Hamrun S 3

Dingli S 1

A brace by Ribeiro in the second half was enough for Hamrun Spartans to overcome Dingli Swallows and progress to the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy with Sammut adding a late goal through a penalty.

In the second match of the FA Trophy Third Round at the Centenary Stadium, Hamrun Spartans were expected to overcome First Division side Dingli Swallows to progress to the next round.

Hamrun came close on seven minutes when Sammut was served by Grima with the former seeing his shot saved for a corner by Farrugia. On 13 minutes, Dingli had a glorious chance to score when Konda saw his point blank shot brilliantly saved by Cassar.

Konda again came close after 27 minutes with another good shot that went just over the bar. Hamrun had a chance on 42 minutes when Sammut received from Polli with the former’s shot going over the bar.

The second half began with Hamrun creating a good chance when Bonnici saw his shot saved by Farrugia for a corner. From the same corner, Hamrun took the lead with a header by Ribeiro which beat the Dingli custodian. Hamrun again came close on 53 minutes when Grima let fly from a distance with Farrugia saving well.

Hamrun sealed the issue on 69 minutes when Ribeiro headed home his second of the evening after a cross by Grima to go through to the Fourth Round.

However Dingli were back into the game when they were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes with Konda converting to make it 2-1 which was not enough to stop Hamrun progressing. In stoppage time, Hamrun made it three when Sammut scored a penalty after Ribeiro had been felled in the box by Ciantar.

Hamrun S A Cassar, S Bonnici, D Camilleri, M Gauci, M Grima, G Polli, K Sammut, G Calabretta (R Spiteri), D Shields, A Ribeiro, N Gacesa (G Azzopardi)

Dingli S J Farrugia, F Owusu, K Pace, A Portelli (P Ciantar), L Konda, M Brincat, J Sapiano, E Farrugia, R Vella, R Briffa, C Azzopardi

Goals Ribeiro 49’, 69’, Konda (pen) 78’, Sammut (pen) 90’

Referee Clayton Pisani