The third-round matches of the 2018-19 FA Trophy were played last weekend.
There have been no major surprises with holders Valletta advancing to the next round after beating Division One side Marsa 3-0. In the Last 16 phase, the Citizens meet another Division One side, Lija Athletic, who hammered Division Two side Mellieħa 5-0. In other matches, Ħamrun Spartans came out on top from their hard-fought contest with Floriana, winning 1-0. The Spartans will meet Birkirkara in one of the stand-out ties of the next round after the latter had the better of Nadur Youngsters 4-0 at the Gozo Stadium. As expected, the other top BOV Premier League teams made it through to next round of competition following comfortable wins. Gżira and Hibernians, the joint-leaders of the BOV Premier League, cruised past Rabat Ajax (4-0) and Qormi (5-1) respectively. There was also a 5-1 win for Balzan over Division One side Qrendi. In the Last 16, Gżira take on Melita from Division Two, Hibernians meet neighbours Fgura United while Balzan play the only Gozitan team left in the competition – Xewkija Tigers. The Yellow-Blacks secured their berth in the fourth round following a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Gudja United. The other game from the FA Trophy third round that was decided after the 90 minutes was the box-to-box duel on Monday night between two Premier League strugglers – Senglea Athletic and Mosta. The Blues hit back from 2-0 down to edge out Senglea 3-2 at the Centenary Stadium. They will face Sliema in the fourth round after the Wanderers saw off the challenge of St Andrews 2-0. Tarxien Rainbows, 3-0 winners over Vittoriosa Stars on Monday, have set up a fourth-round clash with Żebbuġ Rangers, the latter 5-0 winners over Birżebbuġa St Peters. Pietà Hotspurs overcame Mdina Knights 4-1 to advance to a Last 16 meeting with Żejtun Corinthians, 2-0 winners over Pembroke Athleta. 2018-19 FA Trophy – Fourth Round Fixtures Saturday – 26th January, 201914:00 Hibernians vs Fgura United – Centenary Stadium16:15 Tarxien Rainbows vs Żebbuġ Rangers – Centenary Stadium14:00 Pieta' Hotspurs vs Żejtun Corinthians – Hibernians Stadium16:00 Mosta vs Sliema Wanderers – Hibernians Stadium Sunday – 27th January, 201914:00 Gżira United vs Melita – Centenary Stadium16:15 Lija Athletic vs Valletta – Centenary Stadium14:00 Balzan vs Xewkija Tigers – National Stadium16:00 Birkirkara vs Ħamrun Spartans – National Stadium