White Hart 0
Sliema Hotsticks 4

Sliema Hotsticks booked their place in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup after beating White Hart 4-0 in a play-off for a last four berth.

After the teams sized up each other in the first few minutes, Hotsticks took the game by the scruff of the neck, exerting pressure on the White Hart rearguard.

Although, after the 10th minute Hotsticks enjoyed territorial advantage, winning five penalty corners and creating a number of half chances, they were unable to turn their supremacy into goals and the half-time whistle blew with a blank scoresheet.

But then, three minutes into the second half, Julian Zahra hit a rising shot high into the net to send Hotsticks 1-0 up.

The game soon swung in Hotsticks’ way and in the 46th minute Patrick Meli cleared off the line with his keeper beaten. Two minutes later Robert Vassallo Agius, White Hart’s keeper, effected a great save blocking a shot from point blank range.

On 57 minutes, Simon Baldacchino slotted home with a shot from the top of the D to double Hotsticks’ lead.

Baldacchino notched his second and Hotsticks’ third in the 68th minute and then Silas Plaehn rounded off the scoring to seal a comfortable victory for his side, taking them into the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

The two semi-finals will be played on Sunday with the Hotsticks playing Rabat and Young Stars taking on Qormi in the second match.

Umpires: Andre Ghio and Edward Hughes.

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