Sirens 4 San Giljan Tum Invest 8 (0-2), (1-4), (1-1), (2-1)
This was a routine win for league leaders San Ġiljan Tum Invest as they found no difficulty defeating Sirens 8-4. Therefore, San Ġiljan will play the final game of the league againt Sliema for the title while Sirens will face Exiles for fifth and sixth game. In this game, San Ġiljan coach Marko Orlovic made a good use of the younger players of the team.
Two goals in the middle of the first session by youngsters Andreas Galea u Dino Zammit paved the way for the leaders. Orlovic’s team made sure that there will be no surprises as they opened up a comfortable advantage. They scored four consecutive goals by Tristan Said, Andreas Galea and a brace by Ben Plumpton, with Sirens scoring only through a penalty by captain David Cutajar 18 seconds from the break.
The game reduced its rhythm as also more space was given to the fringe players. Andreas Galea scored his third goal of the game in the middle of the session, while Sirens scored their second goal at the end of the session, again from a penalty, this time scored by John Brownrigg. The last session also had the same story and at least Sergio Afric’s team made the score more respectable in the final minutes as after Peter Borg scored for San Ġiljan, David Cutajar scored the third penalty and youngster Sciberras scored at the end of the game to reducedthe margin to four goals.
Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, N. Farrugia, J. Sciberras (1), M. Grech, I. Riolo, N. Lubrano, D. Cutajar (2), J. Napier, J. Brownrigg (1), L. Caruana, O. Gauci, C. Mercieca
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea (3), B. Grech, D. Zammit, C. Farrugia, B. Plumpton (2), J. Galea, T. Said, M. Borg, P. Fava, D. Zammit (1), L. Saliba
Referees: Peter Balzan, Stefan Licari
Valletta McDonalds ........... 7 Neptunes WPSC ............... 13 (1-2), (1-4), (4-3), (1-4)
Neptunes found no difficulty defeating Valletta McDonalds to secure third place in the standings and will play the play-off between the third and fourth place, which incidentally can be Valletta.
Neptunes started the game on a high with two early goals by centre Jeremy Abela and the allrounder Jordan Camilleri, with Valletta reducing the margin from Mark Fenech. More goals came from Neptunes in the second session as they managed to widen their gap to four goals, despite Valletta reducing momentarily the gap to one goal after the fifth goal of the game scored by David Fenech.
Stephen Rizzo’s team made a mini-comeback in the third session scoring three of the first four goals of the session through a brace by Ryan Mock and a goal by Michael Rizzo. But Neptunes kept composure and scored twice from Agius and Camilleri to restore their fourgoal advantage. Michael Cordina scored the last goal of the session to keep Valletta with a slight chance.
But Zoran Maslovar’s team made sure of winning the game in the beginning of last session after goals by Azzopardi, Camilleri and Abela, while Valletta tried to limit the damages in the final minutes of the game.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius, M. Rizzo (1), M. Fenech (1), R. Mock (3), D. Paolella, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina (1), D. Fenech (1), K. Galea, M. Agius, F. Buhagiar
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (1), K. Erdogan, J. Culic, T. Agius (2), M. Tabone, S. Gravina (1), J. Camilleri (5), J. Abela (3), M. Zammit, M. Martellacci, M. Azzopardi (1), I. Bugeja
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri
Exiles Jetfreight ................ 4 Sliema Betsson ................. 7 (2-1),(0-3),(2-2),(0-1)
Sliema Betsson won the Sliema derby as they claimed the fourth win of the season by beating a tough Exiles Jetfreight 7-4. Dorian Pisani’s team are cementing their place as a tough nut to crack, but they are still lacking behind their opponents. In fact Sliema didn’t dominate the game.
Sliema started the game with an early goal by left-hander Michael Spiteri Staines, but a brace by Timmy Sullivan turned the table. Sliema’s reaction came in the second session as Kai Dowling finished a good action from man-up, Mark Meli scored with a deflected shot and Nicholas Bugelli scored a good goal to put his team 4-2 in front.
Exiles caught Sliema off guard after the restart and hit their opponents with a quick fire double by Sullivan and Stellini. But a goal from Mizzi and Gabarretta, made sure that Sliema keep their two goal cushion. Sliema killed the game in the beginning of the last session with a typical left hand shot by Zach Mizzi.
Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, J. Bajada, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (3), S. Xerri de Caro, D. Borg Millo, K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, S. Apap, L. Felice, S. Galea Pace
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta (1), E. Aquilina, C. Cluett, M. Meli (1), K. Dowling (1), M. Spiteri Staines (1), M. Mifsud, A. Mifsud, A. Attard, Z. Mizzi (2), N. Bugelli (1), Z. Sciberras
Referees: Mario Dalli, Alex De Raffaele