Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici (E. Navarro), A. Busuttil, M. Briffa, F. Silva (L. Galea), M. Pereira, C. Calleja, D. Zarb, M. Cocks, J. Mintoff (M. Onourah), C. Gatt Baldacchino
Dingli S: J. Farrugia, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara (E. Casha), K. Formosa (C. Tabone), V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius (D. Roe), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, U. Anyanwu
Referee: A.M. Sant asst.refs: J. Spiteri, C. Micallef 4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorer: C. Ciappara
Yellow cards: M. Cocks, C. Gatt Baldacchino, E. Farrugia, K. Formosa, R. Spiteri
First Division side Dingli Swallows made a stride forward to reach the quarter-final stage of the U*Bet FA Trophy, after eliminating Premier side Mqabba courtesy of a Christopher Ciappara first half goal yesterday morning. Following Senglea and Tarxien’s elimination, the Swallows are the only First Division side still playing in this season’s competition.
Dingli were the better team in the first half, with Agius, Formosa and Spiteri producing a high work rate in midfield and Anyanwu menacing in attack.
Mqabba though dominated the second half and created enough scoring chances which could at least enabled them to clinch a draw. Lack of accuracy in front of goal however let them down as they were disappointingly bundled out of the competition.
Dingli did most of the running in the first 45 minutes, although rarely effective during a tepid first half hour.
It was only in the later part of the half that the Swallows managed to mount some sustained pressure, as Jeremy Agius and Anyanwu started to combine with some telling effect. Dingli deservingly took a one-goal lead by halftime, which could have been even two or three.
Past the half hour, Agius served Anyanwu, who shot narrowly off target, before they forged ahead on 42 minutes. Anyanwu took possession after the ball took a deflection off the referee, and passed the ball wide to the unmarked Christopher Ciappara on the left. As the flag remained down, the Dingli forward beat keeper Calleja with a low diagonal shot.
To legitimate their lead, Dingli kept up the initiative and before halftime went close on other occasions.
Agius shot narrowly over and another Formosa shot was saved by keeper Calleja. In added time, the Mqabba shot stopper rushed off his line to block at Anyanwu’s feet inside the area to save his side from further derision.
Mqabba put in Galea for Silva in the second half and then even substituted the innocuous Mintoff with Onourah as they tried to step up a gear. On 50 minutes Pereira chested the ball well inside the area but keeper Farrugia blocked his effort.
Onourah fluffed a good opportunity past the hour, as the ball fell to him on a Dingli clearance but his finishing lacked co-ordination.
Dingli remained menacing on the break though. On 72 minutes, Farrugia’s low drive was blocked into a corner by Bonnici.
Mqabba surged forward incessantly in the last quarter hour, going close to drawing level on various occasions.
Gatt Baldacchino headed wide and a Busuttil floating free kick found nobody to connect to.
In the dying minutes Mqabba won a series of corners, which caused embarrassment to the Dingli defence. An insidious direct kick by Zarb was tipped over the bar by the Dingli keeper and then a Pereira shot was also blocked into another corner.
Mqabba kept trying and deep into five minutes of added time, keeper Farrugia saved well Briffa’s low shot on Gatt Baldacchino’s cross to preserve a clean sheet and deny Mqabba further progress.