SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST...9
SIRENS ASC........................7
(2-2), (3-1), (2-1), (2-3)
League leaders San Ġiljan Tum Invest had to fight hard to finish the game as winners, defeating a resilient Sirens side 9-7. Coach Marko Orlovic can be satisfied with the win, but will go to the drawing board thinking where his team could be better as players like Ben Plumpton and Dino Zammit had a frustrating evening.
Kudos goes to Sirens who fought bravely and despite finishing on the losers' side, coach Sergio Afric is surely proud of his team’s efforts. They were in the game from start to finish, and they put the leaders under pressure for most of the game, and if it wasn’t for the goals of Matthew Zammit, the game could have had a different ending.
The start of the game already gave an indication of what it was going to be like, as San Ġiljan had to rely on Aleksandar Ivovic to recover an early disadvantage after Presciutti and Brownrigg scored for Sirens. San Ġiljan started the second session better and went in front for the first time after a goal by Cousin. But Sirens equalised from Christian Presciutti after a quick man-up. Things were started to be complicated for San Ġiljan, but Matthew Zammit had other plans as he scored twice in the last part of the session to put his team 5-3 in the lead.
After the restart, Paul Fava responded immediately to the goal of Clint Mercieca to keep San Giljan's two-goal advantage, and after both teams failed to capitalise on two man-up occasions each, Matthew Zammit was at the right place as the right time to make the score 7-4 with less than a minute and a half to spare in the third session.
Jacob Sciberras scored early in the last session to keep his team with a chance. But after two minutes, Matthew Zammit regained the three-goal cushion. Presciutti kept his team’s chances alive with a goal with a bit more than two minutes left, but after they missed a great chance, Cousin sealed the game with a goal in the last seconds.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Grech, J. Galea, M. Zammit (4), B. Plumpton, D. Zammit, A. Ivovic (2), A. Cousin (2), P. Fava (1), D. Zammit, T. Micallef
Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, C. Presciutti (3), J. Sciberras (1), M. Grech, I. Riolo, J. Ciantar, D. Cutajar, J. Napier, J. Brownrigg (1), L. Caruana, O. Gauci, C. Mercieca (2)
Referees: Mario Dalli, Tommaso Boccia
Exiles confirm their improvement
EXILES JETFREIGHT.....9
VALLETTA UNITED......6
(2-3), (2-0), (2-0), (3-3)
This game brought up two confirmations; the improvement of Exiles Jetfreight and the decline of Valletta United. The final result of the game is a deserved reflection of the game as Exiles were better than their opponents and worked hard to deliver to their team their first win of the season.
On the other hand, Valletta lost another direct encounter and are so far are clearly looking to be the weakest team in the league. They are lacking in attack and also the determination to fight for each other compared to other teams.
The result is more disappointing for Valletta as they won the first session 3-2, and scored the other three in the last session when the result was done and dusted. Exiles endured a very positive two sessions scoring two goals and not conceding to take a 6-3 lead after the end of the third session. But not only, Dorian Pisani’s team had the game in control as they were keeping Valletta far from the post, while attacking collectively.
A left-handed goal by Stellini on top his left corner assured the win for Exiles, and from that moment till the final whistle, Exiles’ job was only to make sure of the win, as the level of play reduced its rhythm. Valletta managed to scored twice from left-hander Mark Fenech and Mock, while Xerri de Caro and Sullivan opened a partially five-goal advantage.
Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (2), S. Xerri de Caro (1), S. Nikic (2), K. Griscti (2), N. Paris, A. Bianchi (1), J. Bajada, L. Felice, S. Galea Pace
Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius (1), M. Rizzo, M. Fenech (2), R. Mock (2), D. Paolella, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina (1), B. Vapenski, K. Galea, D. Fenech, A. Mifsud
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Massimiliano Ruscica
First draw
OTTERS NIVEA...........7
TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS....7
(1-2), (1-1), (3-1), (2-3)
A great comeback in the last minutes of the game, saved a point for Ta’ Xbiex Amigos in a 7-7 draw against Otters Nivea. The Gozitan team may feel that they were unfortunate, but failed to control the match after having a three-goal advantage.
Ta’ Xbiex started the game on a positive note winning the first session 2-1 after goals by Sziranyi and Keith Tanti. But Otters equalised for the second time in the game with a goal from Hyzler in the second session, but Sziranyi assured that Keith Grima Scotts’ team finishes the session in front.
After the restart, Otters were by far better at it was no surprise that they managed to take the lead, with three consecutive goals from a brace by Jelaca and a goal between them from Luke Hyzler. Ta’ Xbiex reduced the margin to one goal from Edward Gravina.
Otters had to do without the services of their veteran Charlie Zammit who was sent off after passing remarks. His influential absence seemed to be adjusted, as Otters scored twice and seemed to close the affair, but Ta’ Xbiex had other plans and recovered their three-goal deficit from a brace by Kurt Mock and a brilliant powerful shot by Spaniard Balasz Sziranyi, with two minutes two spare.
Otters: J. Sammut, M. Borg Millo, A. Magri, L. Hyzler (2), E. Meli (1), D. Dimech, G. Mizzi (1), M. Jelaka (3), M. Paris, C. Zammit, M. Borg, C. Teuma, M. Xerri
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, M. Pace, M. Pullicino, G. Debono, C. Farrugia, K. Mock (2), B. Sziranyi (3), K. Tanti (1), E. Carabott, E. Gravina (1), R. Attard, N. Saliba, L. Pace
Referees: Tommaso Boccia, Alex De Raffaele