San Giljan obtained their first seasonal win when they beat southerners Marsaxlokk quite comfortably.

Parading their foreign import, Serbian Marco Cuk (who was their foreigner last year and left a very positive impact), the Saints took full control of the match practically from the 14th minute onwards.

In fact, up till then, Marsaxlokk, having a revamped side from last year and now under the guidance of Anthony Farrugia, kept very close at 3-2.

Anthony Galea, a Matthew Zammit penalty and a Claudio Spiteri de Barro netting gave an early 3-0 lead to the winners after six minutes.

However a Duncan Schembri brace (both on man-ups) upped Marsaxlokk’s morale for 3-2 after eleven minutes. Sergei Frolov will join the southerners in the coming days.

Galea brace gave way for an eleven consecutive goal break by the Saints with Cuk helping himself to a nap-hand with three goals in the final session. Team-mate Zammit had a hat-trick.

Marsaxlokk had an opportunity to break the drought but Camilleri thwarted a Schembri penalty, after a Lanzon foul, late in the third session.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri De Barro 1, A. Galea 2, C. Bonello, M. Pace 1, M. Zammit 3, M. Cuk 5, J. Bonnici, M. Miggiani, D. Camilleri, S. Borg, J. Xerri De Caro 2, K. Lanzon.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, G. Attard, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, D. Schembri 2, G. Ghirxi, A. Sammut, G. Zammit, K. Grima Scott.

Refs: P. Balzan, A. Deraffaele

* * *

Sliema McDonalds 27

Ta’ Xbiex MP 3

(7-0, 9-0, 6-1, 5-2)

Sliema opened their summer campaign with win at a canter over Ta Xbiex in yet another one-sided game which reflects quite negatively on this preliminary round where the minnows are surely not gaining much at present.

The Blues, coached by Jonathan Valletta, had a field day with almost all the players notching a goal in this easy win.

John Soler finished with eight goals (with the last one being a beauty off a Lubrano pass), two more than Mark Meli.

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze 1, E. Aquilina 4, M. Rizzo 1, M. Meli 6, J. Soler 8, D. Paolella, N. Lubrano 1, C. Debono 2, F. Cutajar 1, J. Gabaretta 2, J. Spiteri Staines 1, R. Coleiro.

Ta’ Xbiex: A. Tanti, C. Sciortino, M. Manara, M. Galea Pace, C. D’Ugo, K. Sciortino, M. Camilleri, A. Bianchi, K. Engerer 1, W. Privitera 1, J. Vella, D. Pisani 1.

Refs: M. Dalli, P. Giordano

* * *

Neptunes Vodafone 18

Marsascala Breakers 1

(4-0, 4-0, 5-0, 5-1)

Neptunes cruised to a second victory in two days (they beat Exiles 23-3 on Friday) as they had the better of a young Marsascala (full of enthusiasm) side under the guidance of Mario Zammit and fielding Italian Fabio Valenti who plays for Ortigia and who ultimaltely fouled out in the last session.

It was almost a clean sheet for the reds but, with the score 17-0, Mark Borg Spiteri managed to slide the ball behind Gouder two minutes from time for Scala’s only goal in the game.

Steve Camilleri was Neptunes’ top scorer with six goals while Nicky Lanzon scored four.

Being the only side to play twice in this first summer campaign programme, Neptunes thus lead the standings.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 4, G. Sammut, K. Galea 1, J. Brownrigg 1, I. Milakovic 3, S. Camilleri 6, L. Attard, D. Camilleri, S. Gravina 1, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani.

M’Scala: I. Bugeja, J. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Grixti, F. Valenti, K. Enriquez, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara.

Refs: M. Caruana, R. Spiteri