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HAM

On Sunday the Challenge Cup got under way with two interesting matches. This year the five senior teams have been divided into two groups. Group A sees Double winners Rabat Depiro together with Pasta Poiatti Qormi and White Hart. On the other hand Group B is composed of the other two teams, Sliema Hs and Hunters’ Tower Restaurant YS.

These two teams play each other over two legs with the winner going into the semi-finals while the loser will play-off against the third team in Group A for the fourth semi-final slot. On Sunday the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw and now everything will be decided this Sunday at 9.00am. Should the match once again end in a tie, both sides will have to go straight to a penalty stroke shot out to decide the winner. In Sunday’s game, the Hunters’ Tower had a slight edge especially during the early stages as they pressed Sliema into their half. However, despite some neat approach work they never really threatened even though they did create a few anxious moments to the Sliema defence. As the half progressed the game balanced out with Sliema’s Pace forcing Abdilla into a good save.

The second half opened with Sliema taking the lead. From a short corner move the ball was laid off to Andrei Imbroll, who beat Abdilla with an angled drive. The goal seemed to shake Young Stars out of their lethargic start to the second period but they couldn’t find the flow they had earlier on during the game and Abdilla had to save again off Imbroll. However has time passed the Hunters’ Tower upped their pressure and they were finally rewarded when following a short corner, Hughes was clumsily tackled and from the resultant stroke skipper Micallef made no mistake.

In the first game of the day Pasta Poiatti Qormi beat White Hart 3-2 and put one foot into the semi-finals. Pasta Poiatti were coming from three victories and one draw in their pre-season friendlies but the mood in the Qormi camp must not have been at it’s best following the news that, the previous day, star summer signing Chris Bugeja had suffered a serious knee injury during training.

Pasta Poiatti were up against a rather surprising young and determined White Hart package that fought back all the way and were close to taking a point from this game. The first half saw Sandro Bartolo giving Qormi the lead with Luke Busutill Leaver equalising for White Hart. The game was free flowing and entertaining and early on during the second half White Hart’s David Agius smashed a hit against the upright with Chircop beaten. At the other end Bugeja’s brother, Frank, (another summer signing) showed that he is up to hitting short corners when he beat Galea to put his side back into the lead. White Hart kept at it and Busutill Leaver put them back on level terms when he converted a penalty stroke awarded when the Qormi keeper upended him. The game seemed destined for a draw but in the final minutes it was Philip Magri who flashed a hit past Galea to give all three points to his team. On Sunday, at 11.00am, Pasta Poiatti will now face Rabat Depiro in what should be a real test of their potential.

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