Valletta showed all their guile to oust holders Birkirkara in the first semi-final of the U*BET FA Trophy played yesterday at Ta'Qali. They won 2-0 and have reached the competition's final after an absence of eight years thus remaining on course for a memorable double.

Valletta's goals were neatly timed too. They broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time, thanks to the Birkirkara keeper's complicity, and then doubled their lead five minutes into the second half. From then on, they had the match in their pockets.

This win was the perfect reward for an impressive display of energy, courage and commitment. Birkirkara were tactically very good for most part of the first half and carved the better few chances in a tight 45 minutes, but were unwound by some defensive ingenuity in the actions which led to Valletta's both goals.

With their confidence evidently dented, they faded out as the match progressed. Both teams had key players missing through injuries or suspensions.

Valletta were bereft of Giglio, Monesterolo and the suspended Edmond Agius. Priso was given a start as Frendo was relegated to the bench.

Birkirkara were without the suspended forward Mifsud Triganza as well as Bulgarian Mihailov. Their defence was reshuffled. Bernard Paris played in goal. In the absence of Sokolov and Holland, with Dilello sitting on the bench, Zerafa played as centre back alongside Hartvig, with Thomas Paris as right back. Cilia was only named as a substitute as Buhagiar, Tabone and Anastasi were given the nod by coach Buttigieg.

Both teams played with high defences and so play was concentrated mostly in the middle third of the pitch. Ideas were often stifled once the teams progressed beyond the halfway line. With very little openings, the players tried to test the respective keepers with shots from outside the area.

A Falzon effort on 10 minutes was blocked by Paris and Zammit had another shot narrowly off target. Buhagiar also tried his luck from outside the Valletta area but his shot went wide. On 18 minutes a Tabone free kick was blocked by the Valletta wall. Fenech shot the loose ball over.

On the other end, a Falzon low shot on the turn, when served by Priso, was blocked by the grounded Birkirkara keeper. Past the half hour, Valletta had a goal disallowed for an offside position of Priso who headed in Agius' free kick.

But Birkirkara carved two good scoring opportunities after 38 minutes that could have given them the lead. Galea flicked the ball wide towards Anastasi who avoided Bezzina and sent a curling shot past keeper Hogg, only for Valletta's defender Dimech to stop the ball from going in.

Then a Buhagiar firm header on a Paris cross was blocked with difficulty by Hogg and Dimech cleared before Galea could connect to the loose ball. But with halftime looming, the Birkirkara keeper Paris allowed a harmless Ian Zammit shot from the right to slip from his grip as the ball ended behind him to give Valletta the edge, going in for the break.

Any hopes Birkirkara might have had of levelling matters were shattered five minutes into the second half. Ironically they earned a corner after a Bajada fierce free kick was tipped over the bar by keeper Hogg, but on Valletta's clearance, the Stripes' defence was caught uncovered. Njongo Priso Doding, not at his best yesterday, advanced unmolested down the left, on Dimech's splitting pass, to shoot low past the helpless Paris.

Birkirkara were rattled and lost their composure after that, although they put in Valkov for Tabone to give more impetus to their attack. They gave away possession cheaply as Valletta could defend their lead with minimal difficulty. Birkirkara only went close in a late surge.

Substitute Cilia played the ball forward to Galea on the right but the latter's cross was cleared into a corner by the solid Dimech before Valkov could connect.

Then, the Valletta keeper was forced to keep out a Bajada shot but that was too little for Birkirkara to reap any rewards and Valletta emerged worthy winners.

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Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Grioli, K. Scicluna, L. Dimech, S. Bezzina, J. Pace, R. Briffa, N. Priso Doding, G. Agius (D. Grima), D. Falzon (C. Frendo), I. Zammit (P. Massaro)

Birkirkara: B. Paris, T. Paris, R. Hartvig, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech (T. Cilia), G. Mallia, A. Buhagiar (L. Sciberras), M. Anastasi, S. Bajada, M. Galea, A. Tabone (K. Valkov)

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: K. Borg, P. Agius 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: I. Zammit, N. Priso Doding

Yellow cards: G. Agius