HAM

A full programme of matches over the weekend saw Punch & Judy Rabat gain two points over rivals The Hunters Tower Rest and Sliema Hs. Punch & Judy disposed of Pasta Poiatti Qormi 4-1 while the direct clash between The Hunters Tower and Sliema Hs, once again ended in a scoreless draw. On Saturday The George Pub returned to victory when they came from a goal behind to beat Celtics YS 2-1. The league table after the weekend matches is as follows:

P W D L F A PTS
The Hunters Tower Rest 7 5 2 0 12 2 17
Punch & Judy Rabat 7 5 0 2 27 8 15
Sliema Hs. 6 3 3 0 8 4 12
The George Pub 7 2 1 4 10 20 7
Celtics YS 6 1 0 5 4 13 3
Pasta Poiatti Qormi 7 1 0 6 3 16 3

The George Pub were coming from their 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Punch & Judy Rabat and the first half of this game did not augur well as they went behind to a Chris Bugeja goal. They did however react well and in the second half they overturned the result. First they equalized through Kevin Filletti and then they took all three points in the final minutes when David Agius scored an excellent winner.

Sunday?s first game between leaders The Hunters Tower Rest and third placed Sliema Hs once again ended in a scoreless draw. The Hunters Tower Rest will be disappointed that they didn?t take more from this game as they were facing a Sliema side with a makeshift midfield. The Sliema defence, however, was in good form and it seems that Caruana Smith has found the right combination at the back. The Hunters Tower Rest dominance in terms of possession was more then obvious and this was reflected in the eleven short corners that they won. On the day however they could not get their act together with their normally reliable set pieces.

Punch & Judy Rabat made the most of the draw between their two rivals in the title race with a polished display to sweep aside the challenge from Pasta Poiatti. As against The George Pub, Rabat were quickly off the blocks and raced into a two goal lead inside twelve minutes. League top scorer Josef Antonelli, back from a one match suspension, was on hand to conclude two similar short corner moves. These two goals killed off any aspirations Pasta Poiatti, who were missing amongst others skipper Reuben Chircop, may have had of taking something from the game. In was Punch & Judy who increased the score line in the second half, first through Jonathan Seychell and then thanks to a penalty stroke converted by James Azzopardi. Pasta Poiatti got their consolation goal in the final minutes from a short corner move. Bianchi?s first shot on goal was saved by the Rabat goalkeeper but Gareth Dimech followed up well to score.

Two further matches will be played over the weekend with Sliema Hs facing Celtics YS at 9.00am. The first round match ended 3-1 in favour of Sliema. Leaders The Hunters Tower Rest taking on The George Pub at 11.00. In the first round The Hunters Tower Rest emerged winners by four goals to two.

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