Sliema Burger King 8

Neptunes Vodafone 8

(1-2, 3-2, 1-2, 3-2)

The much awaited derby between rivals Sliema and Neptunes ended in a draw so that all the four teams in the first division are still with a great chance to win the league when just a round, a total of three games each side, is left.

Neptunes faced the greatest pressure as a defeat would have practically ended their title hopes. However they managed to win a point with a goal 8 seconds form the end. On the other hand Sliema now have to share the top spot with in-form Sirens.

Incidentally, both Sliema and Neptunes failed to win a single game during this round of games.

Sliema opened with a one minute long offensive play with the ball hitting the upright twice against Neptunes’ zone defence.

The reds opened the score midway into the fourth minute when Karl Galea gathered his own rebound and beat Cachia from very close range.

Australian-Maltese Nicky Falzon equalised less than half a minute later with a powerful diagonal shot from the right. The Blues could have gone in the lead but they totally were out of position on a Galea exclusion and then suffered a break from which John Brownrigg again put Neptunes in the lead. The latter then messed two man-ups till the session’s end so that Neptunes were 2-1 ahead at the end of the initial session.

After a Soler back-hand hitting the crossbar early in the second session, Neptunes managed to open a two-goal lead when Galea registered his brace when he outsmarted Aquilina in the centre and slid the ball coolly in the Sliema net.

After a barren spell, Sliema came back in full force as they managed to take the lead for the first time with three goals in two minutes. Andrea Bianchi got his first on the day off the right upright and then it was Mark Galea Pace who scored the first man-up from both sides for a 3-3 score. Forty seconds later Falzon got his second goal with a low shot.

However the score was back all level by the change of ends, incidentally 4-4, half the final score when youngster Steve Camilleri, who managed a hat-trick, beat Cachia with a 7-metre shot.

The third session was probably the least spectacular of the four as both sides were very wary of each other and also did not exert to 100%.

Edward Aquilina got excluded on the swim-up and Neptunes made good use (they had a 25% record with 2 from 8 man-ups whereas Sliema had a 50% performance in this regard with four goals also from eight man-ups) when Brownrigg made it 5-4. The red’s lead was extended further when Camilleri scored on a 3 vs 2 break with Aquilina, who seemed off form, caught at the back.

However Sliema’s hopes were fully revived when John Soler flicked beautifully into the net from a precise Debono pass.

The final session was a nerve wrecking affair. Bianchi caught Gouder off guard for 6-6 but seconds later S. Camilleri registered his third.

The fifth minute was Mark Meli’s moment as this promising youngster scored twice to put Sliema 8-7 ahead. Neptunes missed on a Falzon exclusion and 80 seconds from the end Sliema could have closed the game when D. Camilleri was excluded but they failed to score.

Half a minute from the final buzzer Sliema’s Debono was excluded and amidst great tension Matthew Pisani scored the final goal for an 8-8 draw.

There were unfortunately some unnecessary incidents at the end. One could not understand why Steve Camilleri opted to leave the pitch on the Sliema side and started immaturely gesticulating towards the blues’ supporters as this only led to further trouble.

Sliema: J. Cachia, D. Paolella, E. Aquilina, M. Galea Pace 1, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 1, J. Paris, K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, R. Coleiro, N. Falzon 2, A. Bianchi 2.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, S. Camilleri 3, K. Galea 2, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg 2, S. Gravina, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, A. Sammut, M. Stellini, M. Pisani 1.

Refs: E. Costa, M. Angileri

Exiles RMF 8

Ta’ Xbiex MP 6

(2-1, 2-1, 3-2, 1-2)

Exiles: J. Cuschieri, M. Grima, M. Zarb 2, A. Bianchi, T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, G. Buttigieg, J. Cremona 4, J. Tabone, A. Arrigo, J. Vella 2, W. Privitera, M. Calleja.

Ta’ Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard 2, A. Fero, K. Sciortino, N. Giordano, D. Dowling, J. Dimech, D. Schembri 2, P. Paolella 2, S. Balzan, P. Widowson, C. Sciortino, P. Dimech.

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Deraffaele

Valletta Utd 9

Otters 3

(3-0,1-2, 3-0, 2-1)

Valletta: E. Arrigo, G. Sammut 1, Mau. Camilleri, Marco Camilleri, D. Degiorgio, D. Saliba, A. Galea 2, J. Farrugia, D. Shaw 2, C. Saliba 2, P.Bonnici, M. Zammit, E. Pisani 2.

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba, G. Zammit, S. Grech, J. Zammit 1, J. Buttigieg, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi 2, J. Cefai, F. Bajada, E. Farrugia, B. Pavia, M. Tabone.

Refs: M. Dalli, P. Giordano