Umpires: Reno Cremona, Edward Hughes.

Sliema Hotsticks, with Liam Pace, Simon Baldacchino and Steve Cachia back in the squad, proved to be a rather hard nut to crack and it was only thanks to a penalty stroke during the second half that Qormi came out from the game smiling.

Already in the second minute Hotsticks won a short corner with Ramon Chircop in goal saving well on a Liam Pace hard hit. In the sixth minute it was Luke Mallia, Hotsticks custodian who saved well a Steve Tanti effort, however a minute later it was Qormi’s goalkeeper who was again in action when he had to leave his charge to prevent Lukas Plaehn from opening the score.

A good dribble from almost half way the pitch, by Steve Tanti ended with Keith Vella’s timely tackle when he was about to hit home. In the 34th minute Joseph Cuschieri lost the ball to a challenge by Liam Pace on the edge of the shooting circle,and it had to be another save by Ramon Chircop to keep his goal intact.

The second half was more lively. First it was Qormi who hit the post when from a short corner, Andre Ghio hit the post and then it was Simon Baldacchino’s deflection off a cross by Liam Pace which brought the best out of Ramon Chircop.

In the 11th minute Qormi’s young player Keith Calleja went through inside Sliema’s ‘D’ only to be shoved off the ball by Keith Vella. From the resultant penalty stroke Andre Ghio put the ball hard and true to Mallia’s right.

Hotsticks’ reaction was immediate, when a cross ball into the Qormi’s ‘D’ by Steve Cachia was deflected just past the posts by Lukas Plaehn. From then on it was Qormi all the way with several chances going to the wind, especially with a 29th minute effort by Justin Bonello who placed the ball wide of an empty goal, after being set up by an excellent Steve Tanti – doubtlessly the best player on the day.

Qormi will be meeting Rabat Depiro in the first semi final next Sunday. This should prove to be an exciting affair with Rabat trying to avenge their 2-0 debacle in the Super Cup final, against the same Qormi. In the other semi final Young Stars will be up versus White Hart.