SLIEMA FRANK SALT............ 13 BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT.... 11 (3‑2), (5‑2), (3‑4), (2‑3)
Birżebbuġa Freeport’s efforts were not enough but the southseasiders ended the game with their heads held up high. They proved to be a tough nut to crack for their oppo‐ nents but paid for a slow start in the second session.
Sliema Frank Salt finished the game as winners but certainly they didn’t impress and for most of the time, there wasn’t much dif‐ ference between both teams. Character wise, Sliema still need to be ruthless to kill games and show that they really are title con‐ tenders.
Andrija Prlainovic opened the score from penalty but Jacob Sciberras and Darko Brguljan put Birżebbuġa in front. Prlainovic equalised again from penalty and Jayden Cutajar gave an advantage to Sliema with a goal in the last minute of the session.
During the first part of the sec‐ ond session, Sliema scored four consecutive goals to take a 7‐2 lead. At that point, many thought that the game would go in one di‐ rection but Birżebbuġa had other plans. They scored twice to cut the gap to two goals until veteran John Brownrigg kept Sliema with a three‐goal advantage.
Birżebbuġa’s aspirations of sav‐ ing the game grew as they scored twice in the first minute of the third session. Sliema tried twice to open a three‐goal lead but Birżebbuġa responded in both oc‐ casions. Benji Cachia’s goal half a minute before the end of the ses‐ sion seemed to ease the pressure off Sliema.
Although Sliema held a 13‐9 lead, Birżebbuġa still fought to stay in the game and in a few sec‐ onds they were only two goals be‐ hind Dejan Savic’s team. With three minutes still left, they still had ample time to recover but they couldn’t recover. They even missed a man‐up after John Brownrigg was excluded. In the end, Sliema controlled the last ac‐ tions to claim the three points.
Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea (2), J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi (2), B. Cachia (1), J. Cutajar (2), M. Mif‐ sud, J. Brownrigg (1), D. Kholod (2), A. Prlainovic (3), D. Zammit, A. Bugeja, E. Schembri
Birżebbuġa: M. Sladden, P. Borg (1), N. Cassar, B. Grech, D. Brgul‐ jan (1), M. Manara, R. Spiteri, D. Cutajar, B. Erdelyi (4), K. Tanti (1), G. Mannino (1), M. Curmi, C.D. Borg, J. Sciberras (3), D. Farrugia
Referees: Peter Balzan, Ric‐ cardo D’Antoni
TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS................... 8 NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS..... 21 (1‑5), (2‑6), (3‑6), (2‑4)
Another game and another win for Neptunes at this early phase of the season. It was a no brainer that someone would predict a win for Dorian Pisani’s team and won without playing to their best abil‐
ity. Despite losing, Ta’ Xbiex gave a good account of themselves against a team with different am‐ bition.
Neptunes got the ball rolling from the start and took a five‐goal advantage, two of them scored by captain Stevie Camilleri. Their continued to consolidate their ad‐ vantage in the second session as Camilleri scored another brace alongside Serbian Filip Filipovic.
Starting the third session 11‐3 in front, some fringe players had the opportunity to show that they have the quality to play with Nep‐ tunes. At one point, Ta’ Xbiex lev‐ elled the session until Neptunes widened the margin.
The last session was a formality. Neptunes’ reserve goalkeeper Marco Rossi got his moment in the game as he saved the penalty by Uros Vasic. Neptunes continued to control till the end, having also the time to win by a bigger margin after scoring three goals without reply.
Ta’ Xbiex: M. Vassallo, N. Schi‐ avone, L. Montebello Brownrigg (1), K. Grech (1), R. Mock, J. Sal‐ iba, K. Milakovic, U. Vasic (3), J. Culic, Z. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, G. Galea Curmi, M. Ortoleva (2), K. Agius (1)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, J. Mus‐ cat (4), S. Gialanze (2), G. Pace (2), M. Castillo (2), J. Bajada, S. Camilleri (6), J. Camilleri (2), F. Filipovic (3), A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Matteo Giacchini
MARSASKALA ESC................ 29 BARRACUDAS.......................... 3 (8‑1), (6‑0), (8‑2), (7‑0)
After claiming a point from three games, Marsaskala ESC kept their belief of making it to the Premier Division. They demolished help‐ less Barracudas 29‐3 in a match that Marsaskala wanted to win with a huge margin, considering that goal difference might come into play.
Marsaskala were always in the lead and built a 3‐0 advantage in the opening minutes. Barracudas reduced the margin partially until Marsaskala showed authority to take full control of the game as they stretched their lead to 8‐1.
Normally, a seven‐goal differ‐ ence after only a session paves the way for a win. Marsaskala made sure to avoid any surprises with another six consecutive goals scored by five different players.
Having the three points in the bag, Marsaskala’s aim was to win the game by the biggest margin possible, not to disrespect Barra‐ cudas but to help themselves for goal difference. Barracudas thought that they could limit the damage inflicted on them but Mark Carani and Bence Batori scored five goals between them in the last three minutes of the ses‐ sion for a 22‐3 lead.
Arpad Babay’s team continue to dominate in the last session. They took advantage from the only two man‐ups in the session and scored also a penalty. Hungarian Batori scored another four goals while Carani scored twice in the last minute to round off a huge win.
Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, G. Galea, P. Privitera, R. Greco, F. Salamon (5), K. Navarro (1), D. Tully, D. Pace Lupi (2), G. Sammut (1), J. Ciantar, M. Carani (9), A. Muscat, B. Batori (11), F. Scardino
Barracudas: I. Schembri, S. Debono Grech, A. Magri, P. Mi‐ callef, D. Ciantar (1), R. Sciortino, I. Gusarov (1), R. Latinovic (1), C. Bugeja, S. Apap, A. Mifsud, T.J. Mifsud, M. Borg, T. Perici Ferrante, W. Ruggier