Neptunes in overdrive gear as Sliema force decider
Sirens 4Neptunes 7(2-1 0-3 0-1 2-2)\nNeptunes stepped into overdrive to demolish holders Sirens in a match which had the Balluta Bay team displaying excellent tactics backed by a strong rearguard and powerful finishing. Sirens only lived with their...
Sirens 4
Neptunes 7
(2-1 0-3 0-1 2-2)
\nNeptunes stepped into overdrive to demolish holders Sirens in a match which had the Balluta Bay team displaying excellent tactics backed by a strong rearguard and powerful finishing.
Sirens only lived with their opponents until the end of the first quarter, with Tony Camilleri`s team applying effective total press, thus reducing the menance of the northerners to a bare minimum.
Moreover, Sirens` slow reflexes played into the hands of their opponents as several of their passes were either ill-timed or went astray.
Indeed, a series of fine saves from Joe Caruana Dingli restricted the damage for his team, who yesterday had Joe Attard replacing the suspended Bruno Cufino from Sirens` bench.
At the other end Adrian Cachia, too, looked solid throughout, while Edward Cachia continued where he left off in his team`s previous outing against Marsascala. Opportunistic goals from the fast-improving Michele Stellini, emulated by equally valid goals from Matthew Pisani, gave Neptunes the necessary oxygen to secure a strong platform.
Sirens continued fumbling, while the Reds grew taller as time went on. As is normal, some decisions from the referees drew protests from both factions, particularly a penalty against Sirens which helped Neptunes regain a three-goal advatanage on 6-3 in the last session.
Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri De Barro, N. Imbroll, P. Privitera (1), C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (1), J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio, S. Cachia, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar, A. Grech.
Neptunes: A. Cachia, N. Lanzon, K. Grima Scott, K. Galea (1), E. Cachia, D. Camilleri, J. Licari (1), C. Zammit (1), N. Gouder, M. Azzopardi, I. Azzopardi, M. Stellini (2), M. Pisani (2), A. Arrigo, G. Sammut.
Referees: M. Dalli, P. Balzan.
Sliema 8
Marsascala 5
(2-1, 2-1, 1-2, 3-1)
The 2002 winter league title issue is still on hold. Victory for Neptunes over the deposed winter champions Sirens in yesterday`s second match was followed up by Sliema`s win against Marsascala in the next clash on the programme.
These results necessitated a title-decider between the Balluta Bay team and the Blues, a match scheduled to be played probably on May 12.
The summer champions were banking on either a Neptunes` win or a draw in the preceding encounter in order to stake a claim for the pre-season honour.
A limpid 8-5 success over Marsascala was mainly procured thanks to the scoring virtuosity of John Soler and John Paris, with Kurt Engerer also getting among the goals.
The southerners stayed in the game till the third session after pulling back a two-goal deficit, only to go 5-4 behind before the last quarter started.
Another spurt from Sliema in the final session helped them drive home their advantage and pick the necessary points at the expense of a fighting Marsascala.
Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Tabone, M. Manara, M. Galea Pace, P. Cachia, J. Soler (2), J. Paris (3) K. Engerer (2), C. Debono (1), F. Cutajar, M. Psaila, I. Muscat, E. Aquilina, K. Schembri, R. Coleiro.
Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava (1), T. Galea (1), A. Farrugia, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri De Caro, C. Mercieca, J. Cremona (1), S. Micallef, R. Calleja, R. Cutajar, M. Zammit. D. Ciappara (2), G. Borg.
Referees: M. Ancilleri, M. Caruana.
San Giljan 2
Exiles 6
(2-0 0-4 0-1 0-1)
In the opening match of the afternoon Exiles recovered from a two-goal opening session deficit to romp home to a comfortable 6-2 victory over a fumbling San Giljan.
A four-goal flurry in the second quarter, which matured courtesy of a hat-trick from Jason Vella, secured the points for Dirk Dowling`s team. This was Exiles` third success in the competition, with their tally of points reaching the four-point mark. San Giljan, on their part, finished on a solitary point.
San Giljan: K. Sciberras, C. Grima, C. Bonello, M. Camilleri, N. Kerr, C. Bugeja, M. Lombardi (1), M. Zarb, G. Farrugia (1), M. Fava, G. Ghirxi, A. Borda, D. Saliba, K. D`Ugo, D. Debono.
Exiles: D. Camilleri, M. Grima, D. Pace Lupi (2), T. Sullivan, S. Grech, J. Cuschieri, A. Bruno, K. Rizzo Naudi, S. Borg, J. Vella (3), K. Lanzon (1).
Referees: A. Farrugia, M. Caruana
ASA U-19 15
Ta` Xbiex 6
(3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 4-2)
The improving ASA junior team made short-shrift of an otherwise disappointing Ta` Xbiex when beating them comprehensively to the tune of 15 goals to six.
The youths were absolutely on top as Michele Stellini helped himself to six goals to keep up his record, alongside Kayne Lanzon and Jonathan Valletta, of scoring in every match of the winter league programme.
One can conclude that it was a useful experience for the team guided by Anthony Farrugia, not the least in helping them compete reasonably well in the Euro championship qualifying round for Juniors in France last month.
ASA: N. Imbroll, G. Sammut, R. Calleja, D. Pace Lupi (1), T. Sullivan (1), E. Aquilina (1), J. Borg (1), J. Brownrigg (1), K. Rizzo Naudi (2), E. Enriquez (1), G. Ghirxi, M. Stellini (6), N. Gouder.
Ta` Xbiex: C. Sciortino, F. Testa (1), K. Saliba, C. D`Ugo (1), K. Sciortino, E. Pisani (1), D. Schembri, T. Boyd (2), P. Dimech (1).
Referees: P. Balzan, A. De Raffaele