St Patrick: D. Cutajar, R. Cassar, M. Zerafa, M.Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa (S. Dimech), K. Micallef, G. Failla, M. Pullicino, K. Coleiro (S. Costa Brazilino), V. Camilleri (S. Magro), K. Abela

Pieta H: A. Hogg, Q. Refalo, E. Camilleri, R. Provenzano, D. Camenzuli, S. Kondev, G. Goodlip (D. Kokavessis), D. Mifsud, E. Herrera, R. Camilleri (D. Gatt), R. Galabov (N. Busuttil)

Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs : A. Camilleri Ms E. Farrugia 4th official: I. Miller

Scorers: V. Camilleri (o.g.), R. Provenzano, R. Cassar (o.g.), G. Failla, K. Abela

Yellow cards: D. Mifsud, D. Gatt

Red card: K. Micallef

Two own goals, committed by their defenders, one at the start of each half, left St Patrick reeling and dumped them out of the U*Bet FA Trophy yesterday against Premier side Pieta Hotspurs.

The Saints’ late rally, scoring two goals in the last 12 minutes, was not enough to deny Pieta qualification into the next stage.

The Hotspurs, fielding a host of youngsters in the absence of regulars Deanov, Ciscaldi, Sammut and Sciberras looked dominant for most of the game and hardly ever looked in danger of losing the game although they somehow relaxed in the late stages to concede two goals.

Two goals up by the first ten minutes put Pieta firmly in command. Hardly three minutes had elapsed when the Saints conceded the first goal. A Kondev corner from the left caused panic inside the St Patrick area and with the keeper out of his line, defender Vince Camilleri steered the ball into his own goal when under pressure.

Shell shocked, St Patrick hardly had the time to recover before being hit by a second blow on ten minutes. The ever improving Roberto Provenzano made it 2-0 with a powerful drive from the edge of the area on Goodlip’s pass.

The latter was a constant threat for the Saints with his resourceful forays on the right flank and his crosses. Towards the quarter hour, Galabov ran in well for another Goodlip cross but keeper Cassar blocked at his feet to smother the danger.

Midway through the half, St Patrick effected a double substitution, putting in Costa Brazilino and Magro.

Having dusted themselves from the early setback, they started to find some rhythm and towards the half hour, Abela went through, beat keeper Hogg but Elton Camilleri cleared his goal-bound effort into a corner.

Pieta, however, remained menacing. Refalo twice failed to put his efforts on target and on 38 minutes Kondev thumped his free-kick against the bar. With Ryan Camilleri out injured, Galabov retreated in defence.

St Patrick went close of reducing the deficit in the late stages of the half. A Michael Zerafa effort went narrowly wide and on an Abela short fre-kick, Failla powerful shot was held out by the outstretched Pieta keeper.

But St Patrick suffered another setback 11 minutes after the restart, again conceding a sloppy own goal. The keeper was caught off balance on a Herrera cross from the right and defender Robert Cassar’s headed clearance ended into his own net.

Pieta thought they had the match wrapped up and even effected two more substitutions but the Saints rallied back in the final 12 minutes, pulling two late goals.

Gordon Failla lobbed the ball over keeper Hogg at the top corner from some 25 metres out and with three minutes remaining Kenneth Abela headed in substitute Dimech’s cross from the right to put his side within reaching distance.

In a tense finish, St Patrick’s Micallef was sent off for retaliation on a Gatt foul but Pieta held on to squeeze into the quarter final.