Neptunes Vodafone 18

Marsaxlokk Freeport 3

(5-2, 4-0, 2-1, 7-0)

Neptunes were too strong for southerners Marsaxlokk and easily registered their third consecutive win. The champions’ physical and technical superiority was evident as minutes passed by progressively in the match.

Marsaxlokk had the seasonal debut of Belorussian Sergey Frolov, a player with very good fundamentals and who impressed a lot last year with the same side and will surely be a great asset in the second division. However his inclusion could surely not bridge the gap between the two sides as Neptunes broke away many times and could have scored many more goals had not Marsaxlokk’s custodians, Andrea Sammut in the first two sessions and then Rueben Bonnici till the end, not effected a great number of saves.

In the first five minutes there were goals by Neptunes’ trio Ivan Milakovic, Steve Camilleri and Michele Stellini (who shared 13 goals between then) but Sergey Frolov and Glen Ghirxi kept the southerners at close distance for a 3-2 score.

However one had to wait 17 minutes to see M’Xlokk’s next and final goal netted by Frolov. In the meantime Neptunes had scored eight goals and then scored another seven goals without a reply in the last session.

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

M’Xlokk: A. Sammut, G. Attard, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, D. Schembri, S. Frolov 2, K. Grima Scott, G. Ghirxi 1, G. Zammit, R. Bonnici.

Refs: M. Caruana, P. Giordano

San Giljan Zara 14

Marsascala Breakers 4

(1-0, 3-1, 6-2,4-1)

Two end-of-session breaks in both the middle sessions paved the way for a merited San Giljan win over the young Marsascala side.

When the Saints scored after just 18 seconds through Matthew Zammit (who ended with a nap-hand), many thought it was going to be a runaway victory but this happned to be the only goal in the initial session and then, a minute into the second session, M’Scala equalised through Italian Fabio Valenti.

However, before the change of ends, San Giljan netted three consecutive goals starting with hat-trick hero Kayne Lanzon and followed by the experienced duo John Xerri de Caro and Tony Galea.

M’Scala shared the spoils in the first five minutes of the third session with goals from Valenti and Mark Borg Spiteri for 6-3.

Here San Giljan, took full control of the game with four goals starting with a Marco Cuk scorcher off the crossbar and further goals from Zammit and Lanzon.The last session was a formality with the Saints increasing their lead.

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

M’Scala: I. Bugeja, J. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Grixti, F. Valenti 2, J. Cachia, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, D. Ciappara 1.

Refs: P. Balzan, M. Dalli