Mellieha 0

Siggiewi aet 0

Mellieha win 4-3 on penalties

Mellieha had to wait for a penalty shootout to get the better of Siggiewi in a dull Third Round FA Trophy encounter at the Centenary Stadium.

Two evenly matched teams faced off in the first match of the Third Round of the FA Trophy with Mellieha encountering Siggiewi. The match was off to a flying start when after just five minutes, Aquilina had a low shot which hit the post and was somehow cleared by the Siggiewi defence. After seven minutes Borg had a good header which went just wide of the mark as Mellieha continued piling up the pressure.

Siggiewi reacted slightly and on 15 minutes they had a shot by Ciappara which was well saved by Abela. A couple of minutes later Camilleri had a fine rising shot from outside the area which was again neutralised by Abela.

Siggiewi again came close on 32 minutes when Shead put Ciappara through with the latter seeing his shot well saved by Abela.

On 51 minutes, Siggiewi came close again when Camilleri attempted a dipping shot which however went over the bar. Mellieha had their chance on 65 minutes when a header by Aquilina was well saved by Vella.

Siggiewi had another chance on 77 minutes when Shead’s low shot was saved by Abela. Mellieha replied two minutes later when Simiana saw his effort go just wide from two yards. Siggiewi had a glorious chance to close the match off in the dying seconds of normal time but Camilleri shot well wide.

On the 96th minute, Mellieha had a glorious chance to take the lead when Aquilina’s shot was lost by Vella but Borg slammed over from inside the goal area. Borg was again in action in the 103rd minute when his low shot was again saved by Vella.

The match went to penalties with Mellieha besting it to go through to the Fourth Round.

Mellieha SC J Abela, M Borg, M Vella, W Buttigieg, B Bartolo, W Borg, K Fenech, K Gauci, K Simiana (J Vella), A Aquilina, T Loquete

Siggiewi J Vella, I Darmanin (P Spiteri), M Deguara, B Galea, E Vella, M Bajada, E Ciappara (J Vassallo), S Delia, J Shead, J Camilleri, N Galea

Penalty sequence Spiteri (Siggiewi) missed, Borg (Mellieha) scored, Galea (Siggiewi) missed, Buttigieg (Mellieha) scored, Vassallo (Siggiewi) scored, Thiago (Mellieha) scored, Delia (Siggiewi) scored, K Fenech (Mellieha) missed, Camilleri (Siggiewi) scored, Vella (Mellieha) scored

Yellow cards Fenech, Vassallo