Dull Stripes bow out of FA Trophy

by Ayrton Galea - 29th November 2016

Birkirkara FC bow out of the Malta FA Trophy on Wednesday evening at an early third-round stage, when they were defeated by St. Andrew's FC with a surprising 3-0 score.

St. Andrew's surged ahead after fifteen minutes. Ivan Paz delivered an accurate cross towards team-mate Karlo Kesinovic who hit a firm header that gave goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric no chance as the Saints took an early lead.

At the start of the second half, Shaun Bajada came off Rowen Muscat. Birkirkara had a glorious chance twenty minutes inside the second half, when Plut beat the offside trap but all alone against Galea wasted his chance by failing the target.

St. Andrew's doubled the score and dashed the Stripes' hopes eighth minutes from time. Joseph Zerafa's back to Kopric seemed to be a routine one but the goalkeeper let the ball loose and Ivan Paz had an easy task of slotting home from close-range.

The Saints added further woes to the Stripes but the third goal late in the match. Substitute Ryan Darmanin burst clear off a counter-attack but had his shot blocked by Kopric. The rebound fell to another substitute Godwin Mckay who hit home with a calm finish.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Predrag Jovic, Nikola Vukanac, Gareth Sciberras (79′ Christian Bubalovic), Rowen Muscat (46′ Shaun Bajada), Ryan Scicluna (67′ James Brincat), Mislav Andelkovic, Frank Temile, Vito Plut.

ST. ANDREW'S: Jake Galea, Ante Bakmaz, Karlo Kesinovic, Bong Won Che, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Dale Camilleri, Felix Udoh Okon, Joseph Farrugia, Ivan Edgardo Paz (90′ Ryan Darmanin), Ziga Kastrevec (83′ Godwin Mckay), Kyrian Nwoko.

Referee: Mario Apap.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela.
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele.

Scorers: 15' Karlo Kesinovic, 83' Ivan Paz, 90+2' Godwin Mckay.

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