White Hart 4
Sliema Hotsticks 2

White Hart returned from the doldrums after a seven-year absence from the podium.

The infusion of young blood has finally paid off, not without sacrifice and dedication by all.

This was White Hart's ninth KO win since their foundation in 1975.

From the word go, White Hart pressed forward and immediately pinned their opponents in their own half, winning their first short corner in the third minute from which Luke Borg Costanzi hammered the ball in to make it 1-0.

David Agius could have doubled the score but his hit just missed the far post. However, on 12 minutes White Hart scored again.

From a quickly-taken free hit from just outside the 22m area by Kevin Filletti, the ball rolled into the path of Carl Tua who beat Luke Mallia in goal with a one-handed stroke.

Sliema response

After this cold shower, Sliema started coming more into the picture and a Keith Vella hit at goal was saved with some difficulty by Vassallo Agius. Then, a Simon Baldacchino fierce hit just missed the near post.

On 27 minutes, White Hart defender Patrick Meli was yellow carded and Sliema took full advantage of the situation for Baldacchino to pull one back.

Again, White Hart took command and on the stroke of half-time restored their two-goal advantage when Luke Borg Costanzi scored once more from another short corner.

In the second half, White Hart again surged forward and increased their lead when a hard hit by Agius across the Sliema goal was met at the far post by young Mark Zahra to make it 4-1.

Sliema threw caution to the wind and reduced the arrears when, from a short corner, Lukas Plaehn released the unmarked Dylan Lentini who in turn blasted the ball home.

Sliema kept up the pressure and forced further short corners which, however, were neutralised by the White Hart defence.

White Hart seemed to have lost all their composure at this stage and had it not been for some timely saves by Vassallo Agius, the end result would have been different.

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