Depiro firmly on top at end of round one

Hunters Tower 1
Sliema Hotsticks 2

The two National League matches on Sunday brought to a close the first round with Rabat Depiro firmly on top of the standings with maximum points from four matches.

The weekend also marked Sliema's first victory of the season at the expense of Young Stars. This match started off at a lively pace and by the third minute Sliema had their first chance to open the score when Simon Baldacchino missed the posts after being set up by Liam Pace.

In the 12th minute Silvano Vassallo, receiving well from a through ball by Clifford DeRaffaele, beat Sliema's Luke Mallia with a reverse flick.

Sliema equalised eight minutes later. A Mark Camilleri blunder inside his own D, allowed Steve Cachia a slap shot at goal, which was saved by Waylin Abdilla. However, from the rebound, Pace made no mistake.

Young Stars could have forged ahead on two separate occasions when Nicky Agius Darmanin saw his rising hit just miss the crossbar. That effort was followed by another try, this time it was Edward Hughes who missed the target when put through by Ivan Magro.

Young Stars tried very hard to get their act together after the break. But, Sliema won a short corner from which Pace gave Abdilla no chance.

Sliema almost increased the score on the 65 minutes with a fine throughball by Lucas Phlaen to Simon Baldacchino but Abdilla rushed out of his charge to kick away.

There was a full surge forward late on by Young Stars to try and save the day but with no luck.

Poiatti Qormi 2
White Hart 0

This was the best match so far this season, played at a very fast tempo with both sides creating several scoring chances especially during the second half.

Qormi almost opened the score on 15 minutes when a well-taken hit by Daniel Micallef, following a short corner, just missed the post. But the goal was in the air and seven minutes later the White Hart defence was caught on the wrong foot as Philip Magri ran into the D from a blind position to leave Vassallo Agius in goal bewildered.

Immediately from the pass back, David Agius, with a brilliant dribbling display, saw his eventual hard hit at goal just missing the far upright. Agius was unlucky on 26 minutes to see his shot going just wide and Sandro Bartolo's push shot was deflected by Ramon Chircop with the ball flying past the whole length of an empty goalpost.

White Hart then played four short corners but failed to create too much danger to the Qormi fort.

The second half started off again on a fast pace. Following a series of short corners Qormi made it 2-0.

Daryl Dimech's attempt was smothered by Vassallo Agius for the ball to bounce on the goal line. The umpire ruled the ball was over the line to White Hart's surprise.

After this episode the game exploded into one of attacking hockey from both sides.

Paul Torpiano tested Chircop and then it was Vassallo Agius who saved well on a Daniel Micallef hit.

On 53 minutes, Agius found a way through but hit just wide. Immediately after it was Vassallo Agius who denied Rudolph Camilleri and Qormi's third.

Chircop again foiled White Hart when he warded off Sandro Bartolo's effort and he pulled yet another save off Carl Tua on 30 minutes.

The Qormi keeper again distinguished himself when he had to leave his goal to block a strike by Luke Borg Costanzi when the latter was completely through.