Hamrun 1
Pietà 0
Hamrun Spartans edged past Pietà Hotspurs thanks to a slim 1-0 victory to book their place into the quarter-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy yesterday.
Last week, the Spartans reached their pre-season target of playing in the Championship Pool and yesterday they kept alive their hopes of a long run in the cup competition when they staved off the challenge of their neighbouring rivals in a balanced tie that was decided by Stephen Meilak's goal in the opening half.
It was a fair outcome to a match that saw the Spartans creating the better chances throughout. Indeed, they could have eased home with a more comfortable score had they taken the chances that came their way, particularly in the final stages of the match.
In the end, the Hotspurs were left to ponder what might have been after missing two glorious chances to score through their Bulgarian duo of Martin Deanov and Svetlan Kondev. They were denied by in-form Hamrun veteran goalkeeper Sean Sullivan when clean through.
Although the Hotspurs will be gutted to bow out of the competition, their main concern now is Premier League survival. Coach Carmel Busuttil will hope his players raise their game in time for their forthcoming crucial 'deciders' in the Relegation Pool.
Marco Gerada, the Hamrun coach, was forced to make few changes to the team that did so well against Hibs last Monday. The unfit Gaetan Spiteri started on the bench and his place was taken by Kevin Borg. He was deployed to patrol the right flank in a five-man midfield supporting lone striker Alfred Effiong. Goalkeeper Michael Falzon, defender Aaron Attard and Evano Briffa were all out through injury but striker Stefan Sultana was named among the substitutes.
Busuttil had few selection problems as the only absentee in the Hotspurs' squad was defender Pierre Aquilina who is out with a knee injury.
The opening ten minutes of the match were evenly balanced with neither side really creating any serious danger to their opposing defence. The only shot at goal arrived on nine minutes when Ryan Fenech's dipper was tipped over the bar by Miguel Montfort, the Pietà goalkeeper.
There was little for much of the first half with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield. In fact, we had to wait until the 27th minute for the next scoring opportunity when Deanov set up Rumen Galabov whose shot was blocked to a corner by defender Bratislav Timotic.
Two minutes later the Hotspurs should have taken the lead when Deanov raced clear inside the Spartans' half to control a fine throughball from Kondev but his shot was well parried by the alert Sullivan.
The Hotspurs paid dearly for that miss as it was the Spartans who broke the stalemate ten minutes from the break.
Montfort charged out of his goal to punch away a cross for Effiong, the ball went straight into the path of Meilak who did well to chip home over the Pietà goalkeeper and into the net.
Busuttil's men tried to hit back and four minutes from the break Sullivan distinguished himself again when he palmed away Quilin Refalo's shot from close distance.
Edward Herrera denied the Spartans a second goal on the stroke of half-time as the Pietà player cleared off the line Effiong's goalbound header.
The Spartans started the second half sprightly. Ryan Fenech served Effiong who did well to get past his marker but his effort finished just over the bar.
Sullivan effected another top-drawer save on 52 minutes when Deanov put Kondev clear on goal but the latter's shot was again stopped by the Spartans goalkeeper.
On 63 minutes, Spiteri replaced Roderick Fenech who had picked up a knock.
The Spartans came close to a 'killer' second goal on 68 minutes when Effiong outmuscled his direct marker before setting up Kevin Borg who saw his rising shot palmed to a corner by Montfort. From the flag-kick, taken by Ryan Fenech, Timotic was first to the ball but his header was too central to trouble the well-positioned Pietà keeper.
The Spartans shouted penalty on 72 minutes when Meilak was upended in the area by Ryan Camilleri but the referee saw nothing untoward and waved play on.
Substitute Diego Cucciardi should have put the result beyond the Hotspurs' reach six minutes from time but he did the impossible and tapped the ball over the bar in front of goal after doing well to collect Effiong's perfect delivery inside the opponents' box.
Cucciardi threatened again when he was at the end of a cross from Meilak. This time his header was neutralised by Montfort.
In time added on, the Hotspurs almost forced extra time when Galabov chested the ball down for defender Bernard Sciberras but the latter's rasping volley flew over the bar much to the relief of the Spartans.
Hamrun: S. Sullivan, P. Monye, K. Borg ('68 K. Borg), Rod. Fenech ('63 G. Spiteri), S. Meilak, Ryan Fenech, J. Debattista, R. Mangion, N. Galea, B. Timotic, A. Effiong.
Pietà: M. Montfort, C. Cassar, B. Sciberras, M. Deanov, Q. Refalo ('68 G. Goodlip), C. Pulo, D. Gera ('78 M. Vella), S. Kondev, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri, R. Galabov.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Scorer: Meilak 35.
Yellow cards: Mangion, Cassar.