BOV Summer League Premier

San Giljan Sir Alex     8     Neptunes Emirates     9

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

 

Neptunes survived a last, desperate effort by the Saints, to obtain their second win in three matches over their neighbours, and force a league championship decider, next Tuesday.

The champions were in control for most of the encounter, and when they twice held a four goal advantage, in the last quarter, it looked odds on that they would go alongside San Giljan in the final standings. The latter then produced a storming finish, which took them to just a goal behind, but the final strike eluded them, and Neptunes edged it on an odd goal victory.

Played in front of the biggest crowd of the season, by far, the Saints found difficulty in playing their normal game, as Neptunes were tight in defence, and closed all avenues to their goal, which had San Giljan potting from a distance.

Paul Fava opened the scoring for the Saints, early on, but neptunes’ response was a strong one, as they netted three times in succession, from Tamas Molnar, twice, and Sean Gravina in between, for a double advantage. In the second period Alex Ciric extended the champ[ions’ lead, with Matthew Zammit powering a san Giljan goal.

It was Molnar again for Neptunes, with a reply from San Giljan’s Fava, and at the interval Neptunes were on a 5-3 advantage.

It was a quieter affair after the break, but Neptunes managed to edge further ahead, through Niki Lanzon and a Molnar penalty, but in between Fava netted his hat trick, and when the last session began the champions were 7-4 in front. Ciric increased their lead further, but later on Ciric and San Giljan’s Karl Galea were given matching orders, and neptunes also lost Jordan Camilleri on fouls. Peter Biros grabbed a goal back for the Saints, but Neptunes were awarded another penalty, again converted by Molnar. It seemed all over, but Neptunes’ four goal advantage was whittled down, as the Saints pressed forward. Goals by Dino Zammit, Christian Gialanze and again Zammit had Neptunes in trouble. San Giljan won possession with twenty seconds play left, but their final effort was thwarted, and Neptunes could savour their victory.

The champions scored in their first three man ups, but missed their final one. They had Molnar on a nap hand score. San Giljan netted half of their ten man ups, and their captain, Fava, scored a rare hat trick.

San Giljan: D. Camilleri, JC Cutajar , C. Gialanze 1, K. Galea , K. Dowling, M. Zammit 1, M. Avramovic , A. Bianchi , C. Spiteri de Barro, P. Biros 1, P. Fava 3, D. Zammit 2, J. Sammut

Neptunes:  A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, A. Sammut , M. Stellini, T. Agius , A. Ciric 2, S. Camilleri , J. Camilleri , G. Pace , S. Gravina 1, K. Debattista, T. Molnar 5, C. Mercieca

Referees: M. Angileri, M. Di Chiara

 

Final Standings

Neptunes Emirates         12   10     0     2   178     99   30

San Giljan Sir Alex         12   10     0     2   167   141   30

Sliema Frank Salt           12     7    0     5    156   127   21

Sirens Ritter Sport          12     2     0   10   117   181     6

Exiles Ferretti                 12     1     0   11   116   186     0

 

BOV Summer League 1 Div.

Gozitans in creditable third place

Otters Nivea     14     Marsaxlokk    8

(3-2, 5-3, 3-1, 3-2)

 

Otters completed their commitments with a good victory over M’xlokk, to consolidate their creditable third placing. The Gozitans managed to win all their four sessions of play, and were able to pull away from their adversaries as the game progressed. All the foreigners on both sides had a big say in the proceedings, with their goals. Man ups were few and far between in the match, as the two teams had just three favourable occasiojns, with Otters converting twice and M’xlokk netting only once.

Otters had Andrei Edward back in the side, after missing their last game, and Jonathan Young was included in lieu of Andrew Cachia. M’xlok had Kurt Grech and Jack Fenech missing, with Nello Xuereb making an appearance, but he stayed on the bench.

The Gozitans’ Ivan Vuksanovic scored a total of seven goals, with Andre Edwrad on a hat trick. Peter Kovacs netted four times for M’xlokk, and his brother, Robert also netted a hat trick.

Otters: N. Grixti, G. Attard , G. Zammit , .J. Young , P. Sciberras , A. Borg ,K. Scicluna , D. Schembri 2, A. Edward 3, S. Dimech 2, C. Martin , I. Vuksanovic 7, K. Grima Scott

M’xlokk: M. Scerri, L. Friggieri , M. Agius 1,E. Meli, K. Mock , A. Galea ,C. Bugeja , R. Kovacs 3, P. Kovacs 4, T. Camilleri , N. Xuereb ,

G. Zammit

Referees: P. Balzan, S. Licari

 

Final Standings

Valletta United               12   11     0     1   177     99   33

M’scala Mor€                12     7     1     4   142   129   22

Otters Nivea                  12     5     3     4   122   138   18

Ta Xbiex Amigos           12     3     1     8   147   170   10

Marsaxlokk                  12     1     1   10   119   171     4