A late rally of four consecutive goals in the final six minutes of play gave Ta Xbiex their second seasonal win.
Valletta are only to blame themselves for squandering a three goal lead, 9-6, after a Giorgio Sammut diagonal conclusion early in the last session.
The first half of the match was a balanced affair as both sides changed ends at 3-3.
However a Mario Zammit hat-trick helped the Citizens open a two-goal lead at 8-6.
Dale Dowling beat Arrigo with a soft goal shortly after Sammut’s goal early in the final session. Veteran Peter Paolella was Ta Xbiex’s hero with three goals, to increase his personal tally to four goals.
Valletta’s mentor Anthony Farrugia was sent off after Paolella’s last goal as he judged that his team was disadvantaged.
Unfortunately one has to comment on Ta Xbiex’s coach, Aldo Scerri’s, unnecessary comments and near vulgar gestures towards the supporters as this only led to increase the tension which continued with a brawl between the players in the dressing room entrance. One hopes the ASA will take the necessary actions to avoid such a repeat of incidents.
Ta Xbiex:A. Tanti, G. Attard 1, A. Fero, K. Sciortino, C. D’Ugo, D. Dowling 1, N. Giordano, D. Schembri 3, P. Paolella 4, S. Balzan 1, P. Widowson, C. Sciortino, P. Dimech.
Valletta: E. Arrigo, G. Sammut 2, Mau. Camilleri 1, Marco Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, D. Saliba, A. Galea 1, C. Zarb Adami, C. Saliba 1, P.Bonnici, M. Zammit 3, E. Pisani 1.
Referees: M. Dalli, I. Sciriha
Exiles RMF 11
Otters 5
(1-1, 5-1, 2-0, 3-3)
Exiles registered an easy win over Gozitans Otters so as to, once again, join neighbours San Giljan at the top of the second division standings.
Otters had an encouraging start as they duly kept up the pace going also in the lead through veteran Joe Zammit. They even managed to equalise at 2-2 early in the second session but four consecutive goals, starting with a Sullivan brace (both on man-up), paved the way for Exiles’ win.
The last two sessions were controlled by the Sliema side with Otters sharing the spoils only late in the game, when the victors were already decided.
Both teams had eight man-ups but whereas Exiles managed a 50% record, otters scored just one goal in these situations.
Exiles: J. Cuschieri, M. Grima 1, M. Zarb, A. Borg Cole, T. Sullivan 3, K. Camilleri, G. Buttigieg, J. Cremona 2, J. Tabone 1, A. Arrigo 1, J. Vella, W. Privitera 1, M. Calleja 2.
Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 1, S. Grech 1, J. Zammit 2, C. Zammit, P. Saliba 1, K. Mizzi, F. Bajada, S. Scicluna, E. Farrugia, M. Tabone, B. Pavia.
Referees: P. Balzan, P. Giordano.