Ta Xbiex 10
Marsaskala 9
(2-3)(5-2)(1-3)(2-1)
This must be classed as a surprise. Marsaskala had beaten Ta Xbiex handsomely in the league’s opening round, although it must be said that Marsaskala also had to sweat out their entry into the final. Maybe the Marsaskala players were thinking that all was going to turn out right at the end, but Ta Xbiex had other ideas.
Ta Xbiex had Diego Borg missing, with his place taken by Christian Saliba. David Caruana returned for M’skala, but Stephen Micallef was suspended, and Otis Zammit was abroad. Their places were taken by two youngsters, Ben Plumpton and Kyle Navarro
It was Marsaskala with a single goal advantage after the first period, but Ta Xbiex stormed out for the second session, and eked out a 7-5 lead by the interval. Marsaskala then had Edward Arrigo in goal for the rest of the match. They overturned the score, but by the end of the third session the two teams were on level terms, at 8-8.
Ta Xbiex managed to open a double advantage in the last session, with Marsaskala losing John Licari, ousted from the match with substitution. They pulled a goal back, but Ta Xbiex hung grimly on till the end of the encounter, to win the spoils.
The winners scored once from three man ups, with Marsaskala having an expulsion more, but also managing to score once. Tamas Gyrovath led Ta Xbiex to their victory, with a hat trick, with Marsaskala’s players, Ranier Scerri and Duncan Cassar also netting three goals each. The losers’ two foreigners failed to find their mark, and were left goalless.
After the match the presentation was made by the Manager Marketing BOV, Charles Azzopardi, to the Ta Xbiex captain, Luke Borg.
Ta Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Paris, S. Vassallo, C. Cluett 1, C. Saliba 1, B. Muscat Dougall, T. Gyrovath 3, E. Bonello, M. Cordina 1, M. Agius, R. Attard 2, M. Spiteri,Y. Szeles 2
Marsaskala: S. Farrugia, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, M. Pace, Mil. Koralji, D. Caruana, E. Arrigo, J. Licari , J. Cremona 1, B. Plumpton, R. Scerri 3 , D. Cassar 3, K. Navarro, Mih. Koralji
Refeees: P. Balzan, S. Licari