Punch & Judy Rabat 5
Celtics YS 1

Punch & Judy Rabat cruised to their third consecutive victory and for the third time, fired in five goals past their opponents.

This time they were given a shock when they fell behind to a Frankie Bugeja goal. However, Celtics could not hold on to their lead until the break and almost on the stroke of half-time league top-scorer Josef Antonelli came to the champions' rescue when equalising matters.

The second half was an entirely different matter as by the end of the game Rabat had romped home to another easy victory. Not to be outdone by his brother, Rene Antonelli netted a neat double while Charles Cassar and Jason Vella got the other two goals for Rabat who now face Young Stars in a match that should be a real test of their strength.

Hunters Tower YS 4
The George Pub 2

Young Stars kept within striking distance of Rabat when they disposed of The George Pub 4-2 in a match they dominated from start to finish but which they had to fight hard to win.

Young Stars were without injured skipper Charles Micallef while Pembroke's casualty list was even longer. They were without Simon Agius, Patrick Meli, Clive Tonna and Dejan Mihajlovic.

The George Pub still took the lead twice in the early minutes of the game, capitalising on two quick counter-attacks. It was Luke Busuttil Leaver who put them in the lead after he received from David Agius.

Young Stars were soon level from a short corner when Evans swept past two defenders and beat a helpless Galea. Hunters Tower kept winning short corners but from another swift break Agius and Busuttil Leaver combined again to restore The George Pub's lead.

Young Stars were back on level terms just before half-time. This time it was Nicky Agius Darmanin who showed that, besides being a capable stage-actor (Prince Charming in the MADC panto), he is also a valid hockey player. From an extremely tight angle, he struck the ball past Galea and into the net.

In the second half, The George Pub tightened their midfield but this left Busuttil Leaver isolated up front and midway through the half Evans scored again to put Hunters Tower ahead for the first time.

Pembroke tried to react and in the final minutes put some pressure on the Young Stars defence but a third goal from Evans, again from a short corner, was the killer blow.

Top scorer: Josef Antonelli (Rabat) seven goals.

Next fixtures: (Sunday) 9 a.m. Rabat vs Young Stars; 11 a.m. Sliema vs Qormi.