Sirens Ritter Sport     11     Valletta McDonalds     13

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

Valletta shook off Sirens' challenge, to leave them languishing near the foot of the table. The Citizens are flying high, a point away from the top of the standings. They led for nearly the whole encounter, even if they didn't fare well in man ups, netting just once from four occasions. Sirens converted half of their six man ups, and after their positive performance against Neptunes, a week before, they couldn't manage their opening league victory against Valletta. With every passing match the Citizens' Russian import, Dmitri Kholod, is now showing his worth.

Valletta scored on four occasions, in the first session, with Sirens pulling back three times. Kholod scored twice, with Ryan Mock and Michael Rizzo strikes, for Valletta, and David Cutajar, Sergi Mora and Zak Mizzi replying for Sirens. In teh second session, the honours were even, with the two sides sharing eight goals. Marc Grech and Mora had Sirens on a brief advantage, but the Citizens came back strongly, with a brace of Michael Cordina strikes, and Andrei Agius and Kholod goals. In between Mizzi scored his second goal for Sirens, with Valletta leading 8-7 at the interval.

After the break enjoyed their best adavantage on three occasions, with Sirens reducing their deficit three times. Tweo goals from Michael Spiteri Staines, Kholod and Aleandro Mifsud netted for the Citizens, with Cutajar, Gabriel Pace and Isiah Riolo scoring for Sirens, as Valletta went into the last quarter on a 12-10 lead. Mora had Sirens just a goal in arrears, but two lost man ups for Sirens cost them dearly, as Kholod scored his fifth, and Valletta could control proceedings till the final buzzer.

Dmitri Kholod finished with a nap hand of goals, for Valletta, and Sergi Mora netted a hat trick for Sirens.

Sirens: N. Grixti , Z. Mizzi 2, S. Mora 3, G. Pace 1, M. Grech 1, I. Riolo2 , M. Balucci , D. Cutajar 2, J. Napier ,  J. Sciberras , L. Caruana ,  N. Farrugia , J. Cremona

Valletta: R. Sciortino , J. Spiteri Staines , A. Agius 1, M. Rizzo 1, A. Mifsud 1,R. Mock 1, D. Paolella , N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina 2, C. Zammit , D. Kholod 5, A. Zarb Cousin , M. Spiteri Staines 2

 

 

San Giljan Salini Resort     5     Neptunes Grimaldi     15

(0-2, 2-4, 1-5, 2-4)

Both sets of spectators, and the neutrals just couldn't believe their eyes, as the champions were brushed easily aside in this match, and tumbled to fourth place in the standings. San Giljan couldn't get going in this derby match. They briefly answered back, from three goals down, but Neptunes then went on with a six-goal run, spanning two sessions, and the Saints were left behind. That wasn't all, as Neptunes drove the dagger even deeper, with another five-goal spell, which took the stuffing out of the champions. San Giljan were awarded nine man ups, but converted only three of them. Neptunes were better, with four strikes from seven. Dino Zammit was missing from San Giljan's line up, and he was sorely missed in this unexpected heavy defeat. Both sides were coming from drawn encounters, with Alan Borg Cole, in the Neptunes' goal, being a telling factor, as he denied the champions time and time again.

Jordan Camilleri netted a brace for Neptunes in the opening session, with Cosmin Radu adding another goal in the second session. San Giljan had an answer, at last, with Matthew Zammit and Aurelien Cousin seemingly taking their side back in the game with their goals. It was not to be, as Neptunes struck three more times till the interval, with Radu and two Niki Lanzon goals. At the halfway mark Neptunes had gone 6-2 in front.

There was more to come, as the Saints wilted. A Steve Camilleri penalty, and more goals by Radu and Timmy Agius, left the champions stranded. Clint Mercieca finally pulled a goal back, but Neptunes had Steve Camilleri and Jeremy Abela netting twice more, taking a heavy 11-3 advantage into the last quarter. San Giljan were down and out, and Neptunes were still pouring in their goals. Steve Camilleri with two more, and a second penalty, and another from Agius, made up a ridiculous scoreline. Matthew Zammit and Mercieca netted two quick goals for the Saints, with Abela netting his second, and last strike of the match, to seal Neptunes' solid victory.

Steve Camilleri ended with a poker of goals, and Cosmin Radu grabbed a hat trick, for Neptunes.

San Giljan : J. Sammut , P. Borg , A. Galea , B. Vapenski , Da. Zammit ,  M. Zammit 2, K. Galea , C. Mercieca 2, B. Plumpton ,  A. Cousin 1, P. Fava , J. Galea , D. Camilleri

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole , N. Lanzon 2, C. Radu 3, L. Gialanze , T. Agius 2,M. Lanzon , S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 2, J. Abela 2, M. Zammit , B. Lanzon , M. Azzopardi 1, M. Castillo

Referees: M. Angileri, M. Piano

 

BOV 1 Div.

M'scala return to winning ways

M'scala Nutrition Empire     13     Otters Nivea     8

(3-3, 2-1, 5-2, 3-2)

M'scala were surprised by M'xlokk a few days earlier, but returned to winning ways against the Gozitans, to sit just behind the same M'xlokk in the league table. Otters held their own till the interval, but M'scala took the upper hand for the remainder of the match, and opened up a better advantage, which stood them well till the final buzzer. Stephen Micallef had a very positive day for them, and they fared really well in amn up situautions, failing only once in their seven occasions. It was the opposite for Otters, who only netted once from the same number of man ups.The Gozitans made the one change, with Ryan Gauci taking David Dimech's place.

M'scala began with a double advantage, with a Gabor Kovacs penalty, and a Stephen Micallef strike. Otters were level, through two Marko Jelaka goals, the first from a penalty. Micallef had M'scala again in front, but Jelaka tied the score once more. In teh second sessionMicallef and Liam grixti increased M'scala's advantage, with Georg Debono pulling a goal back, for Otters, who were just 4-5 behind at the interval.

After the break M'scala began drawing away from their opponents. A micallef brace and Joe cremona goals, opened up their lead. Jelaka again netted for Otters. Jean Claude Cutajar and Clyde Bonello added two more goals for M'scala, with Luke Hyzler scoring for Otters, to take the score to 10-6. In the last session Matthew Xerri went in goal for Otters, vice Reuben Bonnici. He was beaten twice, by Kovacs and Micallef, but he managed to make a good save from as Kovacs penalty throw. Ricky Greco and max Borg managed two more Otters' goals, with Jamie Busuttil netting his goal for M'scala in between, as his side held on to win comfortably.

Stephen Micellef scored a total of six goals for M'scala, with Marko Jelaka netting four times for Otters.

M'scala: K. Schembri , JC Cutajar 1, J. Busuttil 1, C. Bonello 1, J. Bajada , L. Grixti 1, G. Kovacs2 ,  J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef 6, M. Pace , D. Cassar ,    O. Zammit , B. Dougall

Otters:  R. Bonnici , M. Borg Millo, R. Greco 1, L. Hyzler 1, K. Scicluna ,L. Peric , G. Mizzi , M. Jelaka 4, S. Dimech , G. Debono 1, M. Borg 1, R. Gauci , M. Xerri

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, M. Piano

 

Standings

BOV Premier

Neptunes Grimaldi              3     2     1     0     38     22     7

Sliema Betsson                    3     2     1     0     30     21     7

Valletta McDonalds            3     2     0     1     30     29     6                                                                              

San Giljan Salini Resort      3     1     1     1     35     36     4

Sirens Ritter Sport               3     0     1     2     24     33     1    

Exiles Jetfreight                   3     0     0     3     22     38     0

 

BOV  1 Div.

M'xlokk Fischer                   3     3     0     0     42     23     7

M'scala Nutrition Empire     3     2     0     1     29     24     6

Ta Xbiex Amigos                 3     1     0     2     23     29     3

Otters Nivea                          3     0     0     3     24     42     0