Sliema see off Exiles
Sliema 9Exiles 3(2-2, 3-1, 1-0, 3-0)\nSliema made it maximum points from three outings after seeing off neighbours Exiles in a game played in front of a handful of spectators. Piloting his outfit from the bench against his former team, Marco Manara...
Sliema 9
Exiles 3
(2-2, 3-1, 1-0, 3-0)
\nSliema made it maximum points from three outings after seeing off neighbours Exiles in a game played in front of a handful of spectators.
Piloting his outfit from the bench against his former team, Marco Manara drew full dividends in the opening sessions, both tactically and in scoring terms on man-up sets. Exiles even had the audacity of nosing in front early in the second quarter.
Midway through the session, the Blues regained the lead. Exiles were unable to maintain their early tactical lucidity, but still they kept battling. Their double on the centre was yielding results except for the occasional distant pot at goal from the unmarked man.
The 5-3 second session lead for the Blues was increased by just one goal before the final part of the game. The Blues just could not raise their game.
Two goals early in the last session eased their worries. Matters improved for Sliema, despite not having reached double figures. That was of no importance for them. But it was a gritty display from Exiles.
Sliema: J. Cachia, B. Borg, S. Decesare, M. Galea Pace (1), M. Meli, J. Soler (3), J. Paris (2), K. Engerer (1), C. Debono (1), F. Cutajar, D. Paolella, I. Muscat (1), A. Bianchi, G. Lubrano, R. Coleiro.
Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (1), T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, M. Psaila, A. Arrigo, J.J. Tabone, S. Balzan, S. Borg (2), J. Vella, M. Calleja, M. Decesare, J. Cuschieri.
Refs: M. Dalli, M. Ancilleri.
Sirens 10
ASA Youths 3
(2-0, 4-0, 1-0, 3-3)
Both Sirens and the ASA Under 17 selection were understaffed as they locked horns in the 'uncompetitive' encounter of the weekend.
Whereas the St Paul's Bay outfit had the likes of Joe Caruana Dingli, Jonathan Valletta and Karl Montfort flexing their muscles in the adjacent diving pool, John Brownrigg, Andrea Bianchi and Julian Rizzo Naudi (playing for Sirens) did not make it for Anthony Farrugia's team.
The northerners took some time to get off the mark. They struck twice in the opening session, before running into a smoother scoring gear in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead.
Nicholas Imbroll, in Sirens' goal, had little to worry about except for a couple of shots from Steve Camilleri.
After a third session slump in the scoring rate, Sirens regained potting touch in the last quarter, with the selection emulating them as six goals were shared.
Sirens: N. Imbroll, C. Spiteri Debarro (2), K. Rizzo Naudi, J. Rizzo Naudi, C. Cauchi, J. Borg, D. Cutajar (3), T. Debono, W. Degiorgio (2), S. Cachia (1), J. Farrugia, N. Cassar (2), R. D' Amato, L. Borg.
ASA Youths: R. Coleiro, S. Camilleri (1), G. Lubrano, B. Borg, M. Meli (1), M. Vella, M. Brownrigg, G. Bartolo, S. Gravina, D. Paolella (1), M. Zammit, C. Bonello.
Refs: P. Balzan, M. Caruana.