Valletta McDonalds     5     Neptunes Grimaldi     11       

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

 

Neptunes continue to consolidate their top position in the standings, with this second victory over the Citizens, having beaten them earlier on, in the group matches, of teh opening phase of play. Neptunes were lackadaisical at the start, as Valletta surprised the champions with a strong finish to the opening session, but from then on Neptunes imposed their style of play, and after forging in front till the interval, they could edge away from their adversaries, and open up a winning margin for the remainder of the encounter.

Valletta had Michael Cordina missing, and recovered Ranier Scerri, who missed their last match. It was also the return of Anthony Farrugia, at the helm of Valletta, after his two game suspension. For Neptunes, Steve Camilleri, who had a shoulder injury, and missed a good part of the game, against San Giljan, stayed on the bench for the whole match against the Citizens.

Neptunes went if front, soon after the start, and were also leading 2-1, midway through the period, but Valletta made a strong finish to the session, as they shot in three goals in a row, to overturn the score, at 4-2, in their favour, also missing their only man up awarded to them throughout the match. In the next session Neptunes took the game in their hands, and proceeded to turn the score around. They netted three times, without any reply from the Citizens. By the interval it was the champions in front, on a close 5-4 score.

After the break Neptunes didn’t take long to have a double advantage, but Valletta managed a response, when Milos Korolija’s effort hit the underpart of the crossbar, and bounced into the net off goalie’s Alan Borg Cole’s head. Later on Valletta lost two players, with Michael Rizzo being shown a straight red card, and Charlie Zammit on three personal fouls. Till the end of the session Jordan Camilleri struck twice for the champions, both on man ups, to give Neptunes a more comfortable lead, at 8-5. The last quarter continued on the same lines, as Neptunes contained Valletta’s attacks, denying them any more goals. On the other hand the champions added on three more goals, for a comfortable ending to the match, as they stretched their lead further, from the other teams, in the table.

In the absence of his brother, Joedan Camilleri netted a poker of goals, as his side converted four of their eight man ups. Valletta had Korolija with a brace of goals in their favour.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, R. Mock , M. Spiteri Staines , M. Korolija 2,

              N. Bonello Ghio , S. Cachia , D. Abela , C. Zammit 1, C. Debono ,

             R. Scerri,  D. Paolella , D. Filipovic 1, M. Rizzo 1

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Lanzon , M. Stellini 2, T. Agius 1,

                M. Zammit , S. Camilleri , J. Camilleri 4, A. Zarb Cousin , P. Biros 1,

                B. Dougall , T. Molnar 1, C. Mercieca 1

Referees: M. Dalli, S. Scollo