Pembroke Athleta 3
San Ġwann 0
Pembroke moved to the fourth round of the FA Trophy thanks to an easy win over Division One strugglers San Ġwann, yesterday.
Pembroke dictated matters and were always in command in a match that, at times, was too much one-sided.
Gustavo Villalobos opened the score with a scorcher from 35 metres out on 13 minutes and after that there was only one team on the pitch.
Winston Muscat’s side doubled their lead on 27 minutes when from a Kyle O’Brien free-kick, Peter Paul Sammut rose high to head home.
Edmond Lufi’s San Ġwann tried to hit back before the break but Felix Udoh was denied by goalkeeper Andrei Coblis.
Pembroke practically made sure of the tie on the hour as keeper Matthew Grech was again left helpless when Ariel Laudisi made it 3-0 with an unstoppable drive.
Pembroke slowed the rhythm and Udoh almost pulled one back for his team but his lob went wide.
Pembroke: A. Coblis, P.P. Sammut, A. Laudisi (S. Arab), K. O’Brien, T. Fenech (L. Micallef), R. Tanti, J. Togbah, G. Villalobos, P. Shereni, O. Bugeja (G. Spiteri), M. Attard.
San Ġwann: M. Grech (D. Sciberras), R. Zammit, S. Vella, J. Briffa (G. Sant), J. Azzopardi, A. Borg, N. Muscat, G. Agius (J. Cutajar), S. Vella, J. Tanti, F. Udoh.
Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.
Fgura United 1
Balzan 2
Balzan found the going tough as despite seeing more of the action, they were unable to kill of their lively opponents from Division One.
It took Balzan 33 minutes to find the Fgura net when Lydon Micallef scored after beating the challenge of a couple of defenders.
Fgura stayed compact though and Oliver Spiteri’s only managed to double their lead early in the second half thanks to Godwin Mensha whose shot went in via the upright.
Balzan could have sealed the issue but Mensha failed miserably in front of goal after being put through by Alfred Effiong.
Fgura got back in the reckoning on 65 minutes when following a melee inside the Balzan penalty area, the ball fell kindly to Steeven Sandovel Escobar who scored from a tight angle.
Mensha should have restored Balzan’s two-goal lead but headed badly from a good position as Fgura tried hard to force extra-time but to no avail as Spiteri’s men relied on all their experience to preserve their lead.
Fgura: B. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, A. Farrugia, D. Vukovic (J. Bugeja), R. Costa (I. Curmi), J. Ruiz Perez, L. Vella Critien, S. Sandoval Escobar, D. Attard (K. Pace), Q. Bregman, F. Arriagada Mella.
Balzan: C. Cassar, D. Grima, J. Grioli (S. Arab), G. Mensha, L. Micallef, M. Focsa, A. Effiong (R. Darmanin), T. Agius (S. Cipriott), E. Bilbao Zarate, S. Bezzina, E. Serrano Valero.
Referee: Fiodor Zammit.