Premier Division

Exiles Ferretti     14    

San Giljan Sir Alex     17    

(2-6. 5-2. 5-3, 2-6)

The Saints were given a huge fright by their opponents across the water, and it was seven-goal hero Dino zammit who rescued San Giljan. The Saints began well enough, to take a comfortable opening session advantage.

They were still in charge midway through the next period, but Exiles stuck grimly to their task, to go ahead after the interval, and when they established a three-goal lead in the final session, it looked bleak for San Giljan, but a six goal blitz turned the tide in their favour, and they finished up grateful winners to go alongside Neptunes at the top of the standings, whom they will meet next week.

Exiles recovered Julian Rizzo Naudi, who missed the game against Sliema. The Saints raced into a three goal advantage, with a brace form Dino Zammit, and Karl Galea. Exiles pulled two goals back, from their foreigners, Vo joslav Cupic and Romain Blary, but San Giljan struck back with three more strikes, with a Marko Avramovic penalty throw, and goals from Peter Biros and Galea. In the second period Exiles began with goals through Cupic and James Spiteri Staines, but the Saints restored their former advantage, as Christian Gialanze and Dino Zammit found their mark.

 Then came Exiles’ revival, and by the interval they were a goal distant, with a couple from Peter Borg and again Cupic, for a 7-8 scoreline. After the break Exiles kept hammer ing away, and Blary, Kayne Lanzon and Cupic had them on a double advantage. The Saints went on level terms, as Claudio Spiteri de Barro and Dino Zammit hit the back of the net.

Exiles followed up with a double hit, from Cupic and Lanzo, with Gialanze reducing the arrears, for a 11-12 score. In the last session the Saints were stunned, as Exiles forged ahead fur ther, with goals from Cupic (his sixth) and Borg. The Saints began their long way back, and this resulted in a six-goal spurt, to give them the full spoils. Dino Zammit added on three more goals, and in between Avramovic netted another penalty. That put them ahead, and the finishing touches were provided by Spiteri de Barro and a third Avramovic penalty, with the Saints breathing a huge sigh of relief at the way things had turned out.

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi , N. Paris , D. Pace Lupi , R. Blary 2, N. Portelli, J. Spiteri Staines 1, V. Cupic 6, K. Grixti , P. Borg 3, S. Galea Pace , D. Borg, K. Lanzon 2 San Giljan: D. Camilleri, JC Cutajar , C. Gialanze 2, K. Galea 2, K. Dowling, M. Zammit , M. Avramovic 3, J. Sam- mut , C. Spiteri de Barro 2, P. Biros 1, P. Fava , D. Zammit 7, M. Pisani Referees: P. Balzan, B. Navarra

Last gasp Sliema goal brings heartache to Sirens

Sliema Frank Salt 10

Sirens Ritter Sport 9

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

Sliema were stretched to the limit in this encounter and it went down to the last second of play as Sliema recovered after practically trailing for the whole match. Sirens did not deserve to lose this game as Marco Risso marshalled his players well and they bottled up their opponents most of the time. Sirens lost a penalty throw early on in the game with Csaba Kiss’ throw saved by Ryan Coleiro. John Soler opened the score for Sliema who then conceded three goals through Kiss Stephen Micallef and Arpad Babay before Mark Meli reduced the deficit for Sliema.

 In the second period Sirens increased their advantage with David Cutajar and Arpad goals. Sliema again pulled a one back from Samir Barac and at the interval Sirens were still leading 5-3 and worth their advantage. After the break, Sliema lost Meli who was sent off with substitution. Borg scored for the St. Paul’s Bay side with Timmy Sullivan replying for Sliema. Micallef escaped the Sliema defence to increase Sirens’ lead but Gergely Kiss narrowed the margin.

 Again it was Babay for Sirens with Barac netting another Sliema goal and when the last quarter began Sirens were 8-6 in front. Sliema managed to tighten their defence and then went on level terms with goals from a Kiss penalty and Niko- lai Lubrano. Sirens opened up a further lead with Csaba Kiss’ second goal and then in a late flurry Sliema con- verted their last two man ups with a John Brownrigg strike and a last second shot by Kiss which gave them the full spoils of the encounter leaving them with an outside chance for the remainder of their league games. Kiss ended up with a hat trick for Sliema with Babay doing the same for Sirens.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta , N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1, G. Kiss 3, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg 1, S. Barac 2, M. Spiteri Staines, D. Paolella, D. Abela Sirens: A. Grech, Z. Mizzi, M. Grech, J. Napier, A. Babay 3, C. Kiss 2, J.  Borg 1, D. Cutajar 1, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Attard, S. Micallef 2, J. Zampa , J. Cremona       Referees: M. Angileri, B. Navarra

First Division

Marsaxlokk     11   

 Ta Xbiex Amigos      13        (2-2, 2-2, 4-3, 3-6)

Ta Xbiex went all the way to the top of the table, and it was a late burst that helped them to overcome their difficult oppo- nents. Marsaxlokk gave quite a good ac- count of themselves, and they were three times in front throughout the encounter, and on a par with their adversaries, until Ta Xbiex managed a four goal run, late in the match, to ease their minds. The first two sessions were evenly shared, with both sides level in each pe- riod, for a 4-4 halftime score, and it was M’Xlokk who edged away, to lead by three, only for Ta Xbiex to go to within a goal, when the last quarter began. Ta Xbiex strove hard to level matters, but M’Xlokk managed another advantage, be- fore Ta Xbiex had the final say, with four goals on the run, before M’xlokk closed down the game with a last strike. Ta Xbiex had Yuri Szeles with a nap hand score, and Edward Meli managed a poker of goals for M’Xlokk, which still wasn’t enough for his side. Ta Xbiex converted four goals from nine man ups, and M’Xlokk scored three from eight. M’Xlokk: A. Xuereb, J. Fenech , M. Agius 1, E. Meli 4, L. Friggieri , K. Mock 2,  A. Galea , C. Bugeja , R. Kovacs 2, P. Kovacs , D. Spiteri , T. Camilleri, G.  Zammit 2 Ta Xbiex:L. Borg, J. Navarro , A. Galea 1, T. Galea 1, S. Cini 2, R. D’Amato, K. Galea 1, M. Paris , P. Paris , P. Markoch 2, M. Spi- teri , O. Zammit 1,Y. Szeles 5 Referees: M. Dalli, S. Licari

Hard fought victory puts M’scala on top

 M’scala More 13

Otters Nivea 10 (2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 5-2)

The Gozitans really gave their opponents a tough time and it was two late goals which had them bowing their heads. Up until that time Otters had given as much as they got and they were in front for most of the match but it was M’s- cala who prevailed at the end with the usual Joseph kayes pouring in his goals in their victory. It was all-square at the interval on a 5-5 score with Otters forging ahead once more but the last session began on an 8-8 leveller.

M’scala pushed in front but Otters came back to within a goal before the two late strikes finished off the Gozitans. M’scala now lead by two points but with a game more than Ta’ Xbiex.

M’scala: K. Schembri, K. Rizzo Naudi 1, M. Pace 2, B. Muscat, J. Kayes 6, L. Grixti 1, J. Cremona, J. Ross 2, A. Sammut, D. Cassar, C. Micallef, L. Caruana 1 Otters: N. Grixti, G. Attard, G. Zammit, P. Sciberras, E. Farrugia, A. Cachia, K. Scicluna 1, D. Schembri 1, A. Edward 5, S. Dimech, C. Martin, I. Necsulescu, K. Grima Scott 3 Referees: P. Balzan, R. Spiteri