Neptunes Grimaldi 9 Sliema Frank Salt 9
(1-3, 2-3, 4-1, 2-2)
It was an enthralling encounter, with Sliema leading for a good part of the match. Neptuness eemed to have wrapped it up late in the match, but the Blues secured their place in the Championship Pool with an eight metre effort by Kai Dowling, which went in via the crossbar, only 12 seconds from time.
Neptunes had just the one goalie for this match, due to the missing Matthew Castillo. Sliema paraded their new coach, Serbian Dejan Milakovic, and they had a changed outfit. Ryan Coleiro returned in goal, after his injury, and Michael Spiteri Staines returned, after two missed matches. Nicky Bugelli was also included, but Christian Cluett was absent.
Sliema went into a two-goal advantage, with the champions pulling a goal back, but Nikola Dedovic gave the Blues another double advantage till the end of the opening session. Neptunes didn't take long to tie the score, but then it was all Sliema, till the interval, as they went into a better lead, with a brace of Michael Bodegas goals, and Michael Spiteri Staines.
Neptunes were 3-6 behind at the interval, but they made amends after the break. Kai Dowling replied for Sliema after a Steve Camilleri penalty, but the champions then put in three goals past the Blues, with two more Steve Camilleri strikes and another from Ivan Krapic. The two sides were tied at 7-7, as they started the last quarter.
John Soler again put Sliema ahead, but Neptunes were again on level terms, and when they were awarded another penalty, Peter Biros saw his shot saved by Coleiro in the Sliema goal, only for Steve Camilleri to react quickly, and flick the ball in the net, putting Neptunes in front for the first time. Sliema's reaction took time, but their last attack produced the goods, as Dowing flashed in his shot to even the score, which remained locked in the remaining seconds.
Steve Camilleri scored a poker of goals for the champions, who failed their first four man ups, but converted all of their next six. Sliema, who only managed three goals from their ten man-ups, had three players on two goals, Kai Dowling, John Soler and Michael Bodegas.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 1, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius , I. Krapic 1, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 1, L. Calleja , P. Biros , B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca 1
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta , K. Dowling 2, T. Sullivan , M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, M. Spiteri Staines 1, N. Bugelli , J. Brownrigg , M. Bodegas 2, A. Attard , N. Dedovic 1, Z. Sciberras
Referees: M. Angileri, M. Piano
San Giljan Crystal Finance 8 Sirens Ritter Sport 7
(2-1, 1-4, 3-0, 2-2)
San Giljan were again in a tough and close match with Sirens, and again they had the better of their opponents with an odd goal victory. Sirens were trying to seal their place in the Championship Pool, and the Saints were vying to retain the top position in the standings. As things turned out San Giljan are now sole leaders.
The Saints grabbed a double advantage, through their two foreigners, but Csaba Kiss pulled a goal back for Sirens. In the next session San Giljan missed three man ups in a row, and Sirens overturned the score, with three strikes. The Saints went a goal behind, but a penalty throw, due to an illegal entry from a man down, had Sirens leading 5-3 at the interval.
After the break it was San Giljan who were in command, and they shot in three goals in succession to turn the score around, and were 6-5 in the lead going into the last session. The Saints twice increased their advantage to a double one, with Kiss twice pulling Sirens back, but it was to no avail, as the Saints held out to confirm their victory, and their top spot in the standings.
Boris Vapenski hit a hat trick for San Giljan, who netted three times from ten man ups. Sirens' Csaba Kiss also netted three times, as his side managed a good five conversions from eight man ups.
San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea , B. Vapenski 3, G. Molina 1,M. Zammit 1, K. Galea , Da. Zammit , B. Plumpton , A. Cousin 1, P. Fava , Di. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri
Sirens: N. Grixti, Z. Mizzi , C. Presciutti 2, G. Pace , M. Grech , C. Kiss 3, M. Caruana , D. Cutajar , J. Napier, E. Aquilina 1, L. Caruana 1,A. Sammut , J. Sciberras
Referees: M. Dalli, V. Frauenfelder
Exiles Ferretti 8 Valletta McDonalds 7
(2-5, 3-1, 2-1, 1-0)
Exiles overcame a three goal deficit in the opening session to claim their first win of the season, and also their first points in the league. They again had Julian Rizzo Naudi absent, whilst Valletta recovered captain Charlie Zammit, back from two missed matches.
A four goal Valletta run in the first period of play had them on agood advantage, but this was whittled down as Exiles twice recovered, to go a goal behind. At the interval the Citizens were leading 6-5.
After the break Exiles managed to forge in front with a double strike, with Valletta reacting and drawing level till the end of the session, as both teams went in on a tied 7-7 score, into the last quarter. There was only a single goal scored, as Marco Cuk grabbed his hat trick. Exiles' advantage stayed on till the end of the encounter, with both sides missing their last man up.
Exiles converted five times from their nine man ups. Valletta, who had Gergely Kiss with a brace of goals, only managed two goals from their seven extra player occasions.
Exiles: I. Bugeja, L. Peric , S. Vassallo 1, D. Pace Lupi 1, R. Blary ,J. Spiteri Staines , S. Gravina 1, K. Grixti , D. Abela , A. Bianchi ,M. Cuk 3, P. Paris , K. Lanzon 2
Valletta: R. Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo , K. Galea , A. Agius , R. Mock 1,G. Kiss 2, N. Bonello Ghio 1, M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit , D. Paolella 1, D. Filipovic 1, D. Camilleri
Referees: P. Balzan, M. Piano
Standings
San Giljan Crystal Finance 24
Neptunes Grimaldi 22
Sliema Frank Salt 14
Sirens Ritter Sport 10
Valletta McDonalds 6
Exiles Ferretti