Sliema Frank Salt...........7

Neptunes Grimaldi........5

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

The BOV Winter League will be decided on the last day and the last match of the league, as Sliema Frank Salt defeated eternal rivals Neptunes Grimaldi 7-5 to stay three points behind leaders San Ġiljan. This defeat condemned Neptunes mathematically to third place.

The difference in the match finished to be the first session as after the first quarter, all three sessions ended in a draw. Neptunes went ahead in the beginning of the match from Jordan Camilleri but Sliema replied with three goals by Jerome Gabarretta, Alex Attard and Edward Aquilina. Camilleri scored again for his team but youngster Christian Cluett scored for the Blues in their last action.

Sliema scored even the fifth goal from Edward Aquilina but Neptunes relied only on Jordan Camilleri as he scored his third goal of the game and the third for his team. Neptunes could have reduced the margin but they failed to capitalise from their man-up.

Timmy Agius started the third session on a good note as he kept the distance tight. But Alex Attard restored their two goal margin in the middle of the third session. Neptunes had another man-up situation but again failed to take advantage.

Sliema had the chance to kill the game with two man-ups in the first two minutes of the last quarter but had to wait till the last three minutes to confirm their win with a goal by Nicholas Bugelli. Miguel Zammit tried to put back his team in the game but it was too late for Neptunes to avoid defeat.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta (1), E. Aquilina (2), C. Cluett (1), M. Meli, N. Bugelli (1), M. Fenech, T. Sullivan, J. Brownrigg, A. Attard (2), M. Mifsud, D. Fenech, Z. Sciberras

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, K. Erdogan, M. Cutajar, T. Agius (1), S. Xerri de Caro, K. Navarro, J. Camilleri (3), J. Abela, M. Zammit (1), B. Lanzon, M. Azzopardi, M. Castillo

Referee: Peter Balzan, Alex De Raffaele

 

Otters Nivea...................4

Ta’ Xbiex Amigos............7

(1-2), (2-2), (0-2), (1-1)

Ta’ Xbiex claimed their first win of the season in the last game as they defeated Otters Nivea 7-5. Keith Grima Scott’s team were a bit better than their opponents as they had the initiative throughout the game. Otters’ youngsters tried to save something from the game but they weren’t perfect in front of goal. This win meant that both teams won against each other and finished both with three points as Marsascala won easily the division.

Ta’ Xbiex always in the lead as they controlled every situation where Otters looked to gain advantage. David Saliba scored a brace in an important phase of the game that led the way for his team to confirm the win.

Otters: F. Buhagiar, M. Borg Millo (1), L. Hyzler (1), G. Debono, D. Dimech, K. Scicluna, G. Mizzi (1), M. Borg, C. Martin, R. Greco (1), R. Bonnici

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, I. Spiteri, M. Camilleri (1), B. Grech, J. Gauci, K. Mock (1), S. Aquilina (1), D. Schembri (1), D. Saliba (3), L. Pace, T. Said, L. Saliba, N. Camenzuli

Referees: Anna Goncharenko, Massimo Angileri