Young Stars 1

Rabat Depiro 5

Umpires: Reno Cremona; Anthony Tabone

With this win Rabat consolidated their position at the top of the table and are now firm favourites to win their seventh championship in a row.

Rabat took eight minutes to forge ahead when Kenneth Debattista slotted the ball home after being set up by Josef Antonelli. Between this goal and the 28th minute play was mainly restricted to midfield with no goal mouth action, however on the 28th, Rabat won a short corner from which Charlot Antonelli scored with a rising push shot into the right hand top corner of the goal.

On the 33rd minute Young Stars were awarded a short corner from which Ivan Magro saw his first effort ably saved by Azzopardi but from the resultant rebound it was the same Magro who flicked in to score.

On the 34th minute, Micallef, for Rabat, won the ball in midfield, advanced on the flank and passed to Josef Antonelli who in turn reverse hit the ball past Waylin Abdilla. Score 3 -1.

During the second half Young Stars were a more determined side and could have reduced the score on the 9th minute when Hughes, from an ideal position, reverse hit the ball over the bar.

Try as they might Young Stars could not find a way past the Rabat defence and to add to their misery Rene Antonelli made it 4-1 when he deviated the ball past Abdilla following a Debattista hit at goal.

Again Young Stars went on the attack but to no avail and on the final whistle Kevin Micallef capped a good personal performance by scoring Rabat’s fifth.

* * *

Qormi 3

Sliema Hotsticks 0

Umpires: Edward Hughes; Sander Cassar

Qormi went all out on the attack and on the 7th minute the Sliema custodian effected a good save off Philip Magri: however he could do nothing to avoid Qormi from forging ahead on the 8th when an excellent move between Magri, Tanti and Calleja saw the latter slotting the ball home from close range.

On the 14th, Ramon Chircop, Qormi’s goalkeeper, made a good save off Plaehn and on the other end it was Magri who missed a sitter when put through by Calleja.

From a well taken Short Corner by Sliema on the 23rd it had to be Ghio who cleared off the line a Plaehn’s hit.

Between the 29th and 33rd minute Qormi could have added to the score with the most notable being Magri hitting the upright from close range.

Qormi started the second half on the attack and by the 43rd minute doubled the score when Daniel Micallef beat the young Sliema goalkeeper Elton Farrugia with a hard hit from the edge of the D, following a short corner move.

In the 25th minute Qormi were awarded a penalty stroke after Scicluna had stopped the ball with his leg on the goal line. Jonathan Borg stepped up and beat Farrugia with a low push.

With this win Qormi have moved to second place and if next Sunday they end up their second round commitments with a win against White Hart, they will then move to within four points from current leaders Rabat Depiro, with four matches apiece remaining.