SLIEMA FRANK SALT..............9

EXILES JETFREIGHT...............7

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

After San Ġiljan’s huge win against Neptunes last Thursday, it was a must win for Sliema Frank Salt to keep up the pace and prepare well for their encounter with the leaders. Sliema managed to finish the game as winners to climb alone in second place.

The final story might give a different story than it really was, as Sliema started the game aggressive and opened up a comfortable that practically controlled during the whole game. But the drop in their rhythm might worry coach Bogdan Rath as they didn’t dominate the game after a good start.

Merit goes also to Exiles who kept fighting to get a respectable result to avoid the disaster they had against Neptunes after a bad start. In fact at some point in the last session, the gap was only two goals, and this might be a positive sign for Dorian Pisani who is trying to snatch some points in order to avoid last place.

A bright start permitted Sliema to control the game as they won the opening session 5-1 with Spaniard Guillermo Molina scoring a brace. Sliema’s game seemed to drop and gave space for Exiles to have their say scoring twice from Sullivan and Felice, after Molina had made it 6-1, to finish the second session with a three-goal disadvantage.

Sliema still had an advantage where they could control the game, and won the third session to widen the gap. At times the gap was even five goals, but Nicky Paris scored the fourth goal of his team to keep his team with a slim chance of a comeback.

Exiles entered again in the game in the last session as they reduced the margin to two goals with two great goals from Slobodan Nikic and Andrea Bianchi, to put some pressure on Sliema. But Guillermo Molina had other plans as he sealed the win with a beautiful backhand with a bit more than two minutes left. Julian Rizzo Naudi scored the last goal of the game to keep a respectable margin of two goals.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta, E. Aquilina (1), C. Cluett, G. Molina (4), K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines (2), M. Mifsud, J. Gambin, M. Meli, Z. Mizzi (2), N. Bugelli, Z. Sciberras

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi (1), D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (1), J. Bajada, S. Nikic (1), K. Griscti, N. Paris (1), A. Bianchi (1), B. Lanzon, L. Felice (1), S. Galea Pace

Referees: Peter Balzan, Luca Castagnola

 

Mora shines in Birżebbugia’s win

M’SKALA TRANSCRIPTA......9

BIRŻEBBUGIA ASC.................10

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

Marsascala won the first encounter between both teams 11-10, but this time it was Birżebbugia who had the last laugh as they won 10-9. A deserved win for Marco Risso’s team as despite winning by a goal, they were almost in the lead during the whole game.

Sergi Mora and David Pace Lupi rose to the occasion, scoring seven out of the ten goals. Birżebbugia were more compact in defence and mentally stronger, as they responded after their opponents’ reaction.

Marsascala had to pay for their slow start as Birżebbugia won the first session 4-2, reacting after Cutajar’s opener, and taking a two-goal advantage after a hat-trick by Mora and a goal from their centre Pace Lupi. Birżebbugia kept cruising in the second session controlling their opponents and deservedly finishing the session 6-3 in front.

Pierre Borg was looking for a reaction in the third session and got with two early goals by Vlahovic and Micallef, and reacted again after a goal by Karl Rizzo Naudi. But Birżebbugia were brave enough to restore their advantage as they scored twice late in the session from Cassar and Mora to stay three goals in front.

The game seemed to be Birżebbugia’s way, but Marsascala had other plans as they managed to equalise with three goals in the space of three minutes. The result could go either way with five minutes left to play, but it was only David Pace Lupi who scored what had to be the winning goal, as despite their efforts, Marsascala couldn’t score.

Marsaskala: K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar (2), N. Farrugia, J. Theuma, A. Vlahovic (3), L. Grixti, K. Navarro (1), J. Busuttil, S. Micallef (2), M. Agius, D. Cassar (1), M. Cutajar, B. Dougall

Birżebbugia: D. Spiteri, M. Manara, S. Mora (4), D. Pace Lupi (3), A. Camenzuli, A. Sammut, S. Vassallo (1), N. Cassar (1), G. Farrugia, M. Caruana, K. Rizzo Naudi (1), O. Zammit, K. Gauci

Referees: Mario Dalli, Luca Castagnola