Britannia surprise Young Stars to reach final

Rabat 2
Qormi 1

Rabat were made to fight hard by a determined Qormi side.

The first chance fell to Qormi's Magri who saw Azzopardi save his hit at goal after 15 minutes. Rabat replied with a Chris Bugeja hit that was easily blocked. On 23 minutes Qormi's Chris Bugeja had the best scoring chance of the half for his side but the Rabat goalkeeper saved well.

Four minutes from half-time Rabat had a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty stroke. James Azzopardi's flick, however, went wide.

Rabat forced no fewer than six short corners in the first 15 minutes of the second half. None of these paid dividends and soon after it was Qormi who took the lead.

A cross by Chris Bugeja was allowed to pass the goalmouth and Magri stepped up at the far post to put his side into the lead.

Qormi's joy barely lasted five minutes as Josef Antonelli picked up a Jason Vella cross and surprised the Qormi defence with a reverse hit .

Both sides kept trying for the winner but Rabat seemed to have the edge. Five minutes from time Perales was impeded in the dee and Rabat were awarded a second stroke. This time, Bugeja flicked high into the net to send his side into Sunday's final.

Young Stars 3
Britannia Tours WH 4

This tie got off to a flying start with Britannia Tours goalkeeper pulling off a fine save from a Camilleri flick in the second minute.

Two minutes later, however, he was beaten by Hughes from the top of the dee.

White Hart's reaction was not long in coming and following a good run by Torpiano, it was David Agius who pushed in to make it 1-1.

The half remained balanced and no other goals were scored.

Five minutes into the second half Young Stars pulled ahead again. Magro and DeRaffaele worked well to set up Ryan Gatt who beat Galea. Once again Britannia reacted strongly as Torpiano brought the best out of Mizzi. Between the 12 and 15 minutes Britannia turned the game.

From two well-executed short corners, Borg Costanzi flicked in after being set up by Simon Agius and then the same Agius hammered in from the top of the dee - 3-2 to White Hart.

As is their wont, Young Stars weren't going to take this setback sitting down and pushed forward determined to level the score. On 21 minutes, two consecutive short corners failed to produce result and minutes later, it was Galea who stopped Evans from scoring. Evans, however, was not to be denied and following a goalmouth melee he beat Galea with a reverse push.

Camilleri thought he had got the all-important goal for Young Stars but his flick was deflected against the upright by goalkeeper Galea.

Instead it was White Hart who struck two minutes from time. From another short corner, Agius again hit home to steer his team into the final.