In 1949, Meme Scicluna, enterprising as ever, donated a cup to be played for each season between the league champions and FA Trophy winners.
The Scicluna Cup formed part of the Maltese football calendar for 14 years but when the lease of the stadium passed from the Scicluna family to the Testaferrata family the competition was discontinued. Instead, a new trophy was presented by the new owners of the ground to be played for on the same lines.
The Testaferrata Cup was held only seven times until 1980-81.
The subject of today’s article is the 1978-79 Testaferrata Cup competition. That season’s contest was played early in the campaign when the teams were still far from full match fitness.
Floriana did not impress in pre-season friendlies and failed to leave a good impression in the final.
The Greens’ defence lacked confidence with Mario Borg finding Hibs’ centre-forward Chris Vella more than a handful.
Vella was a big, bustling centre-forward and, at his best, few defenders could contain him.
The Greens’ forward line created a number of good moves during the first half but faded after the interval when Hibs dictated matters.
Despite their shortcomings, however, Floriana took an early lead.
The game was only seven minutes old when a harmless-looking cross bounced in front of Costantino Consiglio who failed to clear and Charlie Micallef was there to hammer the ball in with a fierce shot that left John Bonello standing.
This goal should have inspired Floriana to increase their efforts but they failed to force home their advantage and Hibs were soon back in the picture.
The Paolites could have scored when a free-kick by Bertu Mizzi deceived goalkeeper Robert Gatt but somehow Tony Borg cleared off the line.
In another Hibs’ attack, Vella anticipated Gatt’s faulty clearance but his header was cleared in time by Ray Xuereb.
On the other hand, Floriana had a golden opportunity to increase their advantage but Demanuele failed to find the net from six metres out.
Trailing by a goal, Hibs came out for the second period like rampant lions and Floriana did not know what hit them as the Paolites equalised with a goal soon after the re-start when Vella headed the ball into Gatt’s net.
This goal gave Hibs the impetus they needed to press forward for victory. A few minutes after scoring the equaliser, Ġużi Xuereb missed an open goal and Vella was unlucky with a good attempt which hit the side-rigging.
On and on came Hibs and after Ernest Spiteri Gonzi had a goal annulled for a foul, Vella missed the target by inches. However, Hibs were not to be denied. Unmarked on the right, Joe Galea picked his spot and beat Floriana substitute keeper Attard.
Floriana could have scored an immediate equaliser when George Xuereb was brought down unceremoniously in Hibs’ area but referee Richard Stagno Navarra saw nothing wrong.
A minute later Hibs scored their third when Vella tapped the ball into an empty net from a cross by Galea. That was the end of Floriana’s resistance as Hibs cruised home easy winners.