Exiles steamroll over Ta’ Xbiex

Ta’ Xbiex ASC 5

3CX Exiles 22

(1-5)(0-6)(2-6)(2-5)

Exiles’ shock result against Valletta is now firmly behind them, and a thing of the past. They had a comprehensive victory over hapless Ta’ Xbiex. Exiles had no worries throughout the whole match, scoring regularly in every session. Ta’ Xbiex only managed a leveller, early on in the match, through a Szeles penaty throw, but from then on Exiles scored no less than 13 times without reply, going on into the third period, before Ta’ Xbiex could halt their adversaries. It was only in the latter part of the encounter, when Exiles relaxed their tight marking, that goals were obtained in Ta’ Xbiex’s favour.

Brandon Muscat played in lieu of Jean Claude Decelis, and Michael Paris took Chris Saliba’s place, for Ta’ Xbiex. Exiles had the same formation, as in their victory over Sirens.

Marco Cuk notched a seven-goal tally for Exiles, with hat tricks from Aurelien Cousin and evergreen John Paris.Tamas Gyrovath netted a brace for Ta’ Xbiex.

The match was already over by the interval, when Exiles had raced into an 11-1 advantage. Ta’ Xbiex were also wasteful in the man-ups in their favour, scoring twice from six occasions. Exiles fared much better, with five goals and two missed opportunities, although one of them was to be best forgotten, when they failed to score with Ta’ Xbiex having two players less.

Exiles are now level with Valletta on points, and striving for a top division placing.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Tabone, S. Vassallo 1, C. Cluett , D. Borg, B. Muscat, T. Gyrovath 2, E. Bonello ,M. Cordina 1, M. Paris, R. Attard, M. Spiteri, Y. Szeles 1

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan 2, M. Calleja 1, M. Cuk 7, K. Griscti 2, A. Zarb Cousin 2, A. Cousin 3, J. Paris 3, A. Sciberras, K. Lanzon

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri

First win for Sirens

Valletta Dhalia 4

Sirens Ritter Sports 17

(0-3)(1-3)(2-6)(1-5)

The heady first two games, and two wins, are now over for Valletta. Their last match in the group proved to be a disappointing one, as they never really got going, and a host of glaring misses did not help their cause.

Sirens were a much more disciplined side, who exploited the open spaces in the Valletta rearguard, to open up a good advantage by the interval, and then dealt the telling blow, in the second part of the match, hitting Valletta repeatedly, to break clear, and take the stuffing out of their adversaries.

Valletta had Kurt Micallef instead of Timmy Camilleri, and Predrag Zimonjic was once more in the water for Sirens, instead of Goran Krstonosic.

Adam Decker grabbed a trio of goqls for Valletta, but Robert Kovacs, so prolific in the previous matches, had a tight rein on him, and finished up goal less. The two Sirens foreigners had a happier time, both with hat tricks, along with Charles zammit. Clint Mercieca went one better, with a poker of goals.

Valletta’s man-ups were a nightmare, with only a positive one from a total of nine. At the other end Sirens only missed one, from the six in their favour.

Valletta were playing their last game in the group, and now await the last two games to have a definite palcing.

Valletta: A. Sammut, A. Decker 3 , K. Hyzler , C. Bonello 1 , G. Sammut , S. Cachia, A. Galea, K. Micallef, R. Kovacs , S. Cini, A. Arrigo, G. Ghirxi 1, T. Agius

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Attard 1, P. Micallef, P. Borg 1, B. Nyeki 3, R. Mock, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 1, P. Zimonjic 3, C. Zammit 3, L. Caruana, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca 4

Referees: Mario Dalli, Massimo Angileri