Valletta have won the FA Trophy, beating Sliema Wanderers 1-0 just days after winning the league championship.

It is the first time in 13 years that the City have won the double, finally achieving a dream for their president Victor Schriha.

Today's all important goal was scored by an unmarked Lateef Elford-Alliyu with a low shot from close quarters in the second minute.

The triumph triggered a large celebration in Valletta. (see video above)

Valletta were the favourites to add the trophy to their league triumph but they were given a rough side by Sliema Wanderers who staged a bold reaction, going close to levelling matters on a couple of occasions.

Sliema will have summoned further encouragement when Valletta lost Roderick Briffa and Alan Da Silva Souza to injury and, with 19 minutes remaining, Hamza Barry to a red card, but the champions relied on their experience to repel the Blues' attempts.

As in Saturday's victory over Birkirkara, hundreds of Valletta fans invaded the pitch at the final whistle as the celebrations went into overdrive.

City coach Andre Paus awarded a start to young striker Llwelyn Cremona who was preferred to Luke Montebello while Roderick Briffa and English forward Lateef Elford-Alliyu replaced the suspended Steve Borg and Abdelkarim Nafti.

For Sliema Wanderers, Beppe Muscat took the right-back role with Alex Muscat on the left as John Mintoff was suspended.

As in Saturday's title clash, Valletta took less than two minutes to open the scoring. And, once more, the danger came from the right wing as Brazilian Da Silva Souza steered clear of his marker before cutting the ball back for Briffa. From the latter's through-pass, Elford-Alliyu turned well before flicking past Glenn Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.

Sliema looked stunned but they showed signs of improvement as the game drifted past the fifth minute.

Pouncing on a half-clearance, Matias Muchardi tried to curl the ball goalwards but his effort was diverted away for a corner.

On 11 minutes, Sliema threatened. They were unlucky not to score as Paltemio Barbetti's curling chip from outside the box completely surprised Nukri Revishvili, the Valletta goalkeeper, but the ball came off the crossbar. The danger for Valletta remained as the loose ball landed at the feet of Muchardi who hit wide with only Revishvili to beat.

Cremona's lob was high after the youngster got on the end of Shaun Bajada's free-kick but Sliema remained the more dangerous side.

Ohawuchi, released by Muchardi's intelligent pass, flew past the stationary City defenders only to fire high from an inviting position.

Instead of building on their early breakthrough, Valletta grew lethargic while Sliema, with dynamic Muchardi impressing in midfield, improved.

The Argentine's perseverance was in evidence when he managed to squeeze his way through a clutch of defenders but his flick was blocked by Ryan Fenech who had again tracked back to support the defenders.

Ten minutes from half-time, Scerri was wide with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Valletta suffered a double setback seven minutes from half-time as Briffa limped off after picking up a muscle strain and Da Silva also came off after sustaining an injury. Edmond Agius and Hamza Barry came on for Briffa and Da Silva Souza with Maisuradze switching to right-back.

There was an almighty scare for Valletta five minutes into the second half as Ohawuchi raced clear after being put through by Woods but the Nigerian's effort ended just wide after taking a deflection.

The incoming Jacob Borg almost gifted Valletta a goal as his attempt to control the ball from Luke Dimech's long cross only served to release Elford-Alliyu but the latter's flick was repelled by Zammit.

Ivan Woods left the pitch to a warm applause from the Sliema supporter when the veteran forward, who is retiring from competitive football, made way for young Axl Xuereb on 66 minutes.

Sliema's optimism rose further when, 20 minutes from time, Barry was dismissed by Pisani after the Gambian appeared to it out at Gatt Baldacchino.

Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper, needed two touches to tame Denni's cross-shot from a free-kick.

Seven minutes from time, Zammit kept Sliema in the game when blocking Fenech's free-kick. Bajada then fired wide as Valletta began to cause Sliema more problems on the counter.

It was end-to-end stuff now, Barbetti going close with a rasping that ended just wide after taking a deflection.

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