Sirens again come from behind to kill Neptunes

Sirens 7
Neptunes 4
(0-2, 1-1, 5-0, 1-1)

Season 2003 will be one which Neptunes will do well to consign to anonymity. Their toothless team contrived to make a mess of most of their matches and the high turnover in terms of players and, for that matter, coaches engaged, has once more failed to draw any dividends.

Not so Sirens, a team which may not have had any grand aspirations at the beginning of the season. However, coach Joe Attard, another ex-Neptunes mentor, banked on a nucleus of players who are on the upward graph, besides deriving the full benefit of his established cogs.

The spirit in his squad is supreme and the tactical sets, well-charted as they are, are executed with precision in the water.

Yesterday's match was a replica of the previous clash between the same teams. Only that this time, Sirens ran into full throttle in the third session to turn a 1-3 deficit - it was 0-3 at one time - to a 6-3 advantage.

They then controlled their fumbling opponents with ease to win handsomely and regain their two-point lead over Sliema. The title race is now pointing to a showdown between Sirens and the Blues.

Loose marking at both ends lured shots from a distance. Michele Stellini capitalised on one such opportunity to hit in a scorcher from beyond the ten-metre mark.

Sirens had lost their man-up seconds earlier. Karl Galea's push-shot on a break extended the Reds' lead to 2-0. Neptunes were definitely showing the better ideas when in possession.

Neptunes missed their first man-up set but Niki Lanzon scored a brilliant goal when he broke before lobbing cutely past Joe Caruana Dingli.

It was almost a carbon copy of the first game between the two sides as Neptunes were in total command in the opening session.

However, Jonathan Valletta gave Sirens a lifeline on a semi-break to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Neptunes' second squandered man-up gave the northerners further impetus but the scoreline remained unaltered till the end of the second session.

Sirens were forced to pull all their plugs. Christoff Cauchi's skimmed ball from eight metres, this time deceived Niki Gouder for a 3-2 scoreline.

The Reds' deep block on a man-down forced their opponents to waste their second opportunity. Play at this stage became more balanced and Cutajar was able to net from an angle. Sirens sensed they could lift their game.

Neptunes failed a man-up and paid the penalty when conceding a fourth goal courtesy of Karl Montfort.

It seemed as if Neptunes stalled suddenly. Spiteri De Barro, an improving player, won a tussle to make it 5-3.

Montfort heaped further misery on the Reds to net the sixth goal with a lob. Neptunes missed their fourth man-up before the third quarter was up.

Dean Camilleri was brought on for Gouder. The Reds looked a demoralised lot. Their fifth squandered man-up testified to this.

At least, Galea reduced the arrears on a break with six minutes 40 seconds to go.

Sirens had another man excluded, but again fluffed up their set. They were tempted into calming down the game to conserve their lead. The Reds, on their part, were forced to go for press.

The trailing Valletta cashed in on Neptunes missed six-on-five set to make it 7-4, two minutes 30 seconds from time.

It had long been all over. Sirens' grand recovery in the third session was the vital turning point. Now they look forward to battling out the last matches with loads of confidence.

Neptunes' misery was total. It has been ten long years since they have clinched a league honour.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri De Barro (1), K. Rizzo Naudi, S. Cachia, C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (2), J. Borg, D. Cutajar (1), K. Montfort (2), W. Degiorgio, N. Imbroll, J. Farrugia, N. Cassar.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (1), S. Camilleri, K. Galea (2), E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, C. Zammit, David Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini (1), M. Pisani.

Refs: M. Di Chiara, M. Caruana.