# 2015–16 Maltese FA Trophy

The 2015–16 Maltese FA Trophy was the 78th version of the knockout tournament. The competition started on 5 September 2015 and ended on 14 May 2016.
Birkirkara were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by Sliema Wanderers.

## Format

This version of the Maltese FA Trophy was a single elimination tournament contested by 65 teams. The winner, Sliema Wanderers, earned a spot in the Europa League. Sliema were unable to obtain a UEFA license. As a result, the berth was given to the fourth-placed team of the Premier League. Matches which were level after regulation went to extra time and then penalties to determine a winner.

## Schedule

| Round | Date(s) | Number of fixtures | Clubs |
| Preliminary round | 5 September 2015 | 1 | 65 → 64 |
| First round | 11–13 September 2015 | 12 | 64 → 52 |
| Second round | 23–25 October 2015 | 20 | 52 → 32 |
| Third round | 1 December 2015 – 6 January 2016 | 16 | 32 → 16 |
| Fourth round | 19–20 January 2016 | 8 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-finals | 19–20 April 2016 | 4 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 7–8 May 2016 | 2 | 4 → 2 |
| Final | 14 May 2016 | 1 | 2 → 1 |

## Preliminary round

One preliminary match was played on 5 September 2015. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 18 August 2015.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 5 September 2015 |||
| Oratory Youths (1G) | 5–1 | Marsaskala (4) |

## First round

Twelve first round matches were played between 11–13 September 2015. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 18 August 2015.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 11 September 2015 |||
| Kerċem Ajax (1G) | 6–0 | Kalkara (4) |
| St. Venera Lightnings (4) | 5–3 | Xagħra United (2G) |
| 12 September 2015 |||
| Luqa St. Andrew's (4) | 0–4 | Xewkija Tigers (1G) |
| Ghaxaq (4) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Marsaxlokk (4) |
| Għarb Rangers (2G) | 0–4 | Ta' Xbiex (4) |
| Qala Saints (2G) | 0–5 | Victoria Hotspurs (1G) |
| Attard (4) | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | Victoria Wanderers (1G) |
| Mtarfa (4) | 1–0 | St. Lucia (4) |
| 13 September 2015 |||
| Nadur Youngsters (1G) | 1–0 | Mdina Knights (4) |
| St. Lawrence Spurs (1G) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Oratory Youths (1G) |
| Xghajra Tornadoes (4) | 0–1 | Għajnsielem (1G) |
| Dingli Swallows (4) | 2–0 | Munxar Falcons (2G) |

## Second round

Twenty second round matches were played between 23–25 October 2015. The draw for the preliminary, first, and second rounds was held 18 August 2015.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 23 October 2015 |||
| Rabat Ajax (2) | 4–1 | Msida St. Joseph (3) |
| Gżira United (2) | 6–0 | Sirens (3) |
| Gudja United (2) | 0–1 | San Ġwann (2) |
| Żebbuġ Rangers (2) | 4–1 | Qrendi (3) |
| 24 October 2015 |||
| Zejtun (3) | 1–0 | Marsaxlokk (4) |
| Marsa (3) | 2–4 | Xewkija Tigers (1G) |
| St. Venera Lightnings (4) | 2–1 | Birżebbuġa (3) |
| Kirkop United (3) | 3–2 | Mtarfa (4) |
| Siggiewi (3) | 0–3 | Fgura United (2) |
| Swieqi United (3) | 2–1 | Ta' Xbiex (4) |
| Żurrieq (3) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Għargħur(3) |
| Melita (2) | 3–1 | Mġarr United (3) |
| 25 October 2015 |||
| Vittoriosa Stars (2) | 2–0 | Kerċem Ajax (1G) |
| Ħamrun Spartans (2) | 0–1 | St. George's F.C. (2) |
| Lija Athletic (2) | 2–1 | Mellieħa (3) |
| Senglea Athletic (2) | 1–2 | Pietà Hotspurs (2) |
| Mqabba F.C. (2) | 5–3 | Victoria Hotspurs (1G) |
| Għajnsielem (1G) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Dingli Swallows (4) |
| Żabbar St. Patrick (3) | 6–1 | Nadur Youngsters (1G) |
| Victoria Wanderers (1G) | 2–4 | St. Lawrence Spurs (1G) |

## Third round

Sixteen third round matches were played between 1 December 2015 and 6 January 2016. The draws for the third and fourth round were held on 27 October 2015.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 1 December 2015 |||
| St. George's F.C. (2) | 1–0 | Mqabba F.C. (2) |
| 2 December 2015 |||
| Pietà Hotspurs (2) | 4–1 | Zejtun (3) |
| St. Venera Lightnings (4) | 0–2 | Għargħur (3) |
| Rabat Ajax (2) | 1–4 | Melita (2) |
| Żabbar St. Patrick (3) | 0–3 | Gżira United (2) |
| 9 December 2015 |||
| Birkirkara (1) | 6–0 | Kirkop United (3) |
| Balzan (1) | 2–1 | Fgura United (2) |
| Floriana (1) | 3–0 | St. Lawrence Spurs (1G) |
| Pembroke Athleta (1) | 3–0 | San Ġwann (2) |
| 15 December 2015 |||
| Mosta (1) | 1–2 | Hibernians (1) |
| Swieqi United (3) | 2–4 | St. Andrews (1) |
| 16 December 2015 |||
| Vittoriosa Stars (2) | 0–1 | Sliema Wanderers (1) |
| Qormi (1) | 1–0 | Għajnsielem (1G) |
| Naxxar Lions (1) | 0–1 | Lija Athletic (2) |
| Żebbuġ Rangers (2) | 1–4 | Tarxien Rainbows (1) |
| 6 January 2016 |||
| Xewkija Tigers (1G) | 1–3 | Valletta (1) |

## Fourth round

Eight fourth round matches were played between 19–20 January 2016. The draws for the third and fourth round were held on 27 October 2015.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 19 January 2016 |||
| Qormi (1) | 1–4 (a.e.t.) | Tarxien Rainbows (1) |
| Balzan (1) | 2–0 | Melita (2) |
| 20 January 2016 |||
| Hibernians (1) | 1–2 | Pembroke Athleta (1) |
| Floriana (1) | 2–1 | Lija Athletic (2) |
| St. Andrews (1) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Gżira United (2) |
| Pietà Hotspurs (2) | 3–2 | St. George's F.C. (2) |
| Birkirkara (1) | 1–0 | Valletta (1) |
| Għargħur (3) | 1–2 | Sliema Wanderers (1) |

## Quarter-finals

Four quarter-final matches were played 19–20 April 2016. The draw for the quarter-final was held on 3 February 2016.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| 19 April 2016 |||
| Balzan (1) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Tarxien Rainbows (1) |
| Sliema Wanderers (1) | 2–1 | St. Andrews (1) |
| 20 April 2016 |||
| Pembroke Athleta (1) | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Pietà Hotspurs (2) |
| Birkirkara (1) | 2–0 | Floriana (1) |

## Semi-finals

Two semi-final matches were played 7–8 May 2016. The draw for the semi-final was held on 27 April 2016.

## Final

The final was played on 14 May 2016.
Balzan and Sliema Wanderers never meet in the final. For Balzan this was their first-ever Maltese FA Trophy final in history, while for Sliema Wanderers this was the fortieth final, and they won it twenty times.
The last time Balzan and Sliema Wanderers met together in Maltese FA Trophy was during the 2013-14 Fourth round when Sliema Wanderers beat Balzan 8–7 on penalties when the match ends 1–1 draw.