Sliema Wanderers and Floriana will go head to head in the stand-out tie of the 2014/15 FA Trophy third round as the draws for the next two stages of the domestic knock-out competition were made yesterday.

The top six teams in last season’s BOV Premier League were seeded for the third round draw which was conducted by Rodney Pisani, the MFA deputy general secretary.

The 12 top-flight teams were joined by the remaining 20 who qualified from the previous round.

The seedings system ensured that the heavyweights were kept apart but the Wanderers, who finished fifth in the championship last season and lost 1-0 to Valletta in the FA Trophy final, were handed the toughest draw as they came up against their Old Firm rivals who played in the Relegation Pool last term.

Valletta, winners of a league and cup double in 2013-14, will launch their FA Trophy defence against Division One strugglers Birżebbuġa St Peter’s while Birkirkara meet six-time winners Ħamrun Spartans who are flying high in the Division Two championship.

Hibernians, who have 10 FA Trophy triumphs to their name, face neighbours St George’s.

Nadur Youngsters and Victoria Hotspurs, the only two Gozitan clubs to advance to the third round, were drawn against Divi-sion Two side Għargħur and the Premier League’s Żebbuġ Rangers respectively.

The third round matches will be played between November 29 and December 3.

Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA general secretary, announced yesterday that the association is discussing a new sponsorship deal for the FA Trophy competition with an overseas company.

“We will be meeting with the representatives of the company in the coming days,” Vassallo said.

“In the current economic climate, finding sponsors is not easy but we don’t want to devalue our products.

“Hopefully, the deal will be con-cluded before the third round is over as the proposed agreement could also cover next year’s com-petition. That said, I have to stress that we are still negotiating.”

The fourth round pairings were also made yesterday.

The winner of the Sliema/ Floriana clash will meet either Qormi or Division Three side Qrendi in the fourth round while Valletta would set up a meeting with Naxxar Lions or Division One team Melita if, as expected, they overcome Birżebbuġa.

Mosta will have high hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals after being drawn against Division Two outfit Senglea Athletic with the winners advancing to a fourth-round clash with Swieqi United (Division Two) or Gżira United (Division One). This week, Gżira appointed Darren Abdilla as their new coach following the sacking of Michael Woods.

The fourth-round fixtures are scheduled for January 16-21.

The quarter-finals will be played in February while the semi-finals and final, set for May 24, will take place after the end of the BOV Premier League.

Third round draw
Mosta vs Senglea Athletic
St George’s vs Hibernians
Balzan vs Kirkop United
Birżebbuġa St Peter’s vs Valletta
Birkirkara vs Ħamrun Spartans
Floriana vs Sliema Wanderers
Nadur Youngsters vs Għargħur
Sirens vs Lija Athletic
Tarxien Rainbows vs Gudja Utd
Żebbuġ Rangers vs Victoria Hotspurs
Siġġiewi vs Żurrieq
Qrendi vs Qormi
Swieqi United vs Gżira United
Pembroke Athleta vs Pietà Hotspurs
Msida St Joseph vs Żabbar St Patrick
Naxxar Lions vs Melita

(Matches to be played from November 29-December 3)

Fourth round pairings
Tarxien/Gudja vs Sirens/Lija
Naxxar/Melita vs B’buġa/Valletta
Żebbuġ/Victoria vs Pembroke/Pietà
Nadur/Għargħur vs St George’s/Hibs
Floriana/Sliema vs Qrendi/Qormi
Swieqi/Gżira vs Mosta/Senglea
Balzan/Kirkop vs Msida/Żabbar
Siġġiewi/Żurrieq vs B’kara/Ħamrun

(Matches to be played from January 16-21)

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