EXILES ELIA CATERERS 11
NEPTUNES LEO VEGAS 7
(2-3), (4-0), (2-2), (3-2)
Yesterday will surely remain as a special day in the history of Exiles. The progress made by team in recent years, especially this year, gives hope that this long drought will end sooner or later. But after the recent performances by Neptunes this season, few thought that Exiles would win by four goals.
The work done by coach Marko Cuk is clearly showing in the performances of the team. All the players followed his instructions and Exiles out-classed their opponents from the collective aspect. Neptunes were confused in their play at times and despite their efforts to stay in the match, it was not their day as Castillo was saving almost everything.
Neptunes won the first session as Stevie Camilleri scored from a man-up situation, a few seconds after he had a penalty saved by Castillo. Prevously, Neptunes had to respond in two occasions after Exiles took the lead.
But Exiles dominated the second session with well-played actions that resulted in four goals with no reply. Philip Paris, Slobodan Nikic, Mark Fenech and Aurelien Cousin scored the goals. Matthew Castillo contributed to this advantage as he was saving everything on the other end.
This advantage gave Exiles an extra motivation to win the game. They went 8-3 in front with goals from veteran Timmy Sullivan and Andrea Bianchi. Miguel Zammit scored the first goal for his team in the third session, and Petar Muslim made it 8-5 in the last seconds of the session with a powerful shot.
Exiles kept their heads in the game, and sealed the win with a double from youngster Nicky Paris. Neptunes were hit hard and despite trying to get back in the game from Stevie Camilleri, Michele Stellini made it 11-6 with almost two minutes left. Petar Muslim scored right at the end.
Exiles: M. Castillo, M. Fenech (1), A. Bianchi (1), M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (2), S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic (2), K. Griscti, N. Paris (2), A. Cousin (1), B. Lanzon, P. Paris (1), G. Ciappara
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (1), K. Erdogan, G. Pace, P. Muslim (3), N. Zammit, S. Camilleri (2), J. Camilleri, J. Abela, M. Zammit (1), S. Busuttil, M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Massimiliano Ruscica
SIRENS GREENTUBE 8
SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST 9
(1-2), (1-2), (3-3), (3-2)
Leaders and champions San Ġiljan TUM Invest remained the only unbeaten team so far, with the second win of 9-8 in few days, this time against Sirens Greentube. A win that brought out the difficulties San Ġiljan are facing at the moment, but somehow they are still managing to win, even if their best players are not performing to their level. The absence of Dino Zammit is being greatly felt in spite of a win that stretches the team's unbeaten run to 52 games.
Sirens had a turbulent season till now, but the performance of the last two sessions might inspire the team and coach Sasko Popovski to try and turn the season in the play-offs.
San Ġiljan won the first session 2-1 as they had to react after Nicolas Bicari's opener. Peter Borg equalised and Andreas Galea put his team in front at the end of the session.
The champions looked set to cruise past their opponents in the second session as they went 4-1 in front after goals by Andreas Galea and a good goal by Paulo Obradovic. But the goal by Jacob Sciberras in the last seconds before the change of ends kept Sirens in the game.
San Ġiljan again held the upper hand in the third session and this time took a four-goal lead from the third goal of the game by Galea and Ben Plumpton. The game seemed to be heading towards its closure at that point, but Sirens reacted and scored twice from Bicari and Marc Grech. Peter Borg made it 7-4 but Bicari scored again, a goal that proved to be vital for Sirens to keep fighting for the win.
In fact, Sirens managed to equalise for the first time from two quick goals by Isaiah Riolo as the San Ġiljan defence looked unorganised. Paulo Obradovic put San Ġiljan again in front, and Ben Plumpton doubled the lead from a man-up situation.
But the goal by John Brownrigg few seconds later assured a tense finish. In their last action, Sirens had a man-up after an exclusion to Matthew Zammit, but they failed to capitalise as San Ġiljan coach Marko Orlovic took a long breath in the final seconds of the match.
Sirens: N. Grixti, P. Privitera, E. Aquilina, N. Bicari (3), M. Grech (1), I. Riolo (2), C. Mercieca, J. Sciberras (1), J. Napier, G. Sammut, L. Caruana, J. Brownrigg (1), G. Galea Curmi
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (2), A. Galea (3), B. Grech, C. Farrugia, M. Zammit, B. Plumpton (2), Da. Zammit, T. Said, P. Obradovic (2), P. Fava, D. Ciantar, T. Micallef
Referees: Francesco Romolini, Mario Dalli
FIRST DIVISION
MARSASKALA TRANSCRIPTA 9
TA' XBIEX AMIGOS 8
(1-1), (6-1), (1-4), (1-2)
Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar (3), E. Carabott, D. Borg Millo, A. Vlahovic (2), L. Grixti, K. Navarro (1), J. Busuttil, J. Bajada (2), C. Mifsud, D. Cassar (1), R. Attard, J. Cremona
Ta' Xbiex: A. Theuma, R. Greco, M. Manara (1), L. Hyzler, B. Cachia, G. Blundell, N. Dedovic (3), L. Galea (2), G. Sammut, K. Tanti (2), N. Saliba