Rabat one point away from fourth successive title

The last two matches before the Easter break saw Rabat Depiro taking a decisive step towards retaining the championship.

Their 2-1 victory over Poiatti Qormi mathematically removed the latter from the running and at the same time preserved Rabat's six-point gap on The Hunters' Tower Rest YS who beat White Hart 4-1.

Having two games left to play (vs White Hart and Sliema Hs), Rabat need just one point to make it four league championships in a row.

White Hart 1
The Hunters' Tower YS 4

In last Sunday's opening game, The Hunters' Tower Rest. picked up three points that, following Qormi's upset to Rabat, put them into second place.

Although mathematically Young Stars are still in contention, they know that second place is a more realistic target for them.

In Sunday's match, Young Stars struggled to overcome their opponents' resistance and the final scoreline does not do justice to the efforts of White Hart's youngsters. Although Young Stars moved the ball around well, White Hart were never outplayed and the opposing goalkeeper on the day, Abdilla, had to bring off two good saves.

Young Stars, however, took the lead late in the first half through David Evans and from then on the end-result was a foregone conclusion.

In the second half, Evans got a second while Hughes and Bonello were the other scorers for Young Stars. At 3-0, Luke Busutill Leaver pulled one back for White Hart.

Rabat 2
Poiatti Qormi 1

Poiatti Qormi went into this match against Rabat knowing that a victory would take them within three points of the leaders.

They tried to settle into their usual passing game but Rabat adopted a strong pressing game that hampered Qormi. Despite this, Rabat's incursions into their opponents dee were rare and when they got a hit at goal, Qormi keeper Chircop was up to the challenge.

Rabat's Radojevic had a good chance when he hit the ball from the top of the dee but saw his rising hit saved by the outstretched arm of the Qormi keeper.

A few minutes later, the Qormi defence was wrong-footed and Vella found himself one-on-one with the keeper but Chircop came out on top once again.

Qormi were rarely threatening and midway through the half Rabat went ahead when the Qormi keeper parried a shot and the rebound fell straight to Charlot Antonelli whose flick gave his side a deserved lead.

Rabat kept up the pressure and Poiatti's defence had to work overtime to keep them at bay. However, in the final minutes of the first half, in practically their only decent chance so far, Qormi drew level.

Following a free hit from the right side, the ball ended up at Chris Bugeja whose hit rattled the net and put his side on equal terms.

This late goal seemed to have inspired the Greens from Qormi as they started the second half much stronger.

A draw would still have been a good result for Rabat but in the end they took all three points when Kevin Micallef scored the winner after being set up by Aquilina.

Meanwhile, the Blue Label National League resumes on Sunday, April 3, when Rabat take on White Hart at 9 a.m. and The Hunters' Tower Rest. face Sliema Hotsticks at 11 a.m.