MARSASKALA ESC................... 9 VALLETTA IZIBET................. 17 (2‑4), (2‑4), (2‑4), (3‑5)
A second win in three days per‐ mitted Valletta to take solely fourth place at the end of the First Round. Another positive display from Joe Cremona’s team, dominated by the sharp‐ ness of Ivan Nagaev, author of ten goals on the day. Marsaskala were not in the game like usually and they didn’t have the strength to defend collectively.
Marsaskala held a 2‐1 lead dur‐ ing the first session but that was the only time they were in front during the match. Soon as Val‐ letta hit through a brace by Na‐ gaev and Vlahovic to take a 4‐2 advantage, Marsaskala never re‐ covered.
Valletta consolidated their lead to 7‐3 in the second session and despite the goal by Jake Ciantar for Marsaskala, Nagaev scored his sixth personal goal in the game to keep their opponents four goals adrift.
As things stood, Marsaskala were still with a chance to re‐ cover but Valletta were smarter on the day. Nagaev continued to dictate the agenda of the game with another two goals while Jayden Cassar scored in between as Valletta’s lead became 11‐4. Marsaskala clawed two goals back, but Vlahovic secured that Valletta start the last session with a comfortable six‐goal ad‐ vantage.
Valletta kept controlling pro‐ ceedings during the last session. Nagaev scored another two goals early in the session, Ferenc Sala‐ mon responded for Marsaskala with a brace of his own while
Vlahovic also scored two goals late in the game as Valletta cruised to a comfortable win.
Marsaskala: J. Micallef, J.C. Cu‐ tajar (1), G. Galea, P. Privitera (1), R. Greco, F. Salamon (3), K. Navarro, J. Pace Mizzi, D. Pace Lupi, G. Sammut, J. Ciantar (3), M. Carani, A. Muscat, T. Sedlmayerm (1), F. Scardino
Valletta: B. Busuttil, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Rizzo, J. Cassar (2), S.
Busuttil, A. Vlahovic (5), D. Paolella, I. Nagaev (10), S. Mi‐ callef, A. Agius, K. Borg, K. Cre‐ mona, A. Theuma, M. Demarco, J. Chircop
Referees: Andrea Zedda, Richard Magri
SLIEMA FRANK SALT........... 14 SIRENS....................................... 8 (3‑2), (3‑0), (6‑1), (2‑5)
Both teams were coming for negative results and needed this game to turn the tide in their favour. Sliema were dominated by San Ġiljan on Tuesday while Sirens lost to Valletta. Coming from bad performances, this win was a must.
Sliema didn’t have their best game but cruised to the three points quite easily. Sirens failed to react following the loss in the last match and played again below their standards. Sirens were only a stern opponent dur‐ ing the first session as not only they had a lead, but they looked more composed and focused.
After the goal by Andrija Prlain‐ ovic that put Sliema 3‐2 in the lead right at the end of the ses‐ sion, Sliema never looked back. They consolidated their advan‐ tage with three consecutive goals coming from Benji Cachia, Dmitrii Kholod and Prlainovic.
Sirens were still with a chance to react and stay in the game, but Sliema had other plans. They im‐ mediately widened their lead to 9‐2 a result that didn’t let Sirens to stage a comeback. Matyas Pasztor reduced the gap but Liam Galea and a brace by Jayden Cutajar continued Sliema’s surge to the win.
Sirens managed to at least limit the damage in the last session, al‐ though it was just a consolation to patch up their performance. Pietro Figlioli scored twice alongside Pasztor, Gabriel Melillo and Jerome Zerafa Gre‐ gory.
Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea (4), J. Gambin, Z. Mizzi (2), B. Cachia (2), J. Cutajar (2), M. Mifsud, J. Brownrigg, D. Kholod (1), A. Prlainovic (2), D. Zammit (1), A. Bugeja, E. Schem‐ bri
Sirens: T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan, P. Figlioli (3), J. Zer‐ afa Gregory (1), G. Farrugia (1), M. Chircop, G. Melillo (1), M. Cu‐ tajar, M. Pasztor (2), M. Sciber‐ ras, M. Azzopardi, M. Bonello Dupuis, J. Cachia, G. Sammut
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Luca Bianco
MARSAXLOKK BROWN’S..... 26 OTTERS NIVEA....................... 16 (6‑3), (8‑4), (5‑4), (7‑5)
Marsaxlokk Brown’s Pharma recovered in style by easily de‐ feating Otters Nivea. They were coming from a defeat against Birżebbuġa in a top of the table clash earlier this week and needed the win to regain their focus.
Otters equalised twice during the first session but after Sasa Misic scored twice, Otters never recovered. Marsaxlokk won the first session 6‐3 and despite Ot‐ ters’ efforts to cut the gap to two goals only, Marsaxlokk re‐ sponded with another brace by Misic as Aleksandar Ciric’s team began to comfortably stretch their lead.
By the end of the second ses‐ sion, Marsaxlokk had already se‐ cured the three points. They still won the third session after Nikola Moskov scored two goals late in the session. They also con‐ trolled the last session as Moskov showed his strength, scoring four goals.
Marsaxlokk: Mi. Farrugia, B. Zammit (2), Ma. Farrugia (1), N. Moskov (9), J. Valletta (2), M. Za‐ mmit (2), M. Aquilina (1), R. Galea (1), S. Misic (6), E. Bonnici, L. Mallia (1), S. Mifsud, A. Cook (1), G. Gatt
Otters: M. Xerri, K. Scicluna, M. Meli (1), M. Jelaca (5), I. Az‐ zopardi, S. Dimech (1), L. Dimech (3), J. Saric (4), M. Farrugia (1), A. Dimech, M. Grech, K. Micallef, A. Bianchi (1)
Referees: Peter Balzan, Stefan