Sliema Frank Salt     7     Neptunes Grimaldi     9

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

Just two days after their drawn encounter in a league match, the two sides met again, this time in a K.O.eliminatory match. It was Neptunes, the holders, who advanced into the semi finals, where they will meet Sirens.

It was a game replete with emotions, as Sliema came from an early three-goal deficit, then lose skipper John Soler on his third foul and subsequent red card, presumably for comments passed. This was right before the interval. The third session then saw another red card for a Sliema player, Frenchman, Michael Bodegas, who up till then had already registered a personal hat trick. From then on Sliema were up against it, although they managed to forge in front, but pressure then told on them, and Neptunes went ahead and doubled their advantage in the last quarter to make sure of their victory.

This match was controlled by two Italian referees. Neptunes went into a double lead, with Sliema pulling a goal back. Neptunes scored twice more, with Sliema again reducing the deficit, though they were still 2-4 behind. In the second period Sliema went just a goal behind, but the champions again carved out a double lead. Sliema's foreigners, Bodegas and Nikola Dedovic took Sliema on level terms, but Peter Biros scored his third goal, and Neptunes were 6-5 in front at the interval, with Soler out of the match for Sliema.

After the break Michael Spiteri Staines had Sliema on a tied score. Then came Bodegas' expulsion, as Sliema lost two very important players. Spiteri staines managed to put Sliema ahead with an exquisite lob, but Neptunes had better firepower then and two quick goals put them in front at 8-7. In the last session it was uphill all the way for Sliema. Neptunes were three times more on favourable man ups, and they converted their second one, when they were awarded a penalty, which Steve Camilleri duly shot in. A double Neptunes advantage was too much for Sliema at this stage, and they had Alan Borg Cole, in the Neptunes' goal, blocking all their efforts till the end of the match, with Neptunes seemingly happy with the scoreline.

Biros was on three goals for Neptunes, along with a brace for both Michele Stellini and Steve Camilleri. Despite his ejection from the match Bodegas was Sliema's best scorer, with three strikes, and Spiteri Staines and Dedovic both scored twice. Man ups were not so profitable for both sides, with Sliema scoring twice from seven man ups, and Neptunes managing four goals from a total of twelve man ups.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta , K. Dowling , T. Sullivan , M. Meli ,J. Soler , M. Spiteri Staines 2, N. Bugelli , J. Brownrigg  , M. Bodegas 3,A. Attard , N. Dedovic 2, Z. Sciberras

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon , M. Castillo , M. Stellini 2, T. Agius ,I. Krapic 1,  S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri , J. Abela , P. Biros 3, B. LanzonS. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca 1

Referees: A. Zedda, G. Centineo

BOV 1 Div. K.O. S/F

M'Xlokk in another comfortable victory over Otters

Otters Nivea     11     M'Xlokk Fischer     20

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

M'Xlokk had already beaten the Gozitans twice, on handsome victories, in the league campaign, and they followed on with another comfortable win, as they made their way into the final. Otters were once more without Christoph Martin.

After an early Otters strike, M'Xlokk replied strongly, with a five goal burst, but Otters scored twice more themselves. In the second sessiongoals were still pouring in at both ends. M'Xlokk put in Nello Xuereb in goal, vice Joseph Cremona, and Otters had Steve Dimech ejected from the match, with a red card. At the interval M'Xlokk were enjoying a good 11-7 advantage.

After the break a sort of status quo remained, as the two sides shared eight goals between them, with M'Xlokk holding on to their four goal advantage, at the end of the period, on a 15-11 score. The last session was a one way traffic, as Otters faded away, allowing M'Xlokk to take control, and they grabbed the opportunity to increase their lead five times, without any reply on their goal.

M'Xlokk had Ivan Vuksanovic with a nap hand of goals, and Milos Korolija scored four times. Otters' Edward Meli managed a poker goals. There were not that many man ups in this encounter. M'Xlokk scored twice from five occasions, and Otters scored on their opening man up, but failed the other two that they had.

Otters: R. Bonnici, M. Borg Millo, M. Paris 1, L. Gialanze , F. Kljajevic 2, E. Meli 4, G. Mizzi 1, S. Dimech , N. Paris 2, D. Borg Millo 1, S. Aksentijevic  , P. Theuma

M'xlokk: J. Cremona, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, M. Korolija 4, A. Galea 3,  C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja , N. Portelli 2, I. Vuksanovic 5, A. Zarb Cousin , R. Scerri , M. Lanzon 1, J. Xerri de Caro 2, N. Xuereb

Referees: R. Spiteri, M. Angileri