Experience and muscle paves way for Rabat’s second consecutive win in this pre season competition. The game as a whole was quite pleasant to watch with good teamwork from both sides.

Already in the third minute White Hart’s goalkeeper Robert Vassallo Agius was called to come out of his charge to block an effort by Jason Vella. On the 13th minute Rabat’s James Azzopardi pounced on a short clearance by the White Hart defence, progressed down the flank, passed the ball to Josef Antonelli, positioned on the back line, and upon receiving the ball, returned it in Kevin Micallef’s path who had no difficulty in placing the ball in the far corner.

On the 19th minute Rabat won their second short corner, from which they made the score 2-0 with a typical scorcher by Shawn Falzon.

White Hart pressed forward and between the 19th and 22nd minutes had two separate goal scoring chances one with Reno Bianchi just failing to make contact with the ball with the goal at his mercy and the second with a well taken flick by Karl Tua which whizzed past the upright.

For these misses White Hart paid the price of conceding the third goal from another Short corner action and with yet another Shawn Falzon specialty, this time the ball coming off David Agius’s stick to hit the roof of the net.

In the second half play was more open, with the ball swinging from one end to the other. On the 12th Minute White Hart were denied a Penalty Stroke when Luke Borg Costanzi’s dribble inside the shooting area was tackled by James Azzopardi who had to use his foot to stop him from progressing towards goal; however the umpire opted to award a short corner.

On the 17th minute White Hart again won a Short corner which brought out the best from Ian Azzopardi in goal. On the 24th a Jonathan Seychell flick was well saved off the line by Simon Agius with Vassallo Agius helplessly sprawled on the ground.

On the 61st Kenneth Debattista made it 4-0 pushing the ball past Vassallo Agius after the latter had partially saved a hit from the top of the D by Josef Antonelli.

Rabat’s next encounter will be against Qormi or Sliema Hotsticks who will be confronting each other next Sunday in a play off to determine the fourth semi-finalist.

Umpires Edward Hughes and Alexander Cassar.

* * *

Pasta Poiatti Qormi 0

Hunters Tower Rest. YS 1

Qormi and YoungStars took the field once again to determine which team progresses to the semi final of this year’s Challenge Cup.

Young Stars were once again the more aggressive team during the first half and with Qormi’s midfield playing very disappointingly, allowed Young Stars to take the upper hand.

In the 15th minute Young Stars were awarded a penalty stroke for an infringement by Qormi’s Joseph Cuschieri on David Evans who was about to flick home, however Ivan Magro flicked out from the resultant stroke.

The half ended with Young Stars winning four consecutive short corners which were ably controlled by the Qormi defence.

In the second half Qormi seemed to have pulled up their socks and by the 38th minute had won a short corner which produced a good save from Waylin Abdilla, who again on the 47th distinguished himself with an excellent save from yet another short corner action.

On the 59th a good move down the side by Gareth Dimech, ended with Philip Magri bringing out the best of Waylin Abdilla.

Between the 31st and 33rd minutes Qormi lost three players in a row by being yellow carded and it was during this period that Young Stars produced the all important goal which saw them booking their place in the semi finals. It was some excellent stick work along the back line by Chris Bonello whose eventual pass found the unmarked Ivan Magro ready to ram the ball home past Ramon Chircop.

Now Young Stars will meet White Hart in the second semi final on Sunday 11November.

Umpires: David Agius and Robert Aquilina