Sliema no match for champions

Rabat Depiro 6
Sliema HTS BDO 0

Depleted as they were with the absence of four key players, including goalkeeper Luke Mallia, Sliema could not offer any serious opposition to the current leaders.

Rabat went ahead on 12 minutes when Josef Antonelli produced a fine dribble before serving Kenneth Debattista who slotted home. On 24 minutes, Sliema won a short corner from which Steve Cachia hit wide.

The champions' dominance produced a second goal in the 29th minute when Debattista deflected a hit by Kevin Micallef. Between the 30th and 35th minutes, Rabat netted three goals off rebounds, through Antonelli and Jason Vella, who scored a brace.

In the second half, Rabat eased their pressure, allowing Sliema to come more into the picture.

In the 45th minute, Rabat goalie Azzopardi saved well from a Dylan Lentini effort and four minutes later, Sliema were denied a penalty stroke when Keith Vella was shoved off the ball. Three minutes later, it was Matthew Buhagiar, Rabat's stopper, who deflected the ball off the goal-line with Azzopardi beaten.

Rabat had to wait until the 61st minute to notch half a dozen of goals. From a well-executed short corner move, Jonathan Seychell blasted home.

Sliema could have scored a consolation goal but Lentini saw his push from the penalty saved by Azzopardi.

Young Stars 4
White Hart 1

This was a game of mixed fortunes with White Hart doing all the running and Young Stars getting the goals.

It took White Hart just 10 minutes to break the deadlock when, from a short corner action, Anthony Roberts scored his first goal since joining the team at the start of the season.

White Hart opted to deploy Luke Borg Costanzi in the centre-forward position but he was given little space to manoeuvre by Young Stars central defender Andrew Camilleri.

On 28 minutes, Young Stars won two consecutive short corners. Following an Edward Hughes foray, the ball was played towards Ivan Magro who had no difficulty slamming the ball home.

The second half started on a negative note for White Hart who were punished for a miscued hit, Marvin Vella pouncing on a loose ball to put Young Stars in the lead.

In the 48th minute, Young Stars increased their advantage. A fierce hit by Sandro Bartolo rebounded off the keeper's pads and with the White Hart defence caught in a 5-on-3 situation, Nathan Galea finished off the move.

On 66 minutes, Young Stars again capitalised from a similar situation, Vella beating the on-rushing Vassallo Agius with a sweet touch to the ball which sailed past the keeper and into an empty net for a fine 4-1 scoreline.