from goal.

Mellieħa hit back on 27 minutes but Wayne Borg St John just missed the target after sprinting through to meet a Philip Camilleri pass. His shot rolled inches wide.

However, two minutes before the break, the northerners reduced the deficit. Roderick Fenech misjudged his clearance attempt and striker Borg St John profited to beat stand-in keeper Andrea Cassar.

Mellieħa almost equalised soon after the restart. Reuben Vella's shot was partially saved by Cassar, the ball fell into the path of Julian Tonna whose effort was cleared off the line by Fenech.

Ħamrun soaked up the pressure and on 56 minutes a combination between Diego Armando Cucciardi and Mawete finished with the latter shooting just wide.

On 64 minutes, the Spartans re-opened a two-goal lead when they won a penalty after Luke Cauchi brought down Micallef in the box. Perreira made no mistake from the spot.

Stephen D'Amato's Ħamrun scored again on 80 minutes when Perreira blasted the ball home from just inside the box following a Camoin corner.

The Spartans could have added more goals late on but Cucciardi missed two sitters in front of the Mellieħa goal.

Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar, M.A. Bonnici, R. Mangion (D. Caruana), R. Fenech, M. Micallef (M. Mifsud), D.A. Cucciardi, M. Perreira, G. Spiteri (J. Holland), M. Hrubsa, J.B. Mawete, C. Camoin.

Mellieħa
J. Abela, J. Gauci (A. Attard), A. Portelli, M. Vella, L. Cauchi, K. Gauci, W. Borg, J. Tonna (R. Micallef), R. Vella, Ph. Camilleri, W. Borg St John (J. Vella).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.