SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS SLIEMA FRANK SALT 13-12 (3-2), (3-3), (5-4), (2-3) 

San Ġiljan JP Projects were not at their best today but still ended with three points. On the other side, Sliema showed perseverance to stay in the game but couldn’t take the advantage they worked for. In the end it was a goal with less than a minute on the clock from Ben Plumpton that decided a well-fought and balanced encounter.

San Ġiljan never showed the sentiment that they were the best team and were just slightly better than their opponents in parts of the game. In the absence of some Maltese players who had an average performance, foreigners Maro Jokovic and Aaron Younger stepped up to carry the team forward.

Sliema had a more collective effort during the game and showed grit to equalise not less than seven times during the game. They even looked very close to win against the champions as they even showed that they were starting to believe more in themselves. But this defeat showed that Sliema don’t have the cutting edge yet to win games where the difference is minimal.

Zach Mizzi scored twice for Sliema in the beginning and the end of the first session but San Ġiljan scored three goals in between from Matthew Zammit, Maro Jokovic and Jeremy Abela.

Sliema tried to gain the lead during the second session but every time they beat Jake Tanti, San Ġiljan were ready to stay a goal ahead in the next action. First Jeremy Abela scored from man-up to cancel Jayden Cutajar’s equaliser, Maro Jokovic scored from penalty to respond to Elijah Schembri’s goal and Aaron Younger also from man-up gave San Ġiljan a slim lead after Sliema’s goal by Dmitrii Kholod 14 seconds earlier.

Dejan Savic’s team was in the game and during the third session they even recovered a double disadvantage with goals by Andrija Prlainovic and Benji Cachia. Younger kept San Ġiljan with their noses in front twice but Sliema equalised for the sixth time in the game for a 9-9 draw. That was only until Maro Jokovic scored twice in the last minute and a half of the session.

Sliema needed to recover an 11-9 disadvantage in the last session. Savic included Andrew Bugeja in goal instead of regular goalkeeper Nicky Grixti. They kept believing and after Plumpton responded to Cachia’s goal, Zach Mizzi and Dino Zammit from man-up equalised again with more than half a session to go.

Despite that there was still ample time, Sliema couldn’t take the lead. The game seemed to head for a fair draw until Ben Plumpton showed his opportunism to beat Bugeja with a low shot from close range. Sliema had only one chance to avoid defeat and even had a man-up situation, but Benji Cachia’s shot ended over the bar.

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli, A. Galea, B. Plumpton (2), M. Jokovic (4), M. Zammit (1), J. Bonavia, A. Younger (3), J. Abela (2), N. Zammit (1), Da. Zammit, R. Caruana, G. Borg, G. Bonavia, N. Bonavia

Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea, J. Gambin (1), Z. Mizzi (4), B. Cachia (2), J. Cutajar (1), M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (1), A. Prlainovic (1), D. Zammit (1), A. Bugeja, E. Schembri (1), S. Engerer

Referees: Massimiliano Sponza, Ronnie Spiteri

VALLETTA IZIBET MARSASKALA ESC 17-9 (4-2), (2-0), (5-5), (6-2) 

This clash was important for both teams for practically the same reasons. Since the Premier Division is divided into two categories of teams, they prepared to take the three points from this game. Valletta Izibet claimed the second seasonal win over Marsaskala to move a stay with a chance of making it into the top four. For Marsaskala this loss meant that they are destined to finish the league in sixth place.

Both Ivan Nagaev and Andrija Vlahovic were splendid for Valletta. Nagaev ended the game as the best scorer while Vlahovic was solid to limit Edoardo Manzi. Special mention also to the goalkeepers. Benji Busuttil shined for Valletta in goal while Jurgen Micallef tried to his best to recover but could only last two sessions.

A brace by Ivan Nagaev gave Valletta a 3-1 lead, an advantage that they held till the end of the session after Andrija Vlahovic responded to the goal by Jake Ciantar. Valletta extended the lead in the second session scoring twice from Vlahovic and Kieyan Borg while Benji Busuttil saved the shots that came his way.

Marsaskala were expected to make a reaction in the third session. They reacted to stay in the hunt for the three points but couldn’t take control of the game. Valletta responded on three occasions after Marsaskala had reduced the deficit and ended the session with the same advantage they started it.

Joe Cremona’s consolidated their lead and made sure of the win in the last session. Goals by Julian Chircop, Kieyan Borg and Nagaev twice, stretched the lead to 15-7. Edoardo Manzi scored two consolation goals for Marsaskala, but Valletta still had the last say in the game scoring another two goals to round-off the win.

Valletta: B. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Rizzo, J. Cassar (2), S. Busuttil, A. Vlahovic (2), D. Paolella (1), I. Nagaev (7), S. Micallef, A. Agius (1), K. Borg (3), K. Cremona, A. Theuma, M. Demarco, J. Chircop (1)

Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, G. Galea, P. Privitera, R. Greco, E. Manzi (2), K. Navarro, D. Tully, D. Pace Lupi (1), G. Sammut, J. Ciantar (5), M. Carani (1), A. Muscat, T. Sedlmayerm, F. Scardino

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Stefano Alfi