Vittoriosa Stars qualified to the second round of the FA Trophy beating Gozitan side Victoria Hotspurs, with the Stars having to chase their opponents.

This was a hard earned victory for Vittoriosa as the Gozitans gave all they could to spring a surprise.

In fact the Gozitans twice took the lead but the Premier side bounced back to qualify to the next round. Vittoriosa were the better team and deserved this hard earned passage.

Vittoriosa started the match on attack but the Hotspurs were always on the alert and took the lead after fifteen minutes when Kalin Ganchev scored with a grounder. The Stars made an immediate reaction going close on three occasions through Silva, Campagnolo and Wellman.

On 35 minutes Vittoriosa equalised with a Brazilian move between Compagnioli and Santos Silva, with the latter tapping the ball home.

But two minutes from the restart Victoria Hotspurs were back in front when from a Ganchev cross, Justin Azzopardi scored a great goal giving Vella no chance.

On 62 minutes Vittoriosa were back in business when Leighton Grech hammered home the equaliser from close range. The Stars were shining now and two minutes later they took the lead for the first time in the match when substitute Ewurun finished off a Santos Silva cross.

Victoria tried to crawl back in the game but the closest they could get was through an Oliver Farrugia header that slightly missed the target. Three minutes from time Victoria were rather unlucky when substitute Kevin Farrugia hit the post with a shot from the edge of the area.

In stoppage time Vittoriosa Stars sealed the issue with a fourth goal when Ewurun scored his second goal of the day heading home a Leighton Grech cross.

Victoria H M. Grima, J. Emanche (J. Farrugia 79m), M. Vella, A. Zammit (K. Farrugia 56m), M. Mifsud, D. Farrugia, R. Grech, D. Bellotti, J. Azzopardi, K. Ganchev, O. Farrugia.

Vittoriosa S J. Vella, C. Micallef (J. Chetcuti 60m), J. Camilleri, C. Compagnioli, E. Dos Santos, J. Spiteri (A. Ewurum 34), J. Xerri, D. Cachia, J. Santos Silva, S. Wellman, L. Grech.

Referee Marco Borg