SIRENS BUILD FITNESS 9
NEPTUNES VIDEOSLOTS 13
(3-2), (2-5), (3-5), (1-1)
Neptunes Videoslots finished in third place ahead of the play-offs and will eagerly wait to know their opponent following the clash between Sliema and San Ġiljan. It was a solid performance by Neptunes, a display that might give an indication that they could have turned a corner at the right time. Time will tell.
Sirens failed again to shine in a game when they were expected to. Follwing the debacle against Valletta and the average performance against San Ġiljan, Sirens needed this game to ascertain themselves of a precious third place.
Daniil Merkulov was the protagonist for Sirens during the first session. The Russian showed his quality by scoring a hat-trick with thunderous strikes. Neptunes could only equalise twice from Stevie Camilleri and Dmitrii Kholod while goalkeeper Joseph Parnis saved a penalty by Camilleri.
Neptunes turned the tables in the second session. Jake Muscat left his mark, scoring four of the team’s five goals scored during the session. First, he put Neptunes 4-3 in ahead, reacted after Merkulov equalised and late in the session made it 7-5.
Sirens needed a reaction in the third session and recovered the deficit through goals by ex-players Jake Cachia and Matthias Azzopardi. But this time, Neptunes made a bold reaction and not only regained the lead but opened an 11-7 lead following goals by Sam Gialanze, a brace by Jake Muscat and the third personal goal by Kholod.
Neptunes kept the four-goal lead margin at the beginning of the last session and never looked in danger of losing the game. Sirens were powerless to stage an improbable comeback. Stevie Camilleri sealed the win from penalty as the fifth personal goal by Merkulov served only as a consolation.
Sirens: M. Bonello DuPuis, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan, P. Borg, J. Cachia (1), K. Agius, D. Merkulov (5), I. Riolo (1), J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Farrugia, J. Chircop, M. Azzopardi (1), J. Parnis, M. Ortoleva (1)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod (3), S. Gialanze (1), G. Pace, J. Camilleri (1), L. Mallia, S. Camilleri (2), M. Castillo, J. Muscat (6), J. Bajada, A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja
Referees: Daniele Bianco, Alex de Raffaele
FIRST DIVISION
EXILES WELBEE’S 8
MARSASKALA OPTIMA 11
(0-5), (2-1), (3-3), (3-2)
Exiles: Z. Dzanovic, Z. Cutajar Licari, Z. Micallef, D. Pace Lupi, M. Martellacci, N. Bonavia, D. Gogov (3), K. Griscti (2), N. Paris, K. Tanti (1), M. Fenech (1), N. Saliba (1), G. Galea Curmi, S. Cutajar Casha
Marsaskala: A. Muscat, D. Ciantar (1), E. Manzi (4), J. Pace Mizzi, M. Carani (1), R. Greco, K. Navarro (2), M. Farrugia, K. Grech, G. Sammut (1), J. Ciantar (2), J. Colombo, M. Borg, L. Montebello Brownrigg
Referees: Daniele Bianco, Peter Balzan
TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS 12
BARRACUDAS 9
(3-3), (4-0), (3-3), (2-2)
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, J. Farrugia (1), V. Figliomeni, L. Grech Carr, F. Scardino (1), M. Jelaca (6), J. Saliba (2), A. Camenzuli (2), M. Soler, J. Culic, G. Gatt, P. Tabone, A. Theuma, T. Fenech
Barracudas: C. Borg, Ch. Bugeja, N. Farrugia (1), P. Micallef, W. Ruggier, R. Sciortino, N. Rizzo, J. Schembri Young, S. Apap, M. Guidi (5), L. Pursehouse (1), C.J. Saliba (1), A. Micallef, G. Massa (1)
Referees: Federico Braghini, Ronnie Spiteri
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 10 5 2 3 125 112 18
Sirens 10 4 0 6 94 119 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 10 6 0 4 133 104 18
Marsaskala 10 5 1 4 114 108 17
Ta’ Xbiex 10 4 1 5 103 116 13
Otters 9 4 0 5 93 87 12
Barracudas 10 0 0 10 78 165 0
*2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser if the game must be decided on penalties
Fixtures for Today
Valletta v Birżebbuġa 5.30pm
San Ġiljan v Sliema 6.45pm
Marsaxlokk v Otters 8.00pm