Hamrun Spartans’ run in the U*BET FA Trophy continued after they beat Birkirkara 3-2 in an enthralling game that produced its best in the first 45 minutes.

Fighting in a gutsy way and showing resilience more than the usual, the Spartans lost a two-goal lead when they collapsed to concede two goals within as many minutes shortly before the break.

And although they were made to defend in numbers after the restart, Anderson Ribeiro scored their winner 12 minutes from time.

Birkirkara made a remarkable comeback after being outplayed for the first half hour of the match and looked the more likely to score even in the second half. However they failed to counter Hamrun’s fatal blow, moreso when reduced to ten men for the last seven minutes, and had to bow out early from this season’s competition.

With Gaetan Spiteri as their most advanced man and Anderson Ribero and Dene Shields in support, Hamrun made the more assertive start. Shields provoked the first threat after seven minutes when his shot took a wicked deflection and Birkirkara keeper Gauci was forced to tip the ball over the bar into a corner.

Past the quarter hour, Ribeiro played the ball wide to Shields who sent a deep cross from the right for Gaetan Spiteri to knock the ball in at the far end.

Three minutes later, Hamrun were two up when awarded a penalty for Pereira’s foul on Shields. Dene Shields himself tucked it away.

That heralded Hamrun’s best spell. Ribeiro played the ball to Shields but he was foiled by keeper Gauci who blocked at his feet.

Birkirkara showed more urgency by the half hour and put the Hamrun defence under pressure. Keeper Borg pulled a smart save off Silva’s header on a Bajada cross and on 34 minutes Birkirkara threatened again. Silva tried to connect on Moises’ cross in front of goal but was blocked by Calabretta. Sciberras’ shot on the rebound was held out by the Hamrun keeper.

Hardly four minutes later, Silva’s header on a Cilia corner was repelled by Borg and Muscat’s header was deflected over the bar into a corner.

With the tide shifting dramatically in Birkirkara’s favour, they deservingly reduced the arrears on 40 minutes. Bajada’s long ball found three unmarked Birkirkara players on the left.

Rodrigo Pereira was the first to react and he stretched his leg to beat keeper Borg from a tight angle.

Two minutes later, the score was level. Moises chested Bajada’s cross inside the Hamrun area but his scissors kick was held out by keeper Borg, only as far as Gareth Sciberras who stooped low to head in from close range.

Halftime interrupted some of the early rhythm. But then it was Birkirkara again who gradually started to find the pace. On Cilia’s through pass, Silva’s effort lacked power and keeper Borg saved. The latter footed away the danger before Moises could reach for Cilia’s pass.

On the hour, Spiteri made way for Zerafa as Ribeiro took a more central position in the Spartans’ attack.

Scicluna sent a dangerous ball across the face of the Hamrun goal but found no support.

On 74 minutes, Shields almost capitalised on hesitancy in the Birkirkara defence but his shot went wide.

But Hamrun were still very much in the game. On 78 minutes, Anderson Ribeiro picked Sammut’s pass and beat keeper Gauci with a low diagonal shot.

And as Birkirkara tried to summon their final efforts in search of an equaliser, they were hampered by Joseph Zerafa’s dismissal for a second caution with seven minutes remaining.

Substitute Grech headed Silva’s cross wide but on the other end, Shields served Sammut in open space to shoot at goal, with keeper Gauci saving well.

Hamrun were through to the quarter final.

Birkirkara R. Gauci, T. Cilia (A. Buhagiar), J. Zerafa, R. Pereira, S. Bajada (T. Vella), R. Muscat, P. Fenech, J.Silva, G. Sciberras, R. Scicluna (L. Grech), M. Avila

Hamrun S O. Borg, L. Calabretta, M. Gauci, S. Bonnici, M. Grima, D. Camilleri, K. Sammut, A. Ribeiro, L. Agius, D. Shields, G. Spiteri (D. Zerafa)

Referee T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs M. Debono, W. Debattista

4th official A. Arciola

Scorers G. Spiteri 17, D. Shields 20 pen, R. Pereira 40, G. Sciberras 42, A. Ribeiro 78

Yellow cards J. Zerafa, G. Calabretta, A. Ribeiro, R. Scicluna

Red card J. Zerafa