Sliema BK 10
San Giljan Z 10
(3-3, 3-5, 2-2, 2-0)
Rule 21.11 was surely a nightmare for Sliema these last 8 days. After surviving from a Cutajar sending off against Sirens, the blues yesterday also survived two sending offs, including that of foreigner Benedek, but could only register a draw against San Giljan.
This meant that this result ascertained that Neptunes are the 2006 league champions as they have 3 point lead at the top of the table. This is Neptunes’ 17th league crown, a much awaited success since their last crown goes back to 1993.
Sliema, shorn again of Mark Meli’s services, had an encouraging start when Edward Aquilina (10 goals last week) scored after just 26 seconds follwing a 20 metre swim on the left.
However San Giljan gave an early indication of their positive performance (they played their normal game and gave their all when it mattered) when their reply came just 13 seconds later when Debono fouled De Barro for a penalty and Marko Cuk beat Coleiro.
Sliema scored their only man-up goal from eight in the game when Benedek scored on a Borg exclusion after 4 minutes.
Once again the Saints’ reply was immediate as Matthew Zammit , despite Debono’s marking, scored his first just 14 seconds later.
Keith Schembri started leaving his mark on the match when he thwarted off brilliantly Benedek’s penalty to his left in the 7th minute after Galea fouled the same Humgarian.
The second session started with Matthew Zammit beating Cutajar’s challenge in the centre and scored. Sliema could have drawn level 12 second slater when Bonello committed a penalty on Aquilina but for the second time, Schembri saved Benedek’s penalty, this time with a save to his right, surely a day to remember for this lad who even had a short spell with Sliema.
Benedek made partial amends for his earlier miss when he reduced the margin to 5-4 when he netted his hat-trick despite marked by Cuk.
In the last two minutes before the half time break both sides scored two gaols respectively. Sliema won two further penalties and this time it was John Soler who went on the 5 metre mark and he did not miss, the second arriving just 4 seconds from the end of the session.
In between these two penalties, Cuk scored on a Benedek exclusion and then, just a second from the horn, Zammit scored what a scorcher from half pitch for an 8-6 Saints’ lead at the change of ends.
Cachia replaced Coleiro and the Blues, incited by their supporters, went out for a comeback. Just 24 seconds in to the third session Andrea Bianchi flicked in the net after a Debono assist and four minutes later, after Sliema had missed a further man-up, Soler made it 8-8 on a 3 v 2 break.
On the 22 minute mark Borg was excluded for San Giljan but just a split second later, referee Peter Balzan judged that Benedek had hit the same Borg and thus the Humgarian was sent off per rule 21.11 and the saints awarded a penalty and 4 minutes playing with a man-up.
This was a big blow for Sliema, exactly when they seemed ready to take the upper hand. Cuk made it 9-8 and just before the session’s end Galea increased his side’s lead.
Despite playing with a man-up, the Saints could not increase their tally whilst Sliema missed on a Paolella break.
With equal players on both sides Soler revived Sliema’s hopes with the Saints’ bench protesting that the ball had not gone over the goal line.
A missed man-up and further misses from close range kept Sliema behind and their title chances seemed lost when Rizzo was sent off, for brutality just like Benedek, a minute from the end. San Giljan coach, Guzi Attard, was also sent off for touching the Italian referee (Sliema’s Manara was lucky not to have been likewise 4 minutes before when he touched the local referee).
However Cuk missed the subsequent penalty and 47 seconds from the end, despite a man down, Soler grabbed his nap-hand with a fine back hand shot for 10-10.
Sliema’s hopes increased when they won possession 10 seconds form the end but Soler was unlucky that his final shot just missed the target.
The final horn brought celebrations from the Neptunes players, committee members and supporters who were present for this match.
Contacted an hour after the match, an enchanted and thrilled Matthew Bonello stated that this is a dream come true for him and his beloved Neptunes. “This is everything all of us at the club have worked hard for in the past weeks. This was our main aim this season and the league has arrived. The players have put in enormous effort”.
Impromptu celebrations were already under way and Bonello said that on a personal note this is fantastic. “I have followed Neptunes since I was a little boy and I have grew up around the club and the team. I dedicate this marvellous honour to all those who have the Neptunes’ club at heart. We have a very loyal fan base that has remained present even when we passed through a number of disappointments. However, instead of decreasing in number, our supporters did the opposite and now it is only opportune that they come up next Saturday to celebrate in style”.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, C. Gialanze, E. Aquilina 1, M. Rizzo, J. Gabaretta, J. Soler 5, D. Paolella, T. Benedek 3, C. Debono, F. Cutajar, M.Manara, A. Bianchi 1, J. Cachia.
San Giljan: K.Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, A. Galea 2, C. Bonello, I. Azzopardi, M. Zammit 4, M. Cuk 3, D. Camilleri, G. Ghirxi, A. Borda, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon.
Refs: M. Di Chiara, P. Balzan.
Exiles RMF 8
Ta’ Xbiex MP 5
(2-1, 4-2, 2-1, 0-1)Exiles : N. Imbroll, A. Borg Cole, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan, G. Desira Buttigieg, J. Paris 2, J. Cremona, J. Tabone, S. Gravina 1, M. Booij 4, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja.
Ta’ Xbiex: A. Tanti, G. Attard, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, K. Sciortino, M. Camilleri, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, C. Saliba, D. Schembri, T. Boyd, T. Van Oost 2, C. Sciortino, S. Balzan, D. Pisani 1.
Refs: M. Dalli, A. Deraffaele.
Former Valletta and Malta goalkeeper Borg Bonaci passes away
Former Valletta and Malta goalkeeper Vince Borg Bonaci passed away yesterday aged 62.
Vince Borg Bonaci was Valletta’s custodian in the sixties. He was born in Valletta on 11 December 1943, and started his playing carreer from Valletta’s minors.
He had a brief spell with St. George’s but returned with the Lillywhites in the early sixties, and came to the fore when famous goalkeeper Tommy Taylor left the Citizens.
Although outstanding with Valletta, Borg Bonaci never won a championship with the team from the capital. He won however the Cassar Cup.
He was close to win the footballer of the year award in season 1968-69, finishing third, with Hibernians’ John Privitera emerging as winner.
Vince Borg Bonaci also played for Malta’s national team, were he played against England in London’s Wembley Stadium in the seventies, with Malta suffering a 0-5 defeat.
He was also between the Malta posts, when Malta made the debut in the World Cup qualifiers against Austria, a match which Malta lost 1-3.
Vince Borg Bonaci made a total of nine appearances with the Maltese national team.
His funeral will be held tomorrow in Valletta.