Four-goal Soler puts Sliema back in the hunt

Neptunes 4
Sliema 8
(2-1 1-3 0-2 1-2)

Eternal rivals Sliema and Neptunes yesterday took to this keenly contested derby in which the stakes were high for both sides.

A win for leaders Neptunes would practically have meant defending champions Sliema being blotted out of the race. On their part, Sergio Afric's boys were eager to storm back into the title race and maximum spoils were on their agenda. In the end, the defending champions pulled off a fine win which meant that all is set for a pulsating three-horse race to the run up of this year's campaign.

Neptunes were found wanting in the man-up situations. While their opponents converted half of their ten chances, the Reds only managed a meagre two goals out of seven opportunities and this had a massive bearing on the outcome.

John Soler was Sliema's hero as he was a constant menace to the Neptunes' rearguard bagging half of his side's tally.

Neptunes were dealt a big blow by the ineligibility of key player Karl Galea who will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.

This was indeed a blow for coach Tony Camilleri who is hoping to steer his side to their first summer championship since 1993. The absence of the agile Galea was sorely missed especially in the final two sessions in which Neptunes scored just one goal.

To add to their woes, Stellini is still nursing a shoulder injury and is some way from hitting top form in this crucial phase of the championship.

The Blues drew first blood through the everpresent Soler but Neptunes bounced back thanks to Zammit and Lanzon's penalty which established a slender one goal lead by the end of the first session.

The tide turned into Sliema's favour in the second session.

Debono restored equilibrium and Soler's solid drive sailed into the net.

Neptunes did level the score as Licari's effort was somehow deflected by Soler and stunned Cachia in the Sliema goal. Falzon added to Sliema's tally as the Blues registered another one goal lead over their opponents.

The third session proved to be the turning point. Aquilina's goal was enough for Sliema to pull away from their rivals and when Niki Lanzon was fouled out, things were beginning to look bleak for the league leaders.

When Debono had the better of Cachia for the sixth time, the Blues' faithful burst into raptures as they smelt that a win was in the offing.

Neptunes had everything to play for in the final session but their assignment became an uphill struggle when Dorian Pisani was ruled to have fouled Aquilina as the latter was trying his luck at goal. Soler kept his cool to convert the penalty and register his personal hat-trick.

Afric called two time-outs in the final session to halt any potential comeback by Neptunes in the final six minutes. By now, Camilleri's side were a dejected lot and Dorian Pisani's strike served to restore some lost pride.

Sliema's final goal, courtesy of John Soler, was the icing on the cake. The legacy of the outcome meant that there is still everything to play for over the coming three weeks.

Neptunes: A. Cachia, N. Lanzon (1), D. Pisani (1), S. Camilleri, E. Cachia, D. Camilleri, J. Licari (1), C. Zammit (1), N. Gouder, M. Azzopardi, I. Azzopardi, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon (1), M. Manara, M. Galea Pace, M. Rizzo, J. Soler (4), J. Paris, K. Engerer, C. Debono (2), F. Cutajar, K. Schembri, I. Muscat, E. Aquilina (1).

Refs: S. Marchisello, M. Dalli

Go Mobile Sirens 13
Marsascala 5
(4-2 4-1 3-1 2-1)

Championship contenders Sirens kept the title race in check with an easy win over Marsascala.

It was a sweet victory for Bruno Cofino's side as the Italian dug deep into his tactical insights to lead his squad to a fine display while brushing aside the bitter taste of two consecutive defeats that jolted his side's stride towards the ultimate price.

More was expected from the south seasiders especially after their resilient outing against Sliema in their last match. Yesterday, Marsascala never came to grips with the situation as their opponents were slicker in every department and the match was as good as over by the end of the second session.

Sirens were cruising to an easy victory inside the first five minutes as they established a healthy four-goal lead. Cofino's lads found the going easier than expected as their opponents were guilty of some glaring misses in front of Caruana Dingli.

Marsascala did convert two man-up situations inside a minute to claw their way back into contention and brew the hypothesis that the match could after all be an even affair.

However, this was only a temporary reprieve as Sirens were soon again in the driving seat with three further goals that established an unassailable lead over their opponents. Marsascala threw in the towel early and the match threatened to develop into a no-contest.

It was more of the same in the third session as goalie Bugeja had to work overtime in an attempt to block the slick shots of the Sirens' players. Valletta notched two goals and Cutajar converted an unstoppable shot to add to mentor Pierre Borgís woes.

The last session was a low-key affair with three goals as hard currency. Xerri De Caro missed a penalty for Marsascala and as Degiorgio surpassed the dozen mark, Anthony Galea pulled a goal back for his side. Still, it was too little to disguise the massive divide between the two teams. Marsascala's hopes of remaining in the hunt for the championship are now as good as dead.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Fava (1), T. Galea (2), A. Farrugia, C. Gialanze, J. Xerri De Caro (1), C. Mercieca, J. Cremona (1), M. Borg, R. Cutajar, G. Borg, M. Zammit, D. Ciappara.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. DeBarro, K. Rizzo Naudi, P. Privitera (2), C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (3), J. L. Borg, D. Cutajar (3), K. Montfort, W. Degiorgio (1), A. Grech, J. Farrugia (1), N. Cassar (2).

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. Sardelitto.