Hotsticks too strong for Young Stars

Floriana Young Stars 3 Lightshop Hotsticks 6

Umpires: Paul Brincat, Shawn Mifsud

After a cautious start by both sides nobody would have envisaged that this encounter would have produced nine goals with the game swinging in Hotsticks’ favour by half time. Young Stars went ahead on 21 minutes when a Luke Borg Costanzi effort was deflected into the net off the goalkeeper’s pads.

Hotsticks replied almost immediately on 24 minutes when a Silas Plaehn shot was deflected into the net off the goalkeeper’s stick.

On 26 minutes Hotsticks extended their lead to 2-1 when Jonathan Borg met a cross at the far post and netted from an acute angle. On 31 minutes Martin Lust shot Hotsticks into a

3-1 lead and Plaehn sent his team 4-1 up on the stroke of half time.

Young Stars started strongly early in the second half forcing two close shaves as a result of as many penalty corner awards but it was not until the 48th minutes that Borg Costanzi netted to reduce the arrears to 4-2.

Hotsticks exploited the open spaces now apparent in Young Stars’ defensive line up as they moved forward in an attempt to bridge the gap and on 65 minutes Ryan Dalli grabbed Hotsticks’ fifth.

On 69 minutes Alessandro Amore shot Hotsticks into a 6-2 lead and on the stroke of time Mark Camilleri netted to round the score off at 6-3.

The match between Laferla White Hart and Rabat Depiro was called off due to unforeseen circumstances.