Sliema beat Qormi

Qormi Daikin 0 Sliema Hotsticks 2

Umpires: Edward Hughes Nathan Galea

After Hotsticks not having availed themselves of two penalty corners earlier on, Qormi won their first of eight penalty corners awarded to them during the encounter but did not take advantage of any of them.

Following a studious start, by both formations, the game developed into a ding dong battle with man-to-man marking being the order of the day - the battle for dominance of the mid field being paramount.

Hotsticks exploited spaces down their left flank and on 12 minutes went ahead when Chris Agius scored with a bombshell from the top of the D. Alessandro Amore sent Hotsticks 2 – 0 up around the 20 minute mark and had it not been for some topof-the-drawer goal keeping by Qormi’s custodian Shameson Mifsud, they could have been further ahead by the change of ends.

Qormi started the second half brightly not connecting to a couple of inviting crosses after probes down their right flank and missing a clear cut chance during the first minute.

They piled on the pressure during the central part of the second half but Hotsticks’ rear guard stood firm and their counter attacks were duly executed by the Plaehn brothers. Both keepers were kept busy and with time running out, tired feet and frayed nerves, which resulted in the frequent sounding of the umpires’ whistles, Hotsticks held on to their 2 – 0 lead despite Qormi’s late surge.