SLIEMA FRANK SALT .......... 12 SIRENS BUILD FITNESS ........ 6 (2‑0), (2‑1), (3‑3), (5‑2)

After losing on penalties to San Ġiljan last Wednesday, Sliema Frank Salt returned to winning ways by defeating Sirens Build Fitness 12‐6. Ranko Perovic’s team offered a stern opposition of Sliema but still it wasn’t enough to beat Sliema. Sliema coach Giannis Katrouzanakis finally had the leisure of having Giacomo Can‐ nella making his debut.

The Italian put Sliema in front from penalty while Andreas Galea doubled the advantage as Sliema were solid in the first session. Dino Zammit even scored Sliema’s third in the second session until Daniil Merkulov reduced the gap. Cannella scored his second per‐ sonal goal to put his new team 4‐1 ahead.

Sirens had difficulties in attack but were still in the game. They tried to claw the gap and managed to in three separate occasions from Merkulov, Ken Erdogan and a brilliant lob by Gianni Farrugia, but Sliema were always ready to respond and kept the three‐goal margin everytime Sirens scored. Jayden Cutajar from penalty, Dino Zammit and Cannella from an‐ other penalty kept Sliema 7‐4 ahead.

Jake Cachia cut the gap to only two goals at the beginning of the last session. It was at this moment that Sliema upped their game and ascertained themselves to win the game after a penalty by Cannella and goals by Andreas Galea, Elijah Schembri and Jayden Cassar for an 11‐5 scoreline.

Peter Borg decreased the gap in the latter stages of the match. The encounter ended on a sour note as after Sirens goalkeeper Joseph Parnis was sent‐off with less than a minute till the end of the game, Dino Zammit scored from the sub‐ sequent penalty and celebrated in front of the Sirens bench, a cele‐ bration that could have been eas‐ ily avoided. Referee Andrea Doro reacted immediately and sent‐off Zammit.

Sliema: N. Grixti, E. Schembri (1), L. Galea, J. Gambin, G. Cannella (4), B. Cachia, J. Cutajar (1), D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg, A. Galea (2), Z. Mizzi, D. Zammit (3), M. Castillo, J. Cassar (1)

Sirens: M. Bonello DuPuis, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan (1), P. Borg (1), J. Cachia (1), K. Agius, D. Merkulov (2), I. Riolo, J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia (1), M. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi, J. Parnis, M. Ortoleva

Referees: Massimo Angileri, An‐ drea Doro

NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS ..... 11 VALLETTA IZIBET .................... 9 (3‑2), (2‑1), (3‑4), (3‑2)

At the end, it is still a win, but Aleksander Ciric’s eyebrows cer‐ tainly have been raised. This game was like when they crossed heads about a week ago but this time, Valletta had a better start than last time and stayed close to their op‐ ponents till the end.

Something has not been func‐ tioning for Neptunes during these last weeks. They look disjointed and are not showing the neces‐ sary fighting spirit to show their real qualities. On the other hand, Valletta have suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, but these per‐ formances show that they are get‐ ting closer to the top three.

One must remark the exemplary way in which both teams played. No aggressive play, no exagger‐ ated protesting, just both teams playing to win with respect.

Neptunes held a double advan‐ tage in the first session through goals by Sam Gialanze and Jake Muscat. Ivan Nagaev kept his team close by scoring twice to re‐ duce the margin to 3‐2. The sec‐ ond session was also balanced as Neptunes held the advantage without showing control. Jake Muscat and Dmitrii Kholod scored for Neptunes while Jacob Sciber‐ ras had reduced the margin par‐ tially to a goal.

Despite having a slim lead, Nep‐ tunes maybe thought they had control. But Valletta had other plans in the third session as Na‐ gaev decreased the gap, Kieyan Borg equalised, Nagaev put Val‐ letta ahead from a penalty and Matthew Mifsud doubled the lead – all in half a session.

Trailing 7‐5, Neptunes were stunned but reacted immediately. Captain Stevie Camilleri gave his team a much‐needed goal and Gabriel Pace equalised few mo‐ ments later. A turning point in the game happened at the last second of the session as Mark Castillo re‐ gained the lead for Neptunes with an opportunistic goal from the centre.

Jake Bajada made it 9‐7 in the beginning of the the last session and calmed a bit the situation. Val‐ letta were still in the game and Nagaev scored his fifth personal goal from penalty, but Stevie Camilleri kept the three goals cushion few seconds later. It was again the skipper who sealed the three points a minute and 15 sec‐ onds from the end.

Valletta kept playing and not only scored immediately but tried to attack to score another goal to stay with a very slim chance of sal‐ vaging a point in the dying sec‐ onds. They ended the game defeated but with their heads held high. For Neptunes it is time for reflection as they head to crucial moments.

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod (1), S. Gialanze (2), G. Pace (1), J. Camilleri, L. Mallia, S. Camil‐ leri (3), M. Castillo (1), J. Muscat (2), J. Bajada (1), A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja

Valletta: B. Busuttil, M. Mifsud (1), J. Sciberras (1), S. Busuttil, K. Borg (1), M. Zammit, I. Nagaev (6), S. Micallef, A. Agius, M. Chircop, K. Cremona, A. Bugeja, C. Mercieca

Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Anto‐ nio Torneo

FIRST DIVISION

OTTERS NIVEA ......................... 9 EXILES WELBEE’S ................. 11 (5‑3), (2‑1), (0‑5), (2‑2)

Otters: M. Xerri, M. Bonnici, K. Scicluna, K. Micallef, M. Meli (1), D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi (2), S.

Dimech, L. Dimech (1), P. Smilje‐ vic (4), M. Farrugia, A. Dimech (1), M. Grech, T.J. Mifsud

Exiles: Z. Dzanovic, Z. Cutajar Li‐ cari (1), Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi, M. Martellacci, N. Bonavia (1), D. Gogov (5), K. Griscti (3), N. Paris (1), K. Tanti, M. Fenech, N. Saliba, G. Galea Curmi, S. Cutajar Casha

Referees: Peter Balzan, Andrea Doro