Sirens CC 10

Marsascala O&S 7

(2-2)(2-1)(2-2)(4-2)

Marsascala produced a stirring display, despite finishing up on the losing side, but they made Sirens fight hard for the two points. Sirens stay with the top teams, with three wins, but their performance must improve in their later encounters. Karl Montfort returned for the first time this season, for the St Pauls Bay side, as they saw Marsascala keep in touch till the start of the final session, and even held a lead in the first part of the game.

Marsascala were twice in front in the opening quarter, with Italian, Fabio Valenti netting a brace, but Sirens twice pulled back, with goals by Clint Mercieca, and the first of Radu Gospodinov’s four goals.

In the second session Sirens fell behind once more, with a breakaway goal by the other Italian, Andrea Tringali. Marsascala’s lead was short-lived, as Karl Montfort equalised, and then a David Cutajar lob put Sirens in front for the first time, for a halftime 4-3 advantage.

After the break Hungarian, Attila Barany, increased Sirens’ lead, but Marsascala pulled themselves back, with a John Licari lob and a strong, distant shot from Valenti, for a 5-5 draw. Sirens had the other Hungarian, Arpad Babay, to give them the lead back, before the end of the session. The last quarter proved disastrous to Marsascala, who still had a good start, as Tringali drew level again, with his second goal. Sirens took over well, and a three-goal run, two by Privitera, and Mercieca’s second, stifled Marsascala’s efforts to save the match. Mark Borg Spiteri reduced the arrears, but that was their last goal. Sirens could afford to fritter a penalty throw, as Barany’s shot was saved by Ian Bugeja, and finally Privitera ended the match as top scorer, with his fourth goal, seconds from the end.

Sirens: A. Grech, R. Mock, A. Galea, P. Privitera 4, A. Babay 1, A. Barany 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 1, R. Scerri, C. Mercieca 2, P. Borg, J. Sammut, A. Attard, J. Cremona

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze, F. Valenti 3, A. Tringali 2, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Grixti, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, S. Farrugia, J. Decelis, J. Cutajar

Referees: I. Sciriha, A. de Raffaele

San Giljan TJ 9

Exiles E&V 7

(1-1)(3-1)(1-2)(4-3)

This was another balanced match, and the Saints had to pull out all the stops to hold their place in the standings, after a hard-fought encounter. San Giljan were never in arrears, but Exiles were breathing down their necks for the major part of the game. San Giljan had their regular coach, Silvio Borg , back after his suspension, for the first time in this Summer league. Exiles welcomed Karl Rizzo Naudi, also for the first time this season.

In the opening session it was San Giljan with the first goal, John Xerri de Caro putting them in front. Exiles had Frenchman, Aurelien Cousin, to make the score level, till the end of the quarter. The second session was decisive up to a point, as the Saints took a 4-1 advantage, which helped them till the rest of the match. Serbian, Vladimir Kreckovic, Matthew Zammit and Rumanian, Radu Gospodinov, pushing them in front. David Pace Lupi pulled a goal back for Exiles, for a 2-4 halftime score.

After the interval San Giljan pulled further ahead, with a second Gospodinov goal, but till the end of the third session Exiles were back with a bang, as Cousin scored his second goal, and right at the buzzer, Martin Calleja brought them to just a goal down, at 4-5.

The final quarter was all to play for, as the Saints sought to make the issue safe, going two goals in front on three occasions, only for Exiles to reply every time. Gospodinov, a Paul Fava flick and Andrea Bianchi were the Saints’ scorers, with two goals by another Frenchman, Romain Blari, and a third Cousin goal, for Exiles. The next time San Giljan scored, through Gospodinov’s fourth goal, they held on, to keep Exiles at bay, and dissect the league table in two.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, R. Gospodinov 4, M. Pace, A. Bianchi 1, M. Zammit 1, E. Arrigo, V. Kreckovic 1, A. Borda, P. Fava 1, J. Xerri de Caro 1, K. Lanzon

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan, R. Blari 2, M. Rizzo, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 3, K. Enriquez, S. Vassallo, M. Calleja 1, A. Cachia, Seb Cini

Referees: M. Dalli, M. Angileri