EXILES JETFREIGHT..............8

SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST....11

League leaders San Ġiljan Tum Invest had to work harder than expected to stay with maximum points after four games, defeating Exiles Jetfreight 11-8. Both teams played a good game, but more was expected from San Ġiljan, as despite that they were always in the lead, they failed to close the game.

Credit goes to Exiles who held on till the last moments of the game, trying to be the first team to stop San Ġiljan.

In the end the difference between both team, was the bright start that San Ġiljan had in the first session. Coach Dorian Pisani is surely proud of his team’s efforts as Serbian Slobodan Nikic proved his class by leading the team with five goals and some class play.

Marko Orlovic’s team won the first session 4-1 through goals by Aurelien Cousin, Andreas Galea, Matthew Zammit and Peter Borg, while Nikic made the score partially 2-1. This three-goal cushion gave San Ġiljan a good lead and out them in control of the game. But Exiles did not give up easily, and shared the second session with their opponents as both teams scored three goals, two each from their foreigner.

The game continued on the same rhythm after the break. Exiles failed to reduce the gap, and Dino Zammit’s goal proved to be the only goal of the session. Stellini reduced the margin in the last session, but Ivovic soon regained the four-goal lead. Exiles proved to be a tough nut to crack and thanks to a brace by Nikic, entered again in the game with four minutes left to play.

After a moment of tension, San Ġiljan closed the affair with two quick goals from Andreas Galea and Dino Zammit, as Stellini reduced the gap with the last shot of the game.

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (2), T. Sullivan, S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic (5), K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, J. Bajada, L. Felice (1), G. Ciappara

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea (3), T. Said, J. Galea, M. Zammit (1), B. Plumpton, D. Zammit, A. Ivovic (3), A. Cousin (1), P. Fava, D. Zammit (2), T. Micallef

Referees: Stefan Licari, Antonio Pascucci

 

BIRŻEBBUGIA ASC...........5

OTTERS NIVEA................8

(2-0), (1-1), (0-4), (2-3)

After they waited for so long, Otters Nivea got a taste of victory after they came from behind to beat Birżebbugia with a three-goal margin. The effort from Erik Valter’s team came after they had a brilliant third session in which they turned a two-goal disadvantage to a two-goal advantage. Risso will be disappointed with this result as he felt it was a winnable match as things were going.

Two goals from Simon Vassallo and Ayrton Camenzuli gave Birżebbugia a deserved 2-0 lead, and after the goal by young Malcolm Manara in the second session, things were seem to be going Birżebbugia’s way.

Otters’ comeback started with a goal by Jelaca before the break, and this goal proved to be a moral booster, as Otters were like a different team after the restart as they were the better team and went in front for the first time with goals from left hander Luke Hyzler and a brace in quick succession by Edward Meli. Max Borg made it 5-3.

Marko Jelaka extended Otters’ lead to three goals, but Sergio Mora pulled one back to give his team a life line. But Jelaka had other plans as he scored twice to seal the deal.

Birżebbugia: D. Abela, M. Manara (1), S. Mora (1), D. Pace Lupi (2), A. Camenzuli, A. Sammut, S. Vassallo (1), N. Cassar, G. Farrugia, M. Caruana, K. Rizzo Naudi, N. Camenzuli, D. Spiteri

Otters: J. Sammut, M. Borg Millo, A. Magri, L. Hyzler (1), E. Meli (2), D. Dimech, G. Mizzi, M. Jelaka (4), M. Paris, C. Zammit, M. Borg (1), C. Teuma, M. Xerri

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Antonio Gaurracino