Mosta 4
Naxxar Lions 1

A strong first-half performance was enough for Mosta to book their place in the second round of the FA Trophy after a convincing 4-1 win over Naxxar Lions.

The first of the two cup matches in programme yesterday at the Centenary Stadium proved to be a one-sided affair with Mosta dominating their opponents from start to finish.

Wingers Dyson Falzon and Alex Chetcuti were simply a thorn in the Naxxar rearguard, as their pace and effective passing were fully exploited by in-form striker Carlos Camenzuli who notched a first-half hat-trick.

Naxxar were never in the match. They sorely felt the absence of promising midfielder Paul Fenech who was not included in the 18-man squad as he is only one match away from suspension. The Lions preferred to keep Fenech for their next league encounter against Mosta on November 30.

Mosta took charge of proceedings right from the start and it was no surprise that they forged ahead after 21 minutes. Falzon's fine through-pass picked up Camenzuli in the Naxxar area and the Mosta striker shot the ball home after evading the challenge of his marker.

Three minutes later, Mosta doubled their tally. Naxxar Lions defender Malcolm Micallef floored Chetcuti in the area and the referee had no other option than to order a penalty. Stefan Farrugia sent Romeo Schembri the wrong way to put Mosta 2-0 up.

Joe Grech's side continued to press on the accelerator and Camenzuli hit Mosta's third when he headed in a Pio Vassallo cross. This was on 43 minutes.

Naxxar were clearly struggling and a minute into injury time it was 4-0 when Camenzuli completed his hat-trick from a Chetcuti cross.

On the change of ends, Mosta kept the upperhand. In the 52nd minute, Camenzuli was again at the end of another Mosta attack when he controlled a Mario Abela cross but his shot was tipped away by Naxxar substitute goalkeeper Franco Scicluna.

Naxxar's first real goal opportunity arrived on 53 minutes when a Kevin Fenech drive finished just over.

Ten minutes later Falzon should have scored Mosta's fifth but shot high from close range.

Three minutes from time Naxxar scored a consolation goal when Jonathan Mifsud brilliantly curled the ball home. However, it was all too late for the Lions, Mosta were long home and dry.

Mosta: C. Sciberras (L. Fardell), M. Abela, P. Vassallo, M. Agius (I. Bilocca), A. Chetcuti, S. Farrugia, C. Camenzuli (M. Borg), B. Galea, R. Newell, D. Falzon, J. Grech.

Naxxar L.: R. Schembri (F. Scicluna), G. Mock, K. Cassar, J. Mifsud, M. Micallef, D. Gera, E. Sciberras, Iv. Zammit, Is. Zammit, G. Camilleri (C. Mifsud), J. Sant (K. Fenech).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.