Holders Valletta drawn to face Marsa in 3rd round

When the draws for the third and fourth round of the FA Trophy were made yesterday, holders Valletta were drawn to face Marsa in the third round of the FA Trophy.

Last season’s finalists, Birkirkara, will be facing Gozitan side Nadur Youngsters.

Eight Premier League clubs will go head to head in the third round of the 2018-29 FA Trophy after the draw produced no fewer than four direct clashes between top-flight teams. The matches are Floriana-Hamrun S., HiberniansQormi, Sliema Wanderers-St Andrews and Senglea Athletic-Mosta.

The top six teams in the last season’s BOV Premier League – Valletta, Balzan, Gżira United, Birkirkara, Floriana and Hibernians – were seeded for the thirdround draw.

Gżira United, the current BOV Premier League leaders, will face Second Division side Rabat Ajax.

The fourth-round pairings were also drawn during today’s event at the Trophies Lounge.

The winner of the Valletta/Marsa tie will meet either Mellieħa or Lija in the fourth round while the winner of the Floriana/Ħamrun Spartans encounter will set up a fourthround clash with Birkirkara or Nadur Youngsters.

Whatever the third-round results, the fourth round will surely feature an all-Premier League as the winner of the Senglea/Mosta will come up against either Sliema or St Andrews.

The FA Trophy third round is scheduled to be played in the weekend between 30 November and 2 December. The fourth round will be played on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 January 2019.

The teams who survived the second round of the competition were First Division sides Gudja United, Lija Athletic, Pembroke Athleta, Vittoriosa Stars, San Gwann, Marsa, Zejtun Corinthians, Zebbug Rangers and Qrendi, Second Division teams Birzebbuga St. Peter’s, Fgura United, Rabat Ajax, Mellieha, Melita and Siggiewi, Third Division side Mdina Knights and Gozitan sides Nadur Youngsters and Xewkija Tigers.

THE DRAW

3rd round

1. Floriana vs Hamrun Spartans

2. Qormi vs Hibernians

3. Balzan vs Qrendi

4. Nadur Youngsters vs Birkirkara

5. Gzira United vs Rabat Ajax

6. Marsa vs Valletta

7. Mellieha vs Lija Athletic

8. San Gwann vs Fgura United

9. Gudja United vs Xewkija Tigers

10. Pembroke Athleta vs Zejtun Corinthians

11. Sliema Wanderers vs St. Andrews

12. Vittoriosa Stars vs Tarxien Rainbows

13. Senglea Athletic vs Mosta

14. Siggiewi vs Melita

15. Birzebbuga St. Peter’s vs Zebbug Rangers

16. Mdina Knights vs Pietà Hotspurs

4th round

Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 14 Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 6 Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 11 Winner Match 16 vs Winner Match 10 Winner Match 4 vs Winner Match 1 Winner Match 12 vs Winner Match 15 Winner Match 2 vs Winner Match 8 Winner Match 3 vs Winner Match 9