SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS - NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS 7-11 (1-4), (2-1), (3-4), (1-2)

Neptunes Videoslots showed why they are the main rivals to dethrone San Ġiljan JP Projects. In a direct encounter, Neptunes were better than their opponents and deserved the three points.

This win permitted Neptunes to equal San Ġiljan in the standings after the end of the second round, but Neptunes classified first due to a better result in the direct encounters. They will play Valletta in the play-offs while San Ġiljan face Sliema.

It was a collective effort by Neptunes spearheaded by their captain Stevie Camilleri, youngster Jake Muscat while the quality of Alan Borg Cole and Filip Filipovic surely wasn’t missing. San Ġiljan were anonymous in large parts of the game and Maro Jokovic’s goals weren’t enough on the day.

Filip Filipovic put Neptunes ahead from a penalty until Maro Jokovic responded for San Ġiljan. Neptunes built an important three-goal lead that proved to be important. Jake Muscat, Stevie Camilleri, and Aleksandar Ivovic gave their team a 4-1 lead. San Ġiljan tried to pick up the pieces and reduced the gap to 4-3 after a brace by Jokovic. But Filipovic scored immediately and kept Neptunes with a two-goal lead in the second session.

San Ġiljan managed to equalise for the first time during the third session. Foreigners Aaron Younger tapped in the net while Jokovic beat Borg Cole with a powerful shot. Stevie Camilleri kept Neptunes ahead, but Nicholas Bugelli responded immediately.

Jake Muscat and Filip Filipovic gave Neptunes an 8-6 lead and with a few seconds left on the clock, Muscat converted a man-up from the left side with a precise shot. This goal skyrocketed the belief that Neptunes could win the game.

San Ġiljan needed a splendid last session to salvage something from the game. That hope was shortlived as Jake Muscat scored his fourth personal goal of the game in the beginning of the session. Filipovic put the cherry on the cake as Neptunes held an 11-6 advantage.

Ben Plumpton’s goal late in the session served only as a consolation. This win meant that Neptunes are undefeated against San Ġiljan during this summer.

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Muscat (4), S. Gialanze, G. Pace, M. Castillo, J. Bajada, S. Camilleri (2), J. Camilleri, A. Ivovic (1), F. Filipovic (4), A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, d. Bugeja, A. Fava

Referees: Vittorio Frauenfelder, Massimo Angileri

SIRENS 11 MARSASKALA ESC 12 (2-3), (3-2), (2-3), (4-4)

Sirens needed a win from their last game to finish in fourth place and take the last play-off spot available. Despite the importance of the game, Marsaskala showed more determination to claim their first points in Premier Division. Following this result, Valletta qualified to the play-offs.

Sirens went twice in front during the first session, but Marsaskala responded on both occasions until Edoardo Manzi put Marsaskala in the lead for the first time. Marko Orlovic’s team reacted in the second session and took a slim 5-4 advantage until Manzi equalised.

Both teams kept going back and forth during the third session in a very balanced affair. Gianni Farrugia and Pietro Figlioli kept Sirens with their noses in front but Jake Ciantar and Edoardo Manzi equalised almost immediately. Ciantar scored again to put Marsaskala 8-7 ahead.

At one point during the last session, Sirens seemed to have scraped through. They enjoyed a 10-9 lead with less than two minutes till the end of the game.

But there was more drama to come as Marsaskala turned the tables with two goals in the space of few seconds from Manzi and Daniel Tully. Figlioli equalised from penalty, but Sirens couldn’t keep a draw as Jake Ciantar scored the winner five seconds from the end.

Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan (2), P. Figlioli (4), J. Zerafa Gregory (2), G. Farrugia (2), M. Chircop, G. Melillo, M. Cutajar, M. Pasztor (1), M. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi, M. Bonello Dupuis, J. Cachia, G. Sammut

Marsaskala: A. Muscat, J.C. Cutajar, G. Galea, P. Privitera, R. Greco, E. Manzi (4), K. Navarro, D. Tully (1), D. Pace Lupi, G. Sammut, J. Ciantar (4), M. Carani, J. Pace Mizzi, T. Sedlmayerm (3), F. Scardino

Referees: Vittorio Frauenfelder, Neville Mercieca

BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT 23 MARSAXLOKK BROWN’S 7 (6-1), (8-2), (4-3), (5-1)

Birżebbuġa: M. Sladden, P. Borg (4), N. Cassar, B. Grech, D. Brguljan (2), M. Manara, D. Cutajar (1), B. Erdelyi (6), K. Tanti, G. Mannino (2), M. Curmi (1), C.D. Borg, J. Sciberras (6), D. Farrugia

Marsaxlokk: Mi. Farrugia, C. Cutajar, B. Zammit, Ma. Farrugia, Sa. Mifsud (1), J. Valletta (1), M. Zammit, M. Aquilina, R. Galea (2), M. Lanzon, E. Bonnici, L. Mallia (2), Se. Mifsud, A. Cook, G. Gatt (1)

Referees: Alessandro Cavallini, Alex de Raffaele