Neptunes V 6
Sirens 2X 7
(1-2, 1-1, 2-2, 2-2)
Sirens ended season 2006 on a high note when they lifted the Knock-Out trophy after beating champions Neptunes with the odd-goal from thirteen. This meant also that Neptuens failed in their attempt to make an en-plein this season.
Their 0 on 6 man-ups proved very influential but Sirens’ defence should also be praised as it was very instrumental in the success.
Despite this setback, Neptunes should still be proud of their achievements this year and look forward to a bright future.
Both sides looked tense at the start of this final and in fact the first goal arrived after four and a half minutes when Simenc passed in the centre where Neptunes’ captain Niki Lanzon scored a nice backhand goal on Caruana Dingli’s right.
The champions messed three consecutive man-ups till the end of the first session and Sirens capitalised to the full as Paul Privitera scored a scorcher from 8 metres directed to the top right corner behind Gouder.
With Simenc being rested, Sirens added another goal when Charles Zammit scored exactly when the 30 second possession was to end with a low shot to the left corner.
The second session commenced with respective good saves by the guardians on both ends, Caruana Dingli off a Stellini attempt and Gouder thwarted off Borg’s conclusion.
Sirens missed on two man-ups and Lanzon grabbed his brace when he broke off Borg and scored over 9 minutes after his initial goal.
Late in the session Privitera won a challenge in the centre against S. Camilleri and after a Merceica pass beat Gouder for 3-2.
Seconds before the session’s end, S. Camilleri made a big mistake when he fouled Marcz in his half pitch and this exclusion was converted by Sirens when they won the swim-up for the third session and Jurgen Borg scored the first man-up goal in the match for 4-2.
However, four minutes later Neptunes drew level. Michele Stellini scored a beauty from 8 metres and (after Neptunes spoiled yet another man-up) Steve Camilleri pounced on a rebound after a Karl Galea (who entered in this session but looked recovered from his injury) shot with Mercieca and Montfort cemented in their place.
This couple, however, made amends as a minute later, it was Mercieca who provided an assist to Montfort who beat Gouder with a real angled diagonal shot.
The last session started with a beautiful distance lob goal, off the left upright, from Matthew Pisani but then Neptunes missed a golden opportunity when they did not score on two consecutive Montfort exclusions with two blocks (the second by Valletta on Camilleri was superb).
Midway into the 6th minute Mercieca once again was the provider when he passed to Privitera who made it 6-5.
A minute later Valletta stole the ball off S. Camilleri but then saw Gouder save his close range shot on a solitary break. Despite this miss, Sirens kept their cool and 56 seocnds from the end, Tamas Marcz managed (for one time but highly important) to shrug off Simenc’s tight marking in the centre and opened a late 2 goal lead for Sirens.
Neptunes’ hopes lit again when, 35 seconds from the buzzer, Steve Camilleri scored despite being rounded by 3 opponents.
The reds did win the ball 5 seconds from time and took a time-out but whne play resumed Simenc’s 8 metre desperate final attempt, off a foul, was saved by Caruana Dingli (possibly the last save of his career and it was important).
Sirens were presented by the Wilkinson Knock-Out trophy at the end of the match when Mr. Simon Debono handed the cup to team captain Jonathan Valletta.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, T. Agius, D. Simenc, E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Camilleri 2, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, K. Galea, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 1, M. Pisani 1.
Sirens : J. Caruana Dingli, T. Debono, N. Cassar, P. Privitera 3, C. Zammit 1, J. Valletta, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort 1, T. Marcz 1, C. Mercieca, R. Attard, J. Sammut.
Refs: L. Bianco, I. Sciriha
Marsascala B 12
Exiles RMF 7
(3-4, 2-0, 3-2, 4-1)
Marsascala managed to beat rivals Exiles in the final of the greens (both sides’ official colour) and get some joy back after losing to the same team in the league decider last Monday.
Darren Ciappara (top scorer on the day with a personal poker) opened the score but Exiles’ reply was immediate as John Paris and Marco Booij put the Sliema side 2-1 ahead.
The first session provided more goals as Sasko Popovski and Alan Galea overturned the score in the southerners’ favour only for Exiles to forge ahead for the last time in the match through Paris’ second and a Martin Calleja shot.
The latter could not score in the second session as Marsascala defended eagerly and also went 5-4 in the lead after Ciappara and Macedonian Popovski got their respective second in the game.
The psychological advantageswayed towards the Marsascala outfit as Mark Borg Spiteri beat Imbroll from the left but 30 seconds later Grixti missed a golden chance. Marsascala paid dearly for such a miss as Exiles equalised with two goals within a minute through Calleja and Timmy Sullivan.
However this signalled the start of Marsascala’s finest moment when they made sure of this deserved win with five goals in a row starting with Mark Borg Spiteri (off the left post) and followed by Paul Fava, Liam Grixti (bounce shot) and other goals from Popovski (man-up) and Ciappara.
Although John Tabone reduced the margin, Ciappara broke off Buttigieg and scored the final goal.
Ian Bugeja, the Marsascala captain, was presented by the trophy by Mr. Simon Debono at the end of this final.
Exiles: N. Imbroll, A. Borg Cole, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 1, G. Buttigieg, J. Paris 2, J. Cremona, J. Tabone 1, S. Gravina, M. Booij 1, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 2.
M’Scala: I. Bugeja,M. Zammit, S. Farrugia, A. Galea 1, M. Borg Spiteri 2, S. Popovski 3, P. Fava 1, L. Grixti 1, S. Micallef, M. Fava, R. Cutajar, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara 4.
Refs: M.Angileri, P. Balzan