Hamrun S.-Dingli S. 3-1
Hamrun S: S. Sullivan, D. Cucciardi, P. Monye, S. Meilak (Roderick Fenech), Ryan Fenech, J. Debattista (A. Attard), R. Mangion, N. Galea, B. Timotic, G. Spiteri, A. Effiong
Dingli S: J. Farrugia, F. Cauchi (E. Casha), R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara (M. Galea), K. Formosa (J. Sapiano), V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, U. Anyanwu
Referee: A. Zammit asst.refs: C. Micallef, E. Spiteri 4th official: S. Tanti
Scorers: J. Agius, G. Spiteri (3)
Yellow cards: D. Cucciardi
Gaetan Spiteri showed some of his renowned lethal qualities in front of goal, scoring a hat-trick against Dingli Swallows yesterday, to put Hamrun Spartans into the semi-finals of the U*BET FA Trophy.
Superior Hamrun carried too much ammunition for their toiling opponents from the First Division, who fought gamely for only the first half hour, bolstered by an early lead. But after Hamrun equalized, they played second fiddle for most of the remaining minutes.
Buoyed by the return of Rupert Mangion in midfield, the Spartans showed superiority as the match progressed but also missed a hatful of opportunities in the process.
They were caught cold by Dingli’s opening goal after only 18 minutes. It was a simple goal, but its execution was sheer beauty. Jeremy Agius, Dingli’s most dangerous player, played a deft one-two with Anyanwu, made his way inside area and beat keeper Sullivan with a low strike.
Hamrun were forced to step up a gear and as they dusted themselves from the early shock, they began to claw their way back.
Their deserved equaliser came on the half hour when Gaetan Spiteri headed in Effiong’s cross from the right. The goal injected enthusiasm in the Hamrun side who dominated for the remaining quarter hour of the half and carved out three good chances within ten minutes.
On 33 minutes Cucciardi reached before keeper Farrugia on Galea’s cross from the left but headed over.
Two minutes later Effiong’s pace took him past Fiteni and as Spiteri picked up the cross inside the Dingli area, he thumped the ball against the bar.
With Dingli pegged in defence, Spiteri’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Cachia and before the interval Spiteri’s cross from the left was missed by the keeper on Effiong’s challenge. Ryan Fenech shot wide of the mark with a gaping goal at his mercy.
Hamrun continued to look the better side in the second half. It took them only eight minutes to take the lead as Gaetan Spiteri beat keeper Farrugia at the far post with a glancing header on Fenech’s sailing free kick from left.
Then Fenech blasted the ball over on Effiong’s inviting pass. And with the Dingli defence in disarray, Cucciardi’s low cross was partially saved by the keeper but efforts by Effiong and Meilak, on loose balls, were somehow blocked by Fiteni and Cachia after some frantic defending.
Hamrun kept up the pressure and on 67 minutes Effiong threatened with his run and cross from the right but keeper Farrugia pluckily blocked Spiteri’s shot from close range.
Dingli were constantly exposed by Hamrun’s better play on the flanks but they refused to roll over and die, putting in Mark Galea to boost their attack.
But Hamrun’s composure and tactical discipline was in no mood to concede them any favours. And with three minutes of added time played, Ryan Fenech, on second thoughts, sent a cross for Gaetan Spiteri to head in his third goal, despite seeing Dingli player Roderick Spiteri lying injured inside their area and his static teammates. But the referee did not interrupt play and the goal stood.