Sliema fall easy prey to Neptunes
Neptunes Grimaldi Sliema Bettsson (4-0, 2-2, 0-0, 2-1) 8 3
San Giljan didn't stay long at the top of the standings. Neptunes took their top position once more, with a commanding victory over the Blues, which leaves Sliema stranded, away from the top two league placings.
It seems that Sliema felt the absence of their Serbian coach, Dejan Milakovic, suspended for a match, and missing this important encounter. They were at odds and ends in the opening session, as Neptunes strode regally forward, to open up a solid advantage.
Sliema were never really able to make up the leeway, as they were left with a paltry three strikes, courtesy of the organised Neptunes rearguard, and a safe custodian, who thwarted his opponents time and time again, as Sliema had to try long distance shots, with the four metre area a prohibitive place for them.
As long as Sliema were not scoring, Neptunes felt that they were on safe ground, and played out the remainder of the match with satisfied minds. To make matters worse for the Blues they failed to score in all of their four man ups. Neptunes started well enough, netting their first two man ups, but then they were hit by the same Sliema bug, and wasted the other four that they had.
Neptunes began like a house on fire, shooting in their goals, a brace by skipper, Niki Lanzon, followed by Jeremy Abela and Steve Camilleri. Sliema were up against it from early on. Captain, John Soler, the 1000+ goal guy, pulled a goal back for Sliema, in the second period.
Cosmin Radu replied for Neptunes, with Edward Aquilina netting Sliema's second, only for Jordan Camilleri to restore Neptunes' four goal advantage, for a 6-2 score at the interval.
There were no goals registered after the break, the first time this season, but Neptunes had their minds at rest, with the lead they were enjoying. In the last quarter Marco Cuk finally scored for Sliema, after several failed attempts, but that was as far as they could get.
Till the end of the match Neptunes made the result safer. with more goals, by Steve Camilleri and Lanzon, for a comprehensive victory, which took them ahead of the champions, San Giljan, and Sliema languishing six points adrift.
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 3, C. Radu 1, M. Cutajar, T. Agius, M. Lanzon, S. Camilleri 2, J. Camilleri 1, J. Abela 1, M. Zammit, B. Lanzon, M. Azzopardi, M. Castillo
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta, E. Aquilina 1, C. Cluett, M. Meli, J. Soler 1, M. Fenech, T, Sullivan, J. Brownrigg, K. Dowling, M. Cuk 1, M. Fenech, Z. Sciberras
Referees: Bosco P. Balzan, G. Del
Sirens hop into fourth position
Sirens Ritter Sport Exiles Jetfreight (3-3, 5-2, 5-2, 3-2) 16 9
Sirens had a comfortable victory over the bottom side, to claim a fourth placing, as they now have a two point advantage over Valletta. Exiles had a good showing, in their narrow defeat against Sliema, but they were dominated by an efficient Sirens outfit, who overcame a good challenge in the opening session, and then dealt killer blows, to ease past their adversaries, and make sure well before the end of the match.
They were ably led by their Spanish import, Sergi Mora, who helped himself to a double hat trick. As regards man ups, Sirens managed three from seven, with exiles just slightly better, with four from seven.
The opening session finished all square, with Exiles opening the score, then tying score twice. Kurt Grixti, Kayne Lanzon and Milos Vukicevic were their scorers, with Sirens having Gabriel Pace, Mora and John Napier. Sirens forged ahead in the second session. After Sean Gravina had again tied for Exiles, after a Zach Mizzi strike for Sirens, there were Marc Grech, Mora, twice, and Jacob Sciberras opening Sirens' lead, with Vukicevic reducing Exiles' deficit, for an 8-5 advantage to Sirens, at the interval.
After the break Sirens kept going with a nap hand of goals, by Pace, Mizzi, Mora twice again, and Isiah Riolo, before Exiles managed two more strikes, by Sean Gravina, for a 13-7 score.
In the last period Pace and Mora increased Sirens' lead, with Vukicevic again netting for Exiles. Sean Gravina blotted a good performance, being shown the red card, after he was fouled out. Riolo scored his second for Sirens, with Daniel Borg Millo getting in among the scorers, for Exiles, with a late goal.
Sirens: N. Grixti , Z. Mizzi 2, S. Mora 6, G. Pace 3, M. Grech 1, I. Riolo 2, M. Balucci, D. Cutajar, J. Napier1, J. Sciberras 1, L. Caruana, N. Farrugia, M. Muscat
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi, D. Borg Millo 1, E. Gravina, S. Gravina 3, K. Grixti 1, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, L. Felice, M. Vukicevic 3, K. Lanzon 1
Referees: S. Licari, T. Pagani Division I League Marsaxlokk champions with three matches to spare
Marsaxlokk Fischer Ta’ Xbiex Amigos (3-3, 2-0, 1-3, 2-1) 8 7
Marsaxlokk became the new champions of the second tier of play, after a sixteen year absence, with their ninth straight victory, and with a last round to be played. Once more they were extended by a resilient Ta’ Xbiex side, as in their previous encounter, winning by the odd goal, a late one, to ensure their league success. It was a match of contrasts, with one side, then the other, scoring in bursts. Man ups were at a premium, with Marsaxlokk netting one from two, and Ta’ Xbiex also scoring once, but from three occasions.
Marsaxlokk opened up strongly, with a three goal spurt, two from Sean Meli and another from Ivan Vuksanovic. Ta’ Xbiex battled back to a level score till the end of the session, with strikes by Adam Maklari, with two, and Ben Grech.
In the next period Marsaxlokk again went in front, this time with a couple of goals, by Meli and Vuksanovic once more. There was no reply from Ta’ Xbiex, with Marsaxlokk on a double advanatge, at 5-3, at the interval.
After the break Ta’ Xbiex went one better, with three goals, from Meli, Michele Mifsud and David Fenech, going ahead for the only time in the match. Ranier Scerri had Marsaxlokk on a par till the end of the session, at 6-6.
In the last period skipper, Christian Gialanze, shot Marsaxlokk in front, but straight from the restart Mifsud had both sides level once more. Late in the match a Karl Galea goal settled the match, for Marsaxlokk. Ta’ Xbiex had occasions to tie the score, but it was to no avail, as Marsaxlokk held out, to claim their victory, and a championship title.
Marsaxlokk: D. Abela, C. Spiteri de Barro, L. Calleja, K. Galea 1, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja, S. Meli 3, I. Vuksanovic 2 , B. Buhagiar, R. Scerri 1, K. Navarro , GL Busuttil
Ta’ Xbiex: J. Tanti, A. Maklari 2, A. Camenzuli, B. Grech 1, E. Meli 1, K. Mock, M. Mifsud 2, J. Zerafa Gregory, G. Attard, D. Fenech 1, R. Attard, M. Camilleri, J. Micallef
Referees: Del Bosco Neptunes San Giljan Sliema Sirens Valletta Exiles A. Goncharenko, G.
Standings
P W D 9 6 3 9 6 2 9 4 3 9 3 2 9 3 0 9 0 0
PW Marsaxlokk 9 9 Marsascala 9 5 Ta’ Xbiex 9 4 Otters 9 0 D 0 0 0 0 L 0 1 2 4 6 9
F 105 105 84 80 87 76 L F 0 125 4 93 5 86 8 71 A Pts 66 21 75 20 76 15 80 11 105 9 135 0
Standings
A Pts 73 27 95 15 81 12 126 0