First Division side San Gwann caused an upset to Premier side Pieta Hotspurs yesterday, beating them with two first half goals within the first half hour.

Although this may sound as a surprising result, San Gwann fully deserved their win as they were the more enterprising team throughout. And this they achieved without the services of regular players such as Zammit Fava and Anizoba. A penalty paved the way to this success but their optimal defending kept their opponents at bay after taking a two-goal lead by half-time.

In fact Pieta were a sorry sight yesterday, unable to put up a decent reaction after falling behind. Despite their ample possession, they could hardly find a way past the Saints’ defence as well as being guilty of some profligacy in a couple of other occasions.

The Hotspurs, with Sciuto and Sammut in their starting line-up, were expected to overcome opponents from a lower division but by the first half hour they were facing an uphill task, they being two goals in arrears.

After 18 minutes, in their first real attack, San Gwann surprisingly took the lead when Camenzuli fouled Cuschieri inside the area and they were rightly awarded a penalty. Their captain Kevin Loughborough beat keeper Hogg with a powerful drive.

Pieta reacted with a good scoring opportunity when Martin Deanov’s powerful diagonal shot was blocked by keeper Bartolo but Decesare’s scissor kick on the loose ball went wide.

Past the half hour Karl Sciberras chested a good ball outside the area, avoided an opponent and rifled an unstoppable shot at the top right hand corner.

Bolstered by that two-goal cushion, the First Division side threatened further. A first-time effort by Zammit Tabona on a Farrugia cross, hit the side netting.

San Gwann were again menacing after the break. Zammit Tabon controlled another teasing Farrugia cross from the right but his close range shot was saved into a corner by keeper Hogg.

Effecting all their substitutions, Pieta mounted some pressure in the second half but lacked the penetrative capability to perforate San Gwann’s compact defence, where their goalkeeper Bartolo stood out.

However it was only in the late stages that Pieta went closest. Grech’s shot whizzed past the post and a Sciuto free-kick went wide.

With three minutes remaining Bartolo saved superbly substitute Camilleri’s low shot on Deanov’s through ball to ensure San Gwann’s progress in the competition.

Pieta H: A. Hogg, R. Grech, I. Deanov, D. Camenzuli (D. Mifsud), B. Sciberras, A. Spiteri, S. Ciscaldi (R. Camilleri), A. Decesare (D. Gatt), C. Sammut, C. Sciuto, M. Deanov

San Gwann: M. Bartolo, L. Vella Critien, S. Vella, W. Spiteri, C. Cuschieri (C. Felice), K. Loughborough, M. Buttigieg, A. Borg (K. Micallef), A. Farrugia, K. Sciberras (V. Camilleri), A. Zammit Tabona

Referee: A. M. Sant asst. refs: K. Borg, M. Debono 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: K. Loughborough (pen), K. Sciberras