M’scala Mor€     12     Ta Xbiex Amigos     12

(1-3, 4-6, 2-3, 5-0)

 

Ta Xbiex were heading for a good win over M’scala, which will count in the second phase of play, and were coasting home, until M’scala came back in style, in the last quarter, to net five times without reply. To make matters worse for Ta Xbiex, they had no less than five man ups in their favour, in this last session, but failed to profit from them, and paid the cost.

Ta Xbiex started well enough to lead 3-1, and enhanced their advantage till the interval, to go 9-5 in front. Despite two Liam Grixti goals for M’scala, after the break, Ta Xbiex again increased their lead, to a 12-7 score, but M’scala had other ideas, and in the last eight minutes of play they came roaring back, and whittled down their deficit, until a last Sergi Mora strike, seconds from the end tied the match, and the two sides shared the spoils.

Mora finished with a nap hand of goals, and Gergo Marmitz obtained a hat trick for M’scala. For Ta Xbiex there were Sean Gravina and Milos Maksimovic with a poker of goals each.

Another Irish referee controlled this match, with the officials exchange programme taking place.

M’scala: D. Spiteri, JC Cutajar , S. Mora , C. Bonello , E. Meli , L. Grixti ,              

               M. Pace , S. Micallef , C. Mifsud , D. Cassar, G. Marmitz , J. Cremona

Ta Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace , M. Camilleri , C. Camilleri , P. Tenzera , K. Mock ,

                S. Aquilina , J. Cauchi , M. Agius , E. Gravina, R. Attard , O. Zammit ,

                M. Maksimovic

Referees: M. Angileri, S. O’Brien

 

 

Sliema Frank Salt     11     Valletta McDonalds     8

(4-1, 1-0, 2-3, 4-4)

 

Sliema garnered their third victory, and are now on equal points with Neptunes, with their encounter coming on next week. They had to endure a strong Valletta challenge after the interval, and the good advantage they obtained in the first part of the game was in good stead, helping them to hold on to their advantage, with Valletta pressing hotly in the later stages of the match. Tim Hutten played his part in the water, after missing Sliema’s last match, but their hero was Antonio Petkovic, with his goals. There was a dearth of man ups in this encounter, with Valletta awarded three, and converting two of them. Sliema had to wait till after the interval, when they were twice with a player more, and scored on both occasions.

Sliema were ahead in the opening session, after the Citizens had replied to Sliema’s early strike. There was only a single goal in the second session, with Petkovic increasing Sliema’s advantage, to a 5-1 halftime score. After the break Valletta twice went near, and Sliema had their work cut out to hold on to their lead, at 7-4. Two early Sliema strikes in the last session gave a false impression of a match already decided, but the Citizens were adamant, and crept nearer till the final minute of play. A Petkovic penalty throw closed down the match, and Sliema were home.

A total of five goals for Petkovic, and Jerome Gabarretta with a brace for Sliema. Valletta had Milos Korolija also with two goals, with six players sharing the others.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta , N. Lubrano , T. Sullivan , M. Meli , J. Soler ,

             J. Borg , C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg , A. Attard , T. Hutton, A. Petkovic ,

             K. Schembri

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines , M. Korolija ,

             N. Bonello Ghio , S. Cachia , M. Cordina , JC Farrugia , C. Debono ,

              R. Scerri , D. Paolella , D. Filipovic , M. Rizzo

Referees: M. Dalli, K. Denver