Neptunes Emirates 8
Sliema Frank Salt 9
(2-0, 3-3, 3-2, 0-4)
Sliema were a subdued lot for most of the match but they came to life when it mattered and dealt their rivals a deadly blow in the championship stakes.
The champions let the game slip out of their hands when they began the final quarter three goals ahead. Neptunes did not manage to score a single time and Steve Camilleri was left goalless throughout the match.
Sliema’s game came up to a crescendo as they came back grandly and a last goal ten seconds from time left Neptunes pointless.
The champions needed a full victory and were searching for a winner after seeing their opponents come back from the dead but it was Sliema with the deciding strike.
John Brownrigg returned to the Sliema side after missing a couple of matches. Interested and then happy spectators were San Giljan who kept their sole top position, three points ahead of their neighbours.
It was Neptunes with a bright start as they took a double advantage in the opening session with Michele Stellini and Tamas Molnar goals.
The champions kept on increasing their lead in the next period through Alex Ciric and Stellini but Sliema finally struck back with John Soler and a Damir Buric penalty.
Neptunes were also awarded a penalty but Steve Camilleri’s central shot was neutralised by Ryan Coleiro between the Sliema sticks as he saved yet another penalty.
Ciric then put Neptunes further ahead but Timmy Sullivan reduced the Blues’ deficit for a 5-3 interval score to Neptunes.
After the break Ciric put in two more Neptunes goals and they seemed to be cruising but Sliema replied with a brace of their own from Mark Meli and Soler.
Before the session ended, Molnar restored the champions’ three-goal advantage in an 8-5 score.
Neptunes’ play deteriorated in the last session and as Sliema were getting nearer with a Nikolai Lubrano cute lob and a powerful Gergely Kiss shot, Neptunes were getting more nervous.
John Brownrigg pushed the Blues into a tied score and in a final flurry with timeouts called at both ends it was Sullivan with a diagonal shot just ten seconds from time to give Sliema their first win in four matches against their rivals and leave San Giljan alone at the top of the standings.
Sliema converted four of their ten man ups with Neptunes having eight man ups in their favour and scoring in three of them.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, A. Ciric 4, S. Camilleri, J. Camilleri, M. Lanzon, S. Gravina, B. Lanzon, T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca
Sliema: R. Coleiro, D. Buric 1, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan 2, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, G. Kiss 1, E. Aquilina, J. Brownrigg 1, J. Gabarretta, D. Paolella, M. Spiteri Staines, D. Abela
Referees: M. Angileri, F. Gomez
Standings
San Giljan Sir Alex 10 9 0 1 145 123 27
Neptunes Emirates 10 8 0 2 154 83 24
Sliema Frank Salt 10 5 0 5 116 107 15
Sirens Ritter Sport 9 2 0 7 89 134 6
Exiles Ferretti 9 0 0 9 81 138 0
BOV Summer League 1 Div.
Valletta make sure of title with games to spare
Valletta United 9
M’scala Mor€ 6
(1-1, 2-3, 5-1, 1-1)
After a long period of 23 years, Valletta managed to win a league title. True it is the second tier but their intentions are clear they want to hobnob with the other teams in the Premier league.
They managed to overcome M’scala after the interval after they had felt the importance of the match and were playing in spurts.
M’scala were evens after the first period and were leading 4-3 at the interval.
After the break M’scala were not their usual selves and with the usual Joseph Kayes unable to leave his mark the Citizens came to life with a five goal burst and were on a triple advantage going into the last quarter.
Although Valletta lost one of their foreigners, Djorde Filipovic, ejected from the game, M’scala could not muster a decent reply and the jubilant Valletta players and clan celebrated their league success in a boisterous manner even though they have yet two more games to play but their advantage at the top of the standings is now prohibitive to M’scala.
The Citizens who netted three times from ten man ups had three players on double strikes - Milos Korolija, Charlie Zammit and Filipovic. M’scala’s Gabor Hedegus obtained a hat trick with his side scoring twice from six man ups.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja, M. Korolija 2, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit 2, C. Debono, R. Scerri 1, A. Arrigo, D. Filipovic 2, Z. Sciberras
M’scala: K. Schembri, K. Rizzo Naudi, M. Pace, B. Muscat, J. Kayes 1, L. Grixti 1, J. Licari, J. Cremona 1, G. Hedegus 3, A. Sammut, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud, L. Caruana
Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano
Standings
Valletta United 10 9 0 1 140 82 27
M’scala Mor€ 10 6 0 4 108 106 18
Otters Nivea 9 3 2 3 91 102 14
Ta Xbiex Amigos 10 3 1 6 121 132 10
Marsaxlokk 9 0 1 8 85 123 0