Neptunes Grimaldi     10     Sliema Frank Salt     10       

(3-1, 3-4, 2-2, 2-3)

 

When the Italian referee, Antonio Pascucci, for the second time, issued a double foul, on both sides, late in the match, Neptunes put the ball in the Sliema net, but after it was convalidated, the goal was disallowed, after consultation with the officiating table.

That left the game on an even keel, with no more goals scored, and for the second time this season, in two league matches, the two rivals finished the match in a tie, which leaves the champions five points clear of Sliema, but with San Giljan with a game today, where they could cut down their deficit to two points, if they manage to beat Valletta.

Sliema had their coach Vincze Balazs back after his week’s suspension, and after two missed matches, Neptunes’ Steve Camilleri took to the water. The match was entrusted to two Italian referees, maybe because of the fierce protests in two recent games, in a matter of a few days, but this match also ended with the Neptunes’ players and supporters voicing their strong protests at their disallowed goal.

The champions had a good start to the game, and after Sliema replied to their opponents’ first strike, Neptunes took a double advantage till the end of the session. Sliema got a goal back in the next period, but Peter Biros again gave the champions a two-goal lead. Sliema came back strongly, after both sides scored a goal each, and two late strikes had the Blues just a goal behind, at the interval, on a 5-6 score.

After the break an Antonio Petkovic penalty throw brought Sliema level, but again the champions forged forward, with tamas Molnar scoring twice in a shrt time. An Ivan basara thunderbolt reduced the arrears for Sliema, with Neptunes just ahead, at 8-7, when the last quarter began. The champions held a double advantage twice more, but Sliema’s Petkovic again brought his side back, with two more strikes, one from his second penalty of the day. Then came the disallowed goal, with Sliema then wasting two man up occasions, and the match ended  all-square.

Both Neptunes’ Biros and Sliema’s Petkovic managed a hat trick of goals.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon , M. Stellini 2, T. Agius , G. Mizzi , S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri , A. Zarb Cousin , P. Biros 3,B. Dougall , T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano , T. Sullivan , M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2,J. Borg 1, C. Cluett , J. Brownrigg , A. Attard , I. Basara 2, A. Petkovic 3, K. Schembri

Referees:  S. Scappini, A. Pascucci

 

BOV National League – 1 Div.

M’scala sole leaders, with a game more

     M’scala Mor€     11     M’xlokk Fischer     9

(3-0, 1-1, 4-4, 3-4)

 

It was M’scala’s second victory over M’xlokk, in a matter of days, after their K.O. semi final win. Although the final score gives the impression of a close encounter, M’scala were cruising on a five goal advantage, in the last session, and only a spirited comeback by M’xlokk brought about the close result, with their final goal coming only seconds from the end.

M’scala had a bright start, as they put in three goals in succession, without any reply, after M’xlokk’s Bence Fulope saw his penalty saved by Joseph Cremona, in the M’scala goal. In the second period both sides had a goal each, with M’xlokk scoring first, and at the interval M;scala were still on a comfortable 4-1 advantage.

After the break M’scala managed to extend this lead, but two Otto Frick strikes for M’xlokk opened the match up, although M’scala also had Sergi Mora with a brace, the second one from a penalty, for a good 8-5 score in their favour. In the last quarter the two M’scala foreigners gave their side their maximum advantage, but in teh remaining time M;xlokk had Charles Bugeja scoring out of four goals, to give the final score a closer look.

Mora finished with five goals for M’scala, and Bugeja’s late goals for M’xlokk took his tally to three.

M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar 1, S. Mora 5, C. Bonello , E. Meli , L. Grixti 1,

               J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef , M. Pace 2, D. Cassar , G. Marnitz 1,  J. Cremona

M’xlokk: N. Xuereb, A. Agius 1, B. Fulope 1, A. Galea 1, G. Busuttil , C. Bugeja 3,

                S. Xerri de Caro , A. Mifsud 1, O. Frick 2, A. Arrigo , D. Borg Millo ,

                M. Scerri

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, S. Licari