SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS SLIEMA FRANK SALT 8-6 (1-1), (1-2), (4-1), (2-2)
Sliema Frank Salt suffered another psychological blow to their season as lost another direct encounter. Although the league will be decided by play-offs, this defeat means that should Sliema play against San Ġiljan in the play-offs, they would start the best out of three series, 1-0 behind.
San Ġiljan paced themselves during the game with coach Zeljko Kovacic even introducing the returning but not physically fit Matthew Zammit sporadically. Sliema are not far away from their rivals but missing their centre Jerome Gabarretta is proving to be a huge absence amongst other technical issues.
Nikolai Zammit broke the deadlock two minutes before the end of the first session, but Liam Galea equalised few seconds later, converting a man-up situation. Zammit converted successfully a penalty early in the second session but Sliema took the lead for the first time through a brace by Liam Galea.
But San Ġiljan opened the third session on the best note possible. Peter Borg tapped in to equalise, Ben Plumpton put San Ġiljan in the lead with a perfect top corner shot and a minute later, Mattias Ortoleva doubled their lead. Dino Zammit pulled one back but Russell Caruana kept the two goal lead for San Ġiljan.
Sliema needed a last effort in the last session and at times they were looking to be successful. Dino Zammit scored a man-up while Benji Cachia lobbed over Jake Tanti, responding to the goal by Nikolai Zammit a few seconds before. There was still much to play for, San Ġiljan were leading 7-6.
Despite only a goal difference, Sliema failed to convert an important man-up and also didn’t test a lot Jake Tanti in goal. San Ġiljan controlled well the last minutes and sealed the win with a brilliant shot by Ben Plumpton in the last minute.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg (1), A. Galea, N. Schiavone, R. Caruana (1), M. Zammit, B. Plumpton (2), D. Tully, J. Bonavia, N. Zammit (3), D. Zammit, N. Bugelli, M. Ortoleva (1), D. Fero
Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea (2), D. Rizzo, M. Meli, B. Cachia (1), J. Cutajar, M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, J. Gambin (1), Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit (2), A. Theuma, K. Borg
Referees: Alessio Nicholai, Alex de Raffaele
SIRENS MECCA MARINE BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT 9-11 (1-1), (4-2), (1-6), (3-2)
Birżebbuġa Freeport probably produced their best performance this season, defeating their direct rivals Sirens Mecca Marine 11-9. Pierre Borg’s side made the difference in the third session, turning the tables and left Sirens stunned.
Christian Mifsud gave Birżebbuġa the lead late in the first session but Matthew Chircop responded few seconds later. Sirens had the upperhand in the second session and gained a double advantage twice, 4-2 and 5-3 respectively.
Whatever Pierre Borg told his players at the break seemed to have inspired them as Birżebbuġa were firing on all cylinders. Giuseppe Mannino, Keith Tanti, Ben Grech, Christian Mifsud and Ryan Mock all scored consecutively as Birżebbuġa now led 8-5. Napier reduced the gap but Mifsud scored at the end of the session. Goalkeeper Miguel Vassallo distinguished himself in this session, saving two penalties.
Sirens needed a perfect last session to save the game. Despite their efforts, Sirens couldn’t find the weak spot of their opponents. Birżebbuġa on the other hand, were brave enough to fend off any potential comeback from Sirens and responded twice to the goals of their opponents.
Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan, J. Sciberras (2), J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia, M. Chircop (1), I. Riolo (1), J. Napier (1), M. Cutajar (1), M. Sciberras (2), M. Azzopardi (1), M. Bonello Dupuis, G. Melillo, K. Agius
Birżebbuġa: M. Vassallo, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar, B. Grech (1), C. Mifsud (3), R. Mock (1), N. Fenech, D. Cutajar (1), D. Farrugia, K. Tanti (2), G. Mannino (3), M. Curmi, M. Sladden, S. Bezzina, G. Sammut
Referees: Stefan Licari, Giuliana Nicolosi
BOV FIRST DIVISION
M’SKALA FISH AND FISH 13
TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS 6
(4-0), (3-1), (3-1), (3-4)
Marsaskala: J. Micallef, F. Scardino, A. Camenzuli, R. Greco (1), G. Galea, K. Navarro, M. Manara, D. Pace Lupi (4), G. Sammut (4), J. Ciantar (4), M. Carani, A. Muscat, S. Fava, L. Falzon
Ta’ Xbiex: R. Coleiro, C.J. Saliba, E. Aquilina (1), J. Pace Mizzi, E. Meli, S. Engerer, J. Saliba (3), J. Cassar (1), E. Schembri (1), Z. Cutajar Licari, B. Attard Littschwager, J. Chircop, Z. Dzanovic, P. Tabone, T. Fenech
Referees: Alesio Nicholai, Lucas Falzon