Qormi Hockey Club – Est. 1971

Qormi HC beat Sliema HS 5-2 to go top of the table on goal difference. It was a hard fought match with 1 goal separating both teams for large parts of the match. The Yellows took the upperhand in the closing stages by scoring another 2 goals. Next up Qormi face Rabat in a direct clash to determine the leaders at the end of round 1.

Coach Ray Micallef had Tyrone Vella, Jonathan Borg, Jonathan Fenech and Rudolph Camilleri missing for this match.  Chircop lined up in goal with Piscopo, Brincat, Sarcia and Ghio in defence.  Cuschieri, Aquilina, Tanti and Dimech in midfield with Calleja playing in the hole and Zahra up front.

Sliema started brightly and had the first shot at goal which did not trouble the Qormi defence.  As time passed Qormi grew more confident and started to assert themselves more in the game.  Qormi applied pressure on Sliema and this resulted in the Yellows winning their first short corner of the game.  Juan Sarcia stepped up to the plate and following a good stop by Tanti flicked the ball into the net after smashing against the upright.

Qormi gained momentum and doubled their lead 3 minutes later.  After some good work inside the Dee, Julian Zahra was hacked down by the Sliema keeper with the umpire awarding a penalty stroke.  Keith Calleja placed the ball on the spot and made it 2-0 with the ball just crossing the line after hitting the keeper.

Qormi kept on playing well but Sliema had nothing to lose at this stage and started to take the initiative.  Sliema won a series of short corners and from one of these managed to reduce the arrears.  Portelli flicked the ball at goal which was parried by Chircop.  However as luck would have it, the ball ricocheted off Sarcia’s chest and found it’s way in goal.  The half ended with Qormi leading by a solitary goal.

After the restart Qormi increased their lead.  A good run by Tanti from midfield drew panic among the Sliema players who tried to close him down.  Tanti fed the ball to Sarcia who hit the ball first time sending it into the roof of the net.  It was a great goal to watch as Qormi went from defence to attack in seconds.  The tie was far from over as Sliema once again came back into the match.  Following a bad clearance from the back, Qormi gifted the ball to their opponents who found Schembri waiting at the far post for a simple tap in.

Anything could have happened with one goal separating both teams.  Luckily Qormi managed to restore their 2 goal lead when Joseph Cuschieri received the ball following a rebound and directed his low shot past the keeper.  Sometimes pigs do fly and this was justified by his goal celebration.  Sliema did not let this setback get to them and had to opportunity to get back to within one goal when they were awarded a penalty stroke.  Chircop blocked Plaehn’s attempt and the two goal margin remained.

Sliema paid dearly for this setback as Qormi scored their 5th goal through Calleja.  After causing havoc inside the Sliema Dee, Calleja received the ball at the far post and his low hard hit powered in between the keeper and the post.  It was the final act of the game as there was little worthy of mention after that.  With these 2 points Qormi reached Rabat at the top of the standings leading the table on goal difference.  Next Sunday’s match against Rabat will give an early indication of who will be on top in the title race.

   Man of the Match (for both teams): Juan Sarcia

Qormi Squad: Ramon Chircop, Juan Sarcia, Ryan Brincat, Owen Piscopo, Andre Ghio, Steve Tanti, Joseph Cuschieri, Gareth Dimech, Jonathan Aquilina, Keith Calleja and Julian Zahra.

Subs:  Christian Sammut, Kym Bianco, John Williams and Justin Bonello.

Umpires: Josef Antonelli and Reno Cremona

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