Sliema finally broke their jinx against M’Scala when they managed to beat the southerners for the first time this season so as to book their place in mext Sunday’s final, which will surely be a showdown when they face arch-rivals Neptunes. Following last Saturday’s happenings, this final will surely be a much-awaited game from both sides.

Sliema were shorn of three of their main elements for this semifinal. Their league top scorer Edward Aquilina was reportedly sick, although present at the pool, Mark Galea Pace was suspended whereas Australian-Maltese Nicky Falzon has surprisingly returned back to his homeland.

Prior to this encounter, these two sides had met three times in the league where the greens had surely the upper hand winning five out of a possible six points .The blues displayed better qualities but a major influence on the game was also Paul Privitera’s exclusion midway in the third session with the score 6-4. The greens also lost Tony Galea late in the game whne the result was out of doubt.

The Blues had a healthy man-up total with 6 goals on 9 man-ups whilst M’Scala scored just 2 goals in the last session from 7 exclusions.

The Blues ended the initial session with a marginal lead 3-2. John Paris opened the score midway in the third minute, shortly afterwards their coach Mekcic was shown the yellow card, with the only man-up goal from three exclusions in this session by Sliema.

A minute later Gialanze committed a penalty on Paris and John Soler coolly placed the ball in the left corner.

Faced by a zone defence, M’Scala managed to reduce the margin a minute later when Paul Privitera was allowed too much space to calibrate his shot.

Youngster Mark Meli made it 3-1 when, a minute from the first buzzer, he precisely lobbed diagonally from the right side.

However M’Scala replied immediately through Paul Fava whne the latter was quick to pounce on a rebound after a good save by Josie Cachia.

The Blues also won the second session with a single goal so as to change ends 5-3 ahead.

John Soler scored his second penalty, although changing direction, after Privitera fouled the same Soler.

Pierre Borg’s lads however took just 19 seconds to reply when Privitera notched his personal brace after space was created for him by Ciappara.

On Privitera’s second major foul, Sliema made it 5-3 when young Daniel Paolella scored on a rebound.

Just 25 seconds into the third session it was Privitera once again who scored, to register his hat-trick, for the greens when he converted a penalty after a Paris foul on Fava.

After another M’Scala miss on a man-up Sliema restored a 2-goal lead when John Paris scored a gem when he powerfully beat Galea in the centre and found the net with a low shot.

Forty seconds later M’Scala suffered Privitera definite exclusion and Clint Debono scored Sliema’s 7th goal when his shot hit the crossbar and Bugeja’s head before entering into the net.

After two consecutive Soler misses from close range, M’Scala kept their hopes alive with a Tony Galea goal on a break but the third session ended 8-5 when Andrea Bianchi immediately made good use of a De Barro exclusion.

A tit-for-tat ensued in the first 3 minutes of the final session as Soler notched his poker and twice replied, including his third penalty on the day, to goals from Darren Ciappara (man-up) and John Xerri de Caro (break).

With Josie Cachia making effective saves and man-up gaols from Soler and Bianchi, Sliema cruised to an 11-8 lead which put their minds at rest and now will start preparing eagerly for the final.

Sliema: J. Cachia, D. Paolella 1, N. Lubrano, S. Meli, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 4, J. Paris 2, K. Engerer, C. Debono 1, F. Cutajar, R. Coleiro, R. Scerri, A. Bianchi 2.

M’Scala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri De Barro, A. Galea 1, P. Privitera 3, C. Gialanze, J. Scerri De caro 2, J. Licari, L. Griscti, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, P. Fava 1, D. Ciappara 1, S. Farrugia

Refs: M. Di Chiara, M. Angileri