Umpires: Anthony Tabone, Reno Cremona.

Sliema Hotsticks 1

Rabat Depiro 3

The drawn result between Qormi and Young Stars the previous Sunday, left Rabat Depiro needing just one win from the remaining three matches to capture their seventh championship title in a row. This they did last Sunday by beating Sliema 3-1.

The match had a fiery start and within two minutes Sliema went ahead. Dylan Lentini won the ball in midfield; advanced towards the Rabat goal, played a through ball to Michael Bugeja who in turn dribbled past goalkeeper Azzopardi to reverse hit into an empty net.

Rabat’s reaction was immediate, however they had to wait until the 18th minute when Charlot Antonelli dribbled past several Sliema players on the flank to set up Shawn Falzon who had no difficulty in hammering the ball home.

On the resumption Rabat went straight on the attack and on the 38th Shawn Falzon pounced on a rebound off Sliema’s goalkeeper Mallia and with the help of a deflection off Lentini’s stick scored his second goal of the day.

For the rest of the match play was restricted to midfield with Rabat controlling the situation until in the 52nd minute they were awarded a penalty stroke, from which Chris Bugeja made the score read Sliema 1 Rabat 3.

* * *

White Hart 4

Young Stars 3

Umpires: Manuel Imbroll; Andre Ghio.

Straight from the first whistle White Hart surged forward and by the second minute they had already tested Waylin Abdilla when he saved off Tua from close range.

On the ninth minute Young Stars were awarded a penalty stroke when White Hart defender Patrick Meli stopped the ball from entering the net with his chest, however from the resultant penalty Andrew Galea saved Chris Attard’s stroke.

White Hart again went on the attack and on the 15th, they in turn were awarded a penalty stroke for a stick infringement on Luke Borg Costanzi. The same player converted in style by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

On the 18th Young Stars could have equalised when first David Evans failed to conclude a good move between Camilleri and Bonello and on the 20th when Simon Agius cleared off the line.

On the 31st from a counter attack conducted by Ivan Magro Young Stars equalised through Marvin Vella.

The first part of the second half was played at a slow tempo, until the 51st minute. First it was Paul Torpiano who saw his first time hit just missing the upright and a minute later the same player made it 2-1 for White Hart with a reverse hit from a very acute angle.

After this setback Young Stars went straight on attack and on the 56st Marvin Vella mis- hit when in an ideal position. Immediately White Hart produced a counter attack which saw Torpiano running unhindered towards goal only to be brought down inside the D by Abdilla. From the resultant Penalty Stroke Luke Borg Costanzi made it 3 – 1.

Again Young Stars went on the attack winning a short corner but Mark Camilleri’s flick went just over the bar. A minute later White Hart scored goal No 4 when from a short corner action Luke Borg Costanzi hit well past Abdilla to notch his first hat trick at senior level.

All were under the impression that with five minutes to go and the result standing at 4-1 in White Hart’s favour the match was over and done with.

However Young Stars forced two short corners in the space of two minutes and on both occasions Mark Camilleri scored with two identical push shots to make the score 4-3, but time was not on Young Stars side.