Neptunes consolidated their top placing with a hard-earned win against Sirens, who once again had goalkeeper, Joe Caruana Dingli out, injured, and captain, Jonathan Valletta was also missing. Sirens recovered Karl Galea, Matthew Pisani and Edward Cachia from the match, the day before.

Neptunes were the more enterprising side at the start, and and scored through Niki Lanzon in between missing two man-up occasions. Sirens also lost an extra player chance, before Neptunes doubled through the same Lanzon, from another man-up. Sirens opened their account with a Jurgen Borg goal, from yet another extra player play. in the second session both sides failed to score with extra players, but all the goals in this quarter came from extra man advantages. Niki Lanzon obtained his hat-trick, but Sirens levelled through Jurgen Borg and Clint Mercieca. At half-time it was a 3-3 tie.

After the break Neptunes were unable to pierce Sirens’ rearguard, and the St. Paul’s Bay side had Jurgen Borg in fine form. He swept another two goals in the net to give his side a 5-3 third session lead. It was still not enough as Neptunes turned on the heat in the last quarter. Michele Stellini, from another man-up, and Matthew Pisani brought the two teams level again. Jurgen Borg hammered in another goal to put Sirens ahead again, but Niki Lanzon replied with another power shot, to tie yet again.

It was left to John Brownrigg, with an angled shot, to decide the outcome of the match, beating a heroic Alan Grech in goal. Neptunes went home with the spoils, winning all their first round games.

Neptunes: 4 Niki Lanzon, 1 Michele Stellini, 1 Matthew Pisani, 1 John Brownrigg

Sirens: 5 Jurgen Borg, 1 Clint Mercieca

Referees: Peter Balzan, Ivan Sciriha

Sliema Burger King 4 vs San Giljan Big Bon 5

This was a shocker for Sliema, but the Saints fully deserved their win. They played a patient game and Matthew Zammit proved to be more than a handful for the panicky Sliema defence. besides scoring three goals he was also instrumental in procuring dismissals, from which San Giljan obtained three goals on six attempts. Sliema were more wasteful, netting only once from their half a dozen man-ups.

The first half was a washout for both sides, with no clear curt chances, and Sliema kept on the same track in the second session, despite their two extra player advantages. Not so San Giljan, as they proceeded to stun Sliema with their adventurous play. Matthew Zammit shrugged off two defenders to slip in the first goal. Soon after a cute lob from Silvio Borg made it 2-0, and before the session ended Kayne Lanzon found the net for the third time, from an extra man play.

In the third session Sliema had to roll up their sleeves. Clint Debono converted their only positive man-up. San Giljan had their own extra player occasions, getting a goal in three attempts. It was Matthew Zammit again, to make it 4-1, but Clint Debono gave Sliema some hope again, as the third session ended 2-4 down for them. Sliema were still wasteful in the last quarter, losing another two occasions. San Giljan went one better, as Zammit yet again slammed a goal in from the side, to give his side a three-goal cushion. Sliema frantically pushed forward and a John Soler penalty and a Michael Rizzo angled drive opened up the game again.

Sliema’s last man-up proved useless again, and they rued their lost chances, what with balls slamming against the goalposts and Dean Camilleri pulling off useful saves, San Giljan were jubilant at the end, putting one over more quoted opponents, and overhauling the same Sliema and Sirens in the table.

Sliema: 2 Clint Debono, 1John Soler, 1 Michael Rizzo

San Giljan: 3 Matthew Zammit, 1 Kayne Lanzon, 1 Silvio Borg

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Alex de Raffaele

Yesterday’s local sport results