DEFENDING champions SSTMI Thunderbolts stayed on course to retaining their MHC-MILO-NSC Junior Hockey League Division One title when they beat OLAK PKT Tigers 4-1 at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
However the three points were still not enough to lift them above current league leaders UniKL Young Guns whom they will face next week as they continue to trail them by two points.
After an unconvincing display yesterday, Thunderbolts coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman said: "I'm very disappointed with today's performance, as the players looked lost and this is not a good sign as we have a big match next week against UniKL."
Shello Silverius put the defending champions ahead in the 12th minute with a field goal before Ammirul Hafiz doubled their lead eight minutes later from a penalty corner.
The second half saw a very sloppy game from both sides, but Thunderbolts managed to squeeze in a third through Luqman Hakim in the 47th minute. Olak pulled one back in the 61st minute through Sheimyrul Azreel, but Thunderbolts swept home their fourth goal of the evening in the 65th minute when Danial Asyraf was on target.
To add misery, Thunderbolts Nik Aiman was flashed a yellow card in the final minute of the match and will miss the crucial clash against UniKL next Friday.
RESULTS -- Division One: OLAK PKT Tigers 1 SSTMI Thunderbolts 4.
Division Two: Group A -- MSNT-PHT 2 1MAS Perak 0.
Group B: 1MAS Perlis 11 MSSD Larut Matang 0, MSS Kedah 2 Nurinsafi-Penang HA 3.
Group C: 1MAS TBSS Tampin 2 SMKDBL 1.