Lightshop Hotsticks 2
Floriana Young Stars 1

Going into this match, Lightshop Hotsticks knew a win would put them within reach of the club’s first league title for many years.

After the initial scurry, they seized control of the centre of the park creating continuous waves of attack. Inevitably, their pressure paid off when from a short corner, Jonathan Borg deflected a clever move for the Hotsticks to take the lead.

Young Stars could not muster a reaction and with Silas Plaehn in fine form, the Hotsticks continued to create the better chances. On one occasion, Plaehn put Dalli through but his shot from a tight angle hit the bar.

With the Young Stars defence at sixes and sevens, they gave away a penalty corner. Up came Steve Portelli and, as has been customary lately, he slotted his effort in from the top of the circle.

Young Stars’ plight took a turn for the worse when Edward Hughes and Andrew Camilleri retired with pulled muscles at half time.

Hotsticks were not really dangerous after the break as they took their foot off the pedal.

Young Stars got back in the game when Ryan George stopped the ball off the line illegally and Nathan Galea put away the ensuing penalty.

But it was a little too late for them as the Hotsticks held tight to preserve their one-goal advantage.

Rabat Depiro 0
Laferla White Hart 2

The bottom two teams paired up to try and get some more points on the table.

Rabat fielded a depleted side and were on the ropes from the start.

White Hart surged in attack and got their reward when from a penalty corner Alvaro Garcia tapped in from three metres out after Kenneth Debattista had failed to clear Sammut’s effort.

White Hart held the upperhand without really troubling the Rabat defence for the rest of the first half.

White Hart were rather wasteful in midfield as Rabat tried to hit on the counter-attack. However, Vassallo Agius in goal was up to it to deny Kevin Micallef and Charlot Antonelli.

Glen Bonello made it 2-0 late on for White Hart to chalk up their first win and register a clean sheet, the first of the season.

League standings
Lightshop Hotsticks 18; Poiatti Qormi 14; Young Stars 12; Rabat Depiro 5; White Hart 3.