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HAM

-Blue Label sponsor for National League


The second day of the National League saw Rabat Depiro and The Hunters Tower Restaurant YS pick up their first victories of the campaign but in both cases the winners were made to fight all the way against some tenacious opposition.

The favourites Young Stars lived up to expectations in their 2nd league match but as the 2-1 score line rightly suggests that the young White Hart team will be no pushovers this season. In the first half of the match, Young Stars pinned White Hart into there half. They were quicker on the ball and moved it round well. It seemed just a matter of time before they would score. However despite all the pressure it was a most innocuous cross that caught White Hart of guard. A miss-understanding between Simon Agius and Reno Cremona allowed a cross from Agius Darmanin to pass between them, unwittingly allowing Killian Cooper with a chance to deflect the ball past Galea. The first half ended with The Hunters Tower Rest in control.

White Hart reacted strongly at the start of the second half. Young Stars were caught unawares and not before long White Hart were on level terms. In a quick counter attack White Hart were awarded a penalty corner. In the ensuing move White Hart were awarded a stroke following an infringement on the goal line. Luke Busutill Leaver neatly converted and made the score 1-1. The Hunters Tower Rest seemed to have lost their first half composure and despite the efforts of Evans and Magro White Hart's defence held out. With three minutes to go White Hart were caught out by their inexperience. They were awarded a penalty corner and scenting a possible upset, the team surged forward. Their effort on goal went slightly wide and Young Stars were quick to take advantage of the situation as their opponent’s defence was all over the place. David Evans got to the back line and his cross was met by Joseph Dalli who slotted home to his teammates' relief and White Hart's disappointment.



This game was very similar to the first. The first half of this match was completely dominated by Rabat as Poiatti Qormi were pinned down in their quarter of the pitch with Rabat constantly putting pressure on them. Some good defending prevented Rabat from opening the scoring on several occasions. In one short corner move, Rabat player Radojevic cut his way through the Qormi defence only to see his shot turned round the post by keeper Chircop. The Greens could find no answer to Rabat's continuous pressure and inevitably their defence gave in as Rabat took the lead through Rene Antonelli after some confusion in the Qormi dee. The first half ended with Rabat leading 1-0.

The second half was a completely different affair with Poiatti determined to make a fight of it and give Rabat a run for their money. The defensive approach that characterised the first half was left in the dugout and the Greens threw caution to the wind and started attacking the Rabat rearguard. This pressure resulted in a number of short corners won by Qormi and their defence was rarely troubled in the second half. From a short corner move Qormi equalized as Frankie Bugeja hit an unstoppable hit which was destined to hit the backboard of the goal, but instead hit the foot of a Rabat defender just before crossing the line. A penalty stroke was inevitable but Reuben Chircop’s flick went wide of the keeper's right post. Barely two minutes later Qormi got another bite at the cherry. Another short corner move and again the hit by Bugeja struck the foot of the same Rabat player. Another penalty stroke! This time youngster round Gareth Dimech stepped up, scored and levelled the game up with some ten minutes to go.
It seemed that Qormi had done enough to earn themselves a point. However it was not to be because just a couple of minutes from the final whistle, Josef Antonelli, in a rare second half foray into the Qormi dee was fouled by the onrushing Reuben Chircop just as he was about to hit at goal. There was no doubt the stroke and Charlo Antonelli scored giving Rabat the three points and a bitter pill to swallow for Qormi after a spirited second half display.

There will be no matches this weekend as the Blue Label National League continues on Sunday 19th December.

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