Hamrun Spartans - 5, Sliema - 2

Three goals in the opening 29 minutes sent holders Sliema Wanderers crashing out of the FA Trophy as Hamrun Spartans turned on style to romp to comfortable win and march on to the semi-finals.

Hamrun’s impassioned desired to stamp an early authority on the game paid dividends immediately with Marcelo Pereira taking just 44 seconds to put the Spartans on their way to the semi-finals.

The rampaging Brazilian, opened the scoring with a shot from 20 metres that took a deflection on its way past keeper Simon Agius.

Three minutes later Sliema found themselves two goals behind. Obinna Obefula broke away down the left flank in a sweeping attack, and crossed for Gaetan Spiteri to turn home from close range.

liema got themselves a lifeline on 18 minutes, Pedrinho Calcado smashed home a delightful right-foot free-kick that bent viciously over a sea of players and away from Ivan Casha’s despairing dive.

Yet, things went from bad to worse for Sliema on the hour mark, Obefula ran at a labouring and waning Josef Mifsud before fizzing a shot from the edge of the area to make it 4-1.

The pace inevitably slowed down yet Hamrun were still able to add a fifth when Obefula surged brilliantly into the Sliema box and went down under a challenge from Agius.

Fortunately, Sliema’s players kept going and grabbed a consolation, Ivan Casha parried Mifsud Triganza’s shot but Ivan Woods was the first to the rebound to tap into the empty net.