Three points for Neptunes Videoslots that gave them third place ahead of their clash against Sirens. They had to work harder than expected to claim the win as Birżebbuġa Freeport stayed close during the whole game.
A huge difference was that Neptunes were not at their full strength due to a decision made by their coach Aleksander Ciric, not to utilise Stevie Camilleri and Dmitrii Kholod before the last session while regular goalkeeper Alan Borg Cole stayed on the bench. These decisions gave Birżebbuġa a better fighting chance/
Birżebbuġa were 2-1 ahead midway through the first session after a brace by Alberto Barroso. Neptunes reacted and equalised immediately from Jake Muscat and opened a 5-2 lead following goals by Mark Castillo and a couple of goals by Alec Fenech.
At the end of the first session, many might have thought that Neptunes shrugged off the early moments, but Birżebbuġa reacted bravely and pulled three goals back to equalise in the middle of the second session. Like what happened in the first session, Neptunes responded immediately and ended the session 7-5 after goals by Sam Gialanze and Dean Bugeja.
Ben Grech pulled one back at the beginning of the third session until a hat-trick of goals gave Neptunes a much needed 10-6 advantage. Birżebbuġa stayed in the game and reduced the deficit to 11-9 in the last two minutes of the session.
Stevie Camilleri and Dmitrii Kholod were put into the fray and the captain soon responded with a goal of his own in the beginning of the last session. Neptunes closed the game midway through the last session as they had built a four-goal lead. Birżebbuġa managed to score twice in their last attacks of the game until Sam Gialanze scored the last goal of the game.
San Ġiljan JP Projects returned to winning ways by beating Sirens Build Fitness to stay with a chance to finish on top before the play-offs. During the first two sessions, Sirens were more compact but as soon as San Ġiljan built a comfortable lead, there was no way back for Ranko Perovic’s team.
San Ġiljan had to recover from a slow start and only took the lead two minutes from the end of the first session. Nico Schiavone put his team 3-2 but few seconds later, Daniil Merkulov equalised, and Russell Caruana had to intervene to keep his team one goal ahead.
Darren Zammit and Aaron Younger gave San Ġiljan a three-goal cushion, but Merkulov responded again for Sirens. Captain Matthew Zammit regained the advantage in a session where San Ġiljan had two penalties saved by youngster goalkeeper Matthew Bonello DuPuis.
Zeljko Kovacic’s words seemed to inspire his team as San Ġiljan dominated the third session and assured themselves the win. Jake Bonavia, Aaron Younger, Nikolai Zammit twice, Russell Caruana and Daniel Tully gave the champions a more than comfortable 13-4 lead.
During the last session, San Ġiljan continued to control the game as Sirens knew already their fate before the final moments of the game. San Ġiljan managed to stretch their lead to claim a big win.
NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS 15
BIRŻEBBUĠA FREEPORT 12
(5-2), (2-3), (4-4), (4-3)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod, S. Gialanze (2), G. Pace (1), J. Camilleri, L. Mallia, S. Camilleri (1), M. Castillo (3), J. Muscat (4), J. Bajada (1), A. Fenech (2), E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja (1)
Birżebbuġa: M. Sladden, M. Aquilina (2), N. Cassar, B. Grech (1), I. Galea, M. Manara (1), A. Barroso (4), J. Cauchi, D. Farrugia, M. Cutajar (1), M. Mannino (2), M. Curmi, S. Livori, D. Incorvaja (1)
Referees: Stefan Licari, Marco Piano
SAN ĠILJAN JP PROJECTS 18
SIRENS BUILD FITNESS 7
(4-3), (3-1), (6-1), (5-2)
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, N. Bugelli, D. Tully (2), R. Caruana (2), A. Younger (5), M. Zammit (1), J. Bonavia (2), A. Formosa, J. Abela (1), N. Zammit (2), D. Zammit (2), N. Schiavone (1), G. Borg, G. Bonavia
Sirens: M. Bonello DuPuis, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan, P. Borg (1), J. Cachia (1), K. Agius, D. Merkulov (2), I. Riolo, J. Zerafa Gregory (1), G. Farrugia (1), J. Chircop, G. Melillo, J. Parnis, M. Ortoleva (1)
Referees: Ronnie Spiteri, Mirko Schiavo
FIRST DIVISION
MARSAXLOKK MFF 17
EXILES WELBEE’S 14
(4-3), (6-4), (4-4), (3-3)
Marsaxlokk: M. Farrugia, M. Lanzon (1), A. Cook, A. Aquilina, T. Agius, J. Valletta (1), R. Spiteri, J. Pawley, R. Galea (3), J. Borg Tabone (1), F. Valera (9), R. Attard, A. Fava (1), S. Mifsud (1)
Exiles: Z. Dzanovic, Z. Cutajar Licari, Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi (1), M. Martellacci (2), N. Bonavia (1), D. Gogov (4), K. Griscti (1), N. Paris, K. Tanti (3), M. Fenech (1), N. Saliba, G. Galea Curmi, S. Cutajar Casha (1)
Referees: Massimo Angileri, Marco Piano
Premier League
P W D L F A Pts
Sliema 9 8 1 0 138 92 25
San Ġiljan 9 6 3 0 146 85 23
Neptunes 9 4 2 3 112 103 15
Sirens 9 4 0 5 85 106 12
Valletta 9 2 0 7 114 135 6
Birżebbuġa 9 0 0 9 76 150 0
*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties
First Division
P W D L F A Pts
Marsaxlokk 9 9 0 0 146 87 27
Exiles 9 6 0 3 125 93 18
Marsaskala 9 4 1 4 103 100 14
Otters 9 4 0 5 93 87 12
Ta’ Xbiex 9 3 1 5 91 107 10
Barracudas 9 0 0 9 69 153 0
*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties
Upcoming Fixtures
Tomorrow
First Division
Exiles v Marsaskala 6.00pm
Ta’ Xbiex v Barracudas 7.15pm
Premier Division
Sirens v Neptunes 8.30pm
Saturday
Premier Division
Valletta v Birżebbuġa 5.30pm
San Ġiljan v Sliema 6.45pm
First Division
Marsaxlokk v Otters 8.00pm