Routine wins for Neptunes and Sliema

Valletta McDonalds ........... 7 Neptunes WPSC ............... 13 (1-2), (1-4), (4-3), (1-4)

Neptunes found no difficulty defeating Valletta McDonalds to secure third place in the standings and will play the play-off between the third and fourth place, which incidentally can be Valletta.

Neptunes started the game on a high with two early goals by centre Jeremy Abela and the allrounder Jordan Camilleri, with Valletta reducing the margin from Mark Fenech. More goals came from Neptunes in the second session as they managed to widen their gap to four goals, despite Valletta reducing momentarily the gap to one goal after the fifth goal of the game scored by David Fenech.

Stephen Rizzo’s team made a mini-comeback in the third session scoring three of the first four goals of the session through a brace by Ryan Mock and a goal by Michael Rizzo. But Neptunes kept composure and scored twice from Agius and Camilleri to restore their fourgoal advantage. Michael Cordina scored the last goal of the session to keep Valletta with a slight chance.

But Zoran Maslovar’s team made sure of winning the game in the beginning of last session after goals by Azzopardi, Camilleri and Abela, while Valletta tried to limit the damages in the final minutes of the game.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, J. Spiteri Staines, A. Agius, M. Rizzo (1), M. Fenech (1), R. Mock (3), D. Paolella, N. Bonello Ghio, M. Cordina (1), D. Fenech (1), K. Galea, M. Agius, F. Buhagiar

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon (1), K. Erdogan, J. Culic, T. Agius (2), M. Tabone, S. Gravina (1), J. Camilleri (5), J. Abela (3), M. Zammit, M. Martellacci, M. Azzopardi (1), I. Bugeja

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Ronnie Spiteri

Exiles Jetfreight ................ 4 Sliema Betsson ................. 7 (2-1),(0-3),(2-2),(0-1)

Sliema Betsson won the Sliema derby as they claimed the fourth win of the season by beating a tough Exiles Jetfreight 7-4. Dorian Pisani’s team are cementing their place as a tough nut to crack, but they are still lacking behind their opponents. In fact Sliema didn’t dominate the game.

Sliema started the game with an early goal by left-hander Michael Spiteri Staines, but a brace by Timmy Sullivan turned the table. Sliema’s reaction came in the second session as Kai Dowling finished a good action from man-up, Mark Meli scored with a deflected shot and Nicholas Bugelli scored a good goal to put his team 4-2 in front.

Exiles caught Sliema off guard after the restart and hit their opponents with a quick fire double by Sullivan and Stellini. But a goal from Mizzi and Gabarretta, made sure that Sliema keep their two goal cushion. Sliema killed the game in the beginning of the last session with a typical left hand shot by Zach Mizzi.

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, J. Bajada, M. Stellini (1), T. Sullivan (3), S. Xerri de Caro, D. Borg Millo, K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi, S. Apap, L. Felice, S. Galea Pace

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta (1), E. Aquilina, C. Cluett, M. Meli (1), K. Dowling (1), M. Spiteri Staines (1), M. Mifsud, A. Mifsud, A. Attard, Z. Mizzi (2), N. Bugelli (1), Z. Sciberras

Referees: Mario Dalli, Alex De Raffaele