The Winter League 2006 increased in interest when Sliema managed to win a do-or-die match against arch-rivals Neptunes in the first match of the second round.

This result meant that Neptunes’ lead is now of two points, both over Sliema and Sirens. The reds could have practically put the League ‘in their pockets’ had they managed to repeat their first round success over Sliema but a late rally by the Blues helped them to go in the lead for the first time and then win this game watched by a sizeable crowd.

Both sides messed a number of man-up situations with both grabbing four goals in such situations but Neptunes failed in ten other occasions whilst Sliema had 4 on 10.

Up till midway in the game, Neptunes seemed to be sharper as they had a two-goal lead on three different occasions. In fact the game got off with two quick goals from Michele Stellini and John Brownrigg respectively for the Balluta side.

However Sliema managed to annul this score with a John Soler brace, the second coming from a penalty.

When the second session got underway, Neptunes top goal getter, Steve Camilleri, scored two successive goals for 4-2 but Michael Rizzo replied for the Blues on a man-up.

Halfway in the game the score was 6-4 for the Reds after their captain scored two goals (the first with a powerful diagonal shot whereas he scored a gem for his second when he beat two opponents before finding the net) with a lob from Francesco Cutajar reducing the deficit for Sliema, who had Chris Gialanze (ex-M’Scala and Neptunes) making his debut, in between Lanzon’s goals.

Cutajar grabbed a personal second early in the third period and shortly afterwards Edward Aquilina made the score 6-6 after a break.

The game now entered an interesting phase with Sliema showing more determination from the initial stages. Camilleri put Neptunes once again ahead with a man-up goal only for Clint Debono to score with a distance shot on the other end.

However Camilleri made it a personal poker when he converted a penalty for Neptunes late in the third session.

The game was definitely decided in the last period when Sliema outwitted their opponents with Aquilina resulting in their personal hero with three goals in succession, goals which put Sliema in the lead for the first time. The first two were almost identical coming from lobs whereas the last one (and his personal fourth in the game) coming with a powerful shot form an angled position.

Neptunes, doing without Karl Galea for the game, could not find their touch again and after their assistant coach, Anthony Farrugia, was sent off, the game winner was decided ina concrete manner when Mark Meli scored Sliema’s 11th on the day.

Neptunes Vodafone : N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, T. Aguis, K. Farrugia, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg 1, S. Camilleri 4, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 1, M. Pisani.

Sliema Burger King : J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina 4, G. Gabarretta, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, D. Paolella, M. Rizzo 1, C. Debono 1, F. Cutajar 2, R. Scerri, A. Bianchi, R. Coleiro

Referees: Peter Balzan u Ivan Scriha

* * *

Sirens 2X 18

Marsaxlokk Freeport 4

Sirens registered an easy win over modest Marsaxlokk so as to come within two points from leaders Neptunes and on equal points with Sliema.

The score indicates clearly Sirens’ supremacy, even though without coach John Farrugia (who is abroad with assistant coach Dejan Simeonov coaching the team) and the 7-0 score line after just the first session literally ended the game’s interest.

Sirens’ stalwart Jonathan Valletta ended with a personal poker of goals as Sirens increased their lead during each session even though M’Xlokk played almost at par in the last session when the 2005 champions opted to include young element in the water.

Sirens 2X: J. Caruana Dingli, A. Grech, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, P. Privitera 1, I. Martin 1, J. Valletta 4, J. Borg 2, D. Cutajar 2, K. Montfort 2, C. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca 1, R. Attard, N. Cassar 2.

M’Xlokk Freeport: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia 2, R. Calleja 1, A. Farrugia, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja, C. Jones, S. Cutajar, E. Pisani, F. Testa, D. Cassar 1, J. Vella, D. Debono,

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri u Alex De Raffaele