Hamrun S. 5

Melita 0

Melita’s gallant display was not enough to stop Hamrun Spartans from moving to the next round of the Trophy competition. Melita had Alinho ejected after 13 minutes and this made it much easier for the Spartans who could have won by a bigger margin.

Melita almost surprised the Spartans after barely 90 seconds play when Julian Galea came face to face with Omar Borg but his shot slightly missed the base of the upright. On four minutes Hamrun broke the deadlock when Ryan Fenech was devastating on the left flank and Marcelo Pereira had an easy task in tapping the ball home.

On 13 minutes Pereira beat the offside trap and was floored by Alinho with referee Pisani sending off the Melita player. From the same freekick Massimo Grima hit the upright. But the second goal came on 17 minutes when David Camilleri’s corner was met by Gaetan Spiteri who half volleyed past Sapiano.

Melita were now facing an uphill task but they still tried to play the ball with some neatly weaved moves. But Hamrun created a lot and missed a lot too, with Spiteri having a certain goal cleared off the line by substitute Jonathan Mifsud.

On the resumption Pereira scored his second goal tapping in a Spiteri lob destined for the back of the net. On 65 minutes the best goal of the lot when Ryan Fenech first-timed beautifully from an acute angle for a great goal.

Nine minutes from time Marcelo Pereira completed his hat-trick beating Sapiano with the ball smashing against the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net. Spiteri hit the crossbar minutes later in the Spartans’ last glaring scoring chance.