San Ġiljan continue to dominate the league
San Giljan Tum Invest Sliema Frank Salt (3-1), (4-2), (4-2), (5-3) 16 8
After securing the title last Saturday, San Ġiljan Tum Invest kept hoping to win the league with maximum points as they defeated Sliema Frank Salt 16-8 to claim the 13th consecutive win. Despite facing Sliema, it was a routine win for San Ġiljan, dictating play, scoring brilliant goals and leaving their opponents with no chance to keep up.
Sliema lacked Michael Spiteri Staines and Nicholas Bugelli, while San Ġiljan had their captain Matthew Zammit missing as he is still recovering from an ear infection, and was rested to play in next Saturday’s knock-out.
Jerome Gabarretta opened the score for Sliema as San Ġiljan started the match slowly. But as soon as they started to play, they managed to equalise with a goal from the right by Aurelien Cousin, went in front with a deflected shot from Ivovic and consolidated their advantage with a personal action by Dino Zammit.
In the second session, the rhythm of the game kept swaying towards San Ġiljan. The new champions continued to increase their advantage with co-ordinated attacks and good finishing as they controlled the game. Sliema were the most close to their opponents after Molina had made the partial score 5-3 with a brilliant backhand.
San Ġiljan’s lead continued to prolong gradually. Sliema responded to the goals by Ivovic and Dino Zammit with goals from Molina and a good lefthand shot by Zach Mizzi. But San Ġiljan extended their lead to six goals with a good run by Ben Plumpton and a typical shot by Ivovic to remove any doubts where the game was heading.
The last session was a formality, but San Ġiljan continued playing with their usual rhythm and scoring also wonderful goals, with Dino Zammit making the score 15-8 with a splendid backhand. Coach Marko Orlovic gave also the chance for the supporters to applaud Aleksandar Ivovic as he was substituted with three minutes left to spare.
J. Tanti, P. Borg (2), A. Galea (1), B. Grech, J. Galea, T. Said (1), B. Plumpton (3), Da. Zammit (1), A. Ivovic (4), A. Cousin (1), P. Fava, Di. Zammit (3), T. Micallef
R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta (3), E. Aquilina, C. Cluett, G. Molina (4), K. Dowling, B. Cachia, L. Galea, M. Meli, Z. Mizzi (1), R. Greco, Z. Sciberras
Mario Dalli, Alessio Acierno
Marsaskala keep their slim hopes alive Marsaskala Transcripta 11 Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 6 (4-2), (2-1), (2-3), (3-0)
Marsaskala kept their very slim hopes of winning the title alive, when they defeated bottomplaced Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 11-6. A deserved win for them as all in all they were better in attacking and defending, despite having their chief scorer Andrija Vlahovic tightly marked by the Spaniard Balasz Sziranyi.
Marsaskala won the first session 4-2, a lead they deserved as they were finishing their attacks more than their opponents. Mikhael and Jean-Claude Cutajar gave Marsaskala the lead twice but youngster Mattias Ortoleva equalised twice.
Marsaskala’s superiority resulted in a brace by centre Stephen Micallef, an advantage that gave a clear picture in the game.
Pierre Borg’s team continued to get the better of their opponents. They managed to open up a fourgoal lead through Nicholas Farrugia and Stephen Micallef, but Ta’ Xbiex held on and reduced the margin with a goal by Rheinhard Attard.
After the break, Ta’ Xbiex took advantage from the indecisions by Marsaskala and at times were even only a goal down. But the goal by Michele Agius assured that Marsaskala kept the margin of two goals ahead of the last session.
Ta’ Xbiex failed to produce another good session in the last eight minutes. They weren’t able to open up their opponents, and when they did, they missed chances from close range. Marsaskala needed a brace by Andrija Vlahovic to secure the points, as the first division top scorer rounded the win with a solo action.
K. Schembri, J.C. Cutajar (1), N. Farrugia (1), C. Bonello, A. Vlahovic (3), M. Cutajar (1), K. Navarro (1), J. Busuttil, S. Micallef (3), M. Agius (1), D. Cassar, B. Muscat
J. Micallef, B. Sziranyi, M. Camilleri, C. Farrugia, K. Mock, M. Ortoleva (4), E. Gravina, L. Saliba, M. Pullicino, R. Attard (2), M. Pace, L. Pace
Massimo Angileri, Alessio Acierno
Standings
San Ġiljan 13 13 Neptunes 12 8 Sliema 13 6 Sirens 12 4 Exiles 12 2 Valletta 12 1
First Division 0 0 0 2 2 2
P W D Marsaxlokk 10 8 0 Marsaskala 10 7 0 Otters 10 4 2 Birżebbuġa 9 3 2 Ta’ Xbiex 11 1 2 0 167 83 39 4 124 101 24 7 116 123 18 6 94 97 14 8 86 125 8 9 84 142 5 L F A Pts 2 100 73 24 3 98 76 18 4 88 90 14 4 69 64 11 8 57 109 5