Sliema Burger King 13
Neptunes Vodafone 12
(3-4, 4-4, 3-2, 3-2)
Sliema: J. Cachia, D. Paolella, E. Aquilina 3, M. Galea Pace 3, M. Meli, J. Soler 4, J. Paris 2, K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar 1, R. Coleiro, G. Lubrano, A. Bianchi.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, S. Camilleri 3, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, L. attard, Dav. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, D. Camilleri, M. Stellini 3, M. Pisani 3.
Refs: M. Angileri, P. Balzan
A John Paris centre goal, just two seconds from the end, gave an incredible and dramatic victory to reigning champions Sliema over arch rivals Neptunes in f ront of a large crowd.
It was, in a nutshell, an exciting match which left everybody on tenterhooks. The lead changed constantly along the match with the teams being on level terms on numerous occasions.
Sliema opened the score through Mark Galea Pace but Neptunes replied strongly going 3-1 ahead only for Sliema to level at 3 a-piece with two goals inside 50 seconds.
However the first session ended with a Nicky Lanzon goal as the captain gave Neptunes a 4-3 lead.
The tit-for-tat battle continued in the second session as we had goals on each side with Sliema managing to go into the lead once again, in the middle of the session, through John Soler, for 7-6.
Yet, the change of ends saw Neptunes in the lead as Matthew Pisani and Steve Camilleri beat Josie Cachia.
The third session produced five goals with Sliema ousting their opponents by a goal so as to have a 10-10 scoreline seven minutes from the end.
The last session was decisive with Neptunes taking the lead on two occasions with the Blues replying immediately.
Less than 15 seconds from the end Sliema won possession and when it seemed that all was to end with a deserved and a merited draw (given the intensity showed by both teams), the ball was played in the centre where John Paris (who did not have such a big game but yet ended as the hero) won his tussle with youngster Steve Camilleri and beat Gouder with just two seconds on the clock.
The Sliema clan and numerous supporters celebrated this last ditch win as the Neptunes team visibly left the pitch quite disappointed.
Overall it was a spectacle of a match with many players grabbing the limelight at different times.
For the winners, under the direction of Ljubisa Mekcic, Mark Galea Pace was the initial hero when he grabbed a hat-trick but played valiantly in defence even though he was on two early personal fouls.
John Soler was the main scorer with a poker, leading his side with clear experience, especially when he had two assists from which Sliema grabbed other goals. The League’s top scorer Edward Aquilina did not miss his appointment with the net as he also grabbed a hat-trick only for veteran Paris to make Sliema’s stand explode with joy at the end.
Neptunes should deem themselves unlucky to have come out empty handed. Michele Stellini scored three, two of them being gem of goals. Ex-Matthew Pisani also scored three just like youngster Steve Camilleri (a teenager who takes responsibility with no second thought). Karl Galea also had a fine showing, winning many man-ups (the reds had 4 on 8 against Sliema’s 4 on 5).
Exiles RMF 5
Valletta Utd F. Rest 3
(1-1, 3-0, 0-2, 1-0)
Exiles: J. Cuschieri, M. Grima 1, M. Zarb 1, A. Cole, T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, G. Buttigieg, J. Cremona 1, J. Tabone, W. Privitera, A. Arrigo, J. Vella 1, M. Calleja 1.
Valletta: E. Arrigo, R. Damato, Maur. Camilleri, Marc. Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, D. Saliba, A. Galea, J. Farrugia, D. Shaw, C. Saliba, P. Bonnici, M. Zammit 3, E. Pisani.
Refs: M. Cremona, A. Deraffaele
Exiles beat a fighting Valletta side with a small two-goal margin so as to register their first points in the standings.
Valletta opened the score through a Mario Zammit man-up goal but before the initial session’s end, Exiles drew level, also on a man-up, when Martin Calleja beat the Citizens’ custodian Arrigo.
By midway into the game, Exiles opened a three-goal lead when Jason Vella (man-up), Joe Cremona and Michael Grima scored within a four-minute span.
The game turned wide open once again when Valletta came scored twice consecutively during the third session, both goals coming again from veteran Zammit. Between these two goals, Exiles’ Timmy Sullivan missed a penalty when his four-metre shot banged against the post.
The last seven minutes were decisive as the two teams battled for the points. Both goalkeepers made some goodsaves but after three minutes, Malcom Zarb gave some needed breathing space to Exiles as the latter went 5-3 ahead. They kept the lead till the end.