HAM

by di-ve.com


The Hockey National League got under way on Sunday and opened with two draws as Poiatti Qormi drew 1-1 with Sliema Hs while favourites Rabat Depiro and The Hunters' Tower Rest. YS drugged out a 0-0 draw.

Poiatti Qormi and Sliema Hs started their league commitments with a 1-1 draw in a very close game that could have gone either way with both teams having the opportunity to claim victory.

Whilst Qormi were missing Ramon Chircop, Chris Bugeja and Daniel Micallef, Sliema Hs had to do without Keith Scicluna and Simon Baldacchino.

Poiatti started the stronger side in the first half closing out any opportunities created by Sliema HS. In the first half, Sliema had only one clear opportunity when goalkeeper Martin Azzopardi won a one to one challenge with Liam Pace, an action in which the Sliema side claimed a penalty stroke. Their protests fell on deaf ears. Frankie Bugeja went very close, for Poiatti from a short corner when his hit struck the upright. A number of other short corners did not produce any danger to the Sliema defence. The first half ended 0-0.

In the second half, Sliema HS came out stronger and started to create opportunities in front of goal. After a period a pressure, Sliema HS took the lead when Steven Cachia tapped in from close range after Azzopardi saved the first shot by Michael Caruana Smith. Poiatti were rattled and seemed unable to recover from this and did not manage to move the ball around in the flowing manner of the first half. However, following a swift counter attack move, Magri found Dimech on the right flank and the latter's excellent cross found Sandro Bartolo on the penalty spot and his hit found the bottom corner with Mallia stranded.

The game balanced out once again as both teams started to push for the winner. What, to the Qormi players, seemed like a legitimate goal was disallowed following a consultation between the umpires and to further up the tension on the next Sliema attack, a penalty stroke was awarded when Pace was upended by James Meli. Following a rather lengthy interruption the game resumed with the penalty stroke but Caruana Smith sent Azzopardi the wrong way but his flick hit Azzopardi's left post and went out. At this stage the game seemed to fizzle out and there was little goalmouth action until the final whistle.

In the space of two months, Sunday's game between Rabat Depiro and The Hunters' Tower Restaurant was the fourth match between these two sides. Rabat 2-1 won the 2003/04 replayed KO Final; the Champions also won the Super Cup, while Young Stars gained partial revenge when a week ago they took the Challenge Cup 3-2. Inevitably after such highly charged matches Sunday's game was a bit of a let down.

It seemed evident that both sides were opting for a cautious approach not wanting to start their league commitments with a defeat. The game developed into a largely uneventful and tactical game bogged down in midfield. Worthy of note was Radojevic hit following a short corner that scrapped the post and good save from Rabat's goalkeeper Azzopardi off a raised shot at goal.

Both teams will now be in action once again at the weekend. The Hunters' Tower Restaurant will be the opponents as White Hart start their league commitments at 9.00am while Rabat have another tricky game when they face Poiatti Qormi at 11.00am.

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