EXILES ELIA CATERERS............ 12

MARSAXLOKK BROWN'S........ 15

(2-4), (3-3), (2-4), (5-4)

As if reaching their aim to play in Premier Division wasn't enough, Marsaxlokk Brown's Pharmacy continued to clinch important milestones in their history as they managed to upset Exiles Elia Caterers 15-12.

Marsaxlokk led by Joe Cremona, were almost in the lead for the whole game. They relied on the power of their foreigners Andrija Vlahovic and Ivan Nagaev who scored 11 out of the 15 goals.

This defeat is a big blow for Exiles as they now find themselves at the bottom of the table. Now the pressure is on them to avoid the last place as they will still be last after the second round, they will face the third team in the play-offs.

Keith Galea, Julian Rizzo Naudi and Andrija Vlahovic cancelled the opener by Nicky Paris. Mark Fenech responded for Exiles but Ivan Nagaev replied for Marsaxlokk.

Joe Cremona's team managed to widen the gap to an astonishing five goals in the second session but Exiles reacted in time and cut the deficit to only two goals by the end of the second session after goals by Milos Vukicevic, Marko Jelaca and Timmy Sullivan.

Marsaxlokk were determined not to let this game slip away and got another break in the first part of the third session, and regained their four-goal cushion after they responded twice in the last part to the previous goals by Jelaca and Vukicevic.

Marsaxlokk started the last session with a comfortable 11-7 lead and controlled the game and had a five-goal advantage with three minutes left on the clock. Exiles scored twice in the last two minutes but their efforts were in vain to avoid defeat.

Exiles: M. Castillo, M. Stellini, A. Magri, M. Jelaca (2), T. Sullivan (4), S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech (2), K. Griscti, M. Vukicevic (3), A. Cousin, N. Paris (1), P. Paris, M. Martin, S. Apap

Marsaxlokk: R. Coleiro, J. Rizzo Naudi (2), L. Calleja, M. Rizzo, T. Agius (1), J. Galea, A. Vlahovic (4), I. Nagaev (7), S. Micallef, R. Scerri, M. Pace, O. Zammit, F. Buhagiar, M. Pace, K. Galea (1)

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Andrea Zedda

 

TA' XBIEX AMIGOS....................... 9

MARSASKALA FISH AND FISH...... 15

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

Marsaskala Fish and Fish deserved to take the three points to climb momentarily above Birżebbuġa in second place. Ta' Xbiex were in the game but they failed to react in the third session which proved to be costly.

Ta' Xbiex won the first session 3-2 as goals from Jacob Saliba (2) and Niccolo Gitto cancelled the two goals scored from Kristijan Milakovic and Konstantin Averka.

Marsaskala had to react, especially after they were 5-3 down. They did it in style and scored four consecutive goals to end the second session 7-5 in front.

A quick goal by Averka in the beginning of the third session and another one by Jan Culic few minutes later gave Ta' Xbiex a difficult task to save the game. From then onwards, Dorian Pisani's team controlled the game.

They started the last session with a comfortable 11-6 advantage and won also the last session as Averka confirmed his quality with another two goals to finish the game as the best scorer.

Ta' Xbiex: Z. Sciberras, R. Greco, M. Demarco, N. Schiavone, M. Carani (1), S. Azzopardi, D. Fenech, N. Saliba, N. Kacar (2), G. Sammut, K. Tanti (1), N. Gitto (3), A. Theuma, J. Saliba (2)

Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, A. Camenzuli, M. Manara (1), M. Aquilina, L. Grixti, K. Navarro, K. Milakovic (3), K. Averka (7), J. Culic (1), R. Attard, M. Borg, L. Felice (2), J. Ciantar (1)

Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Stefano Alfi