Hamrun S.-St Patrick 3-2

Hamrun S: R. Camilleri, J. Debattista (J. Francica), A. Attard, K. Borg, P. Ndubisi, R. Fenech (D. Galea), C. Nwankwo, R. Mangion, Ryan Fenech, G. Spiteri (D. Cucciardi), S. Sultana

St Patrick: S. Cini, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg (A. Briffa), M. Zerafa, M. Fleri Soler, S. Costa Brazilino (K.Vassallo), M. Tanti, T. Caruana, B. Fenech (G. Scerri), S. Zerafa, C. Micallef

Scorers: S. Sultana pen, C. Nwankwo, T. Caruna, Ryan Fenech, G. Scerri

Referee: A. M. Sant Asst. refs: S. Tanti, I. Spiteri 4th official: M. Borg

Yellow cards: Roderick Fenech, C. Micallef

Red card: S. Zerafa

Premier League side Hamrun Spartans made heavy weather to overcome First Division side St Patrick, reduced to ten men past the hour, in the U*Bet FA trophy second round.

Two goals up by the hour, Hamrun looked to have hypothecated their qualification already but the Saints were back in the reckoning with a headed Caruana goal and although Hamrun scored a third, St Patrick again reduced the arrears late in the game to keep everyone guessing for the final minutes.

In the end, it was the experience of veteran Stefan Sultana, who scored a goal and set up the other two,that gave the Spartans the edge.

Hamrun had several regulars missing, including keeper Cordina, who sat on the bench, Ivan Zammit, Okoro and Mansueto. An early goal after ten minutes play put them in control. Benior Fenech pushed Nwankwo inside the area as he was about to connect on a Spiteri cross from the left. Captain Stefan Sultana tucked away the penalty with a left-foot strike at the top.

The goal sparked an immediate response from St Patrick who could have drawn level on several occasions. Caruana played a short free-kick from the edge of the area to Tanti, whose diagonal low drive had the Hamrun keeper Camilleri stretching himself to palm out the ball. A Michael Zerafa tame header from a Caruana corner went wide and towards the half hour, Caruana missed the easiest of opportunities when put clear by Micallef. Although caught off balance, the Hamrun keeper managed to deflect his goal bound effort into a corner.

Hamrun also fluffed a couple of chances before the break through Nwankwo and Spiteri but five minutes after the interval they went close on increasing their lead when an Nwankwo perfectly weighted cross from the right was headed by substitute Cucciardi straight over the keeper’s body.

But there was no denying the Spartans towards the hour when Sultana played a through ball to Chidi Nwankwo to beat keeper Cini with a low diagonal shot.

On 62 minutes the Saints suffered further derision as Simon Zerafa was sent off for attempting to kick an opponent from behind.

But St Patrick rallied bravely to pull themselves back into the game on 67 minutes with a headed goal by Thomas Caruna, who, unattended at the far side, rose high to meet substitute Scerri’s cross from the left.

That goal galvanised the Saints who went close to drawing level soon after with a Tanti insidious free-kick, saved by the grounded Camilleri.

The Spartans though seemed to have the match in their pockets on 80 minutes with their third goal. Sultana again was the provider, putting Ryan Fenech clear to advance from the left and slide his shot past the onrushing keeper.

But plucky St Patrick hit back three minutes from normal time when Gilbert Scerri’s shot took a deflection off substitute defender Francica and beat Camilleri to ignite fresh hopes.

But Hamrun held on to their minimal lead to finally make it to the quarter-finals.