Sliema dismiss Marsascala to set up grand finale

Marsascala Breakers 5
Sliema Burger King 8
(0-2, 0-3, 2-2, 3-1)

So, it turned out to be what many were expecting since the start of the final round of matches.

Despite the scoreline, Sliema dispatched Marsascala in easy fashion to go level with Neptunes at the top and thus set the stage for Sunday's grand finale.

Yesterday, the Blues made sure they would not be caught on the wrong foot as was the case when they surprisingly came a cropper against the same opponents in the previous round.

They also fully cashed in on the added bonus of facing a team without kingpin Paul Privitera and the champions were a sure bet of coming out unscathed from this clash.

Marsascala's blank sheet on their five man-up sets contrasted sharply with Sliema's five on six. And that set the pattern for a meandering victory which was never in doubt despite Marsascala's late attempts to maintain some sort of combative stance which finally made their defeat look respectable.

Sliema seized their first man-up through John Paris with the southerners missing two similar situations, the last of which allowing Edward Aquilina an easy break before making it 2-0.

Zone shielding at both ends made for lumbering play with few chances for a clear shot or effective driving into the red zone.

In any case, the Blues seemed to be in total control against opponents who were fumbling all their open play and man-ups.

Marsascala were never in the picture at this point, missing out chance after chance. Mark Galea Pace was dismissed with substitution for showing dissent.

Aquilina potted goal number three to be followed by Francesco Cutajar whose shot from eight metres surprised Ian Bugeja. James Falzon rammed in another goal before ends were changed - 5-0.

Paul Fava broke his team's barren spell to reduce the leeway while John Soler immediately netted to maintain Sliema's 100 per cent record on man-ups and make it 6-1.

John Xerri de Caro flicked in to close the gap but by then the issue was practically settled. Soler's scorcher, once more on a man-up situation, again extended his team's advantage to five goals.

The last session was a formality with Sergio Afric apparently instructing his lads to calm their tempo without however losing concentration.

Anthony Galea breached the zone to start restoring a modicum of respectability in his team's adverse scoreline. There was a suspicion that Sliema may have gone too far in relaxing and this induced Afric to call a time-out. Soon after Kayne Lanzon reduced the gap to 7-4 with two and a half minutes left.

Paris hammered in goal number eight before John Licari again reduced the leeway. But, it had been Sliema all the way.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Spiteri de Barro, T. Galea (1), C. Gialanze, J. Xerri de Caro (1), J. Licari (1), L. Grixti, K. Lanzon (1), P. Fava (1), M. Borg Spiteri, S. Farrugia.

Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Falzon (1), E. Aquilina (2), M. Galea Pace, G. Lubrano, J. Soler (2), J. Paris (2), K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar (1), R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, D. Paolella.

Refs: P. Balzan, V. Vecchio.

Division Two

Otters 5
Ta' Xbiex M. Paradise 11
(1-1, 0-4, 3-2, 1-4)

Otters: R. Grech, D. Saliba (1), G. Zammit (1), S. Grech (3), J. Grech, B. Pavia, K. Mizzi, V. Fenech, A. Tabone, S. Scicluna, M. Tabone, P. Dimech, M. Vella.

Ta' Xbiex: C. Sciortino, G. Attard (1), K. Sciortino (2), A. Ferò, J. Zammit (1), D. Schembri (4), T. Boyd (2), S. Balzan (1), F. Testa, D. Debono.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, M. Caruana.