Neptunes remain in the hunt

Sirens 8
Neptunes 10
(3-1, 1-3, 2-2, 2-4)

Neptunes Vodafone's hopes of striking league success for the first time since 1993 were again revived after a nightmarish double setback at the hands of Sliema and Marsascala last week.

They somehow rediscovered their waning spirits and at the same time summoned their shooting skills to beat Go Mobile Sirens for the third time this season.

The Balluta Bay team's victory, besides doing their cause a lot of good, has jolted Sirens' aspirations for silverware this year.

Given that there is little between the four teams forming the top division, the St Paul's Bay team may still bounce back into contention, despite a three-point deficit there is between them and Neptunes.

Yesterday Bruno Cofino's team were let down by their wrong tactics of going for zone marking, a ploy which was almost fully exploited by Neptunes' shooters. David Camilleri, Charlie Zammit and Dorian Pisani cashed in on their opponents' strategy to net seven out of their team's ten goals.

Otherwise the Reds were again found somewhat wanting on their man-up sets, even if their three on eight statistics were boosted by two important late goals.

Neptunes went for close marking with Sirens relying on half zone to form a platform for the fast counter. The St Paul's Bay team drew first blood through David Cutajar who netted from a man-up.

Niki Lanzon broke to lob cutely for a momentary equaliser, but Cutajar deceived the advanced Adrian Cachia to put Sirens ahead.

With 46 seconds to go for the end of the first quarter Paul Privitera made it 3-1.

Neptunes were forced to pull up their sleeves and it was David Camilleri who netted two goals within almost two minutes to level matters on three-all.

Neptunes kept wasting most of their extra-man opportunities but the veteran Dorian Pisani deceived the otherwise alert Joe Caruana Dingli to put his team ahead for the first-time. Towards the end of the second session Chris Cauchi resolved a man-up situation to make it 4-4.

It was tit for tat during the third session with both teams missing out on their man-up sets. By now press from either end became less stringent especially from Sirens and players on the outside positions were being lured to have a pot at goal. C. Zammit's shot took a deflection off John Farrugia and Neptunes were 5-4 ahead. The outstanding David Camilleri's scored his third personal goal to open a two-goal lead for Neptunes.

But Sirens responded through the opportunistic David Cutajar who also reached his hat-trick. They equalised through Jonathan Valletta whose shot at goal was inadvertently deflected by Charlie Zammit.

Both teams had everything to play for in the last quarter. Marking was still on zone by Sirens.

The exchanges now took titanic proportions. Edward Cachia, on two personal faults, flicked cutely in on a man-up to put Neptunes 7-6 ahead. Both goalkeepers were still pulling off fine saves.

John Farrugia was quickly served on a man-up to equalise. D. Pisani again exploited Sirens penchant for zone cover when his skimming shot glanced in off the crossbar for a lead of 8-7.

With first over two minutes left Cauchi netted his team's fifth man-up from ten occasions to make it 8-8, Zammit's powerful shot from seven metres put Neptunes ahead once more.

Neptunes regained possession 48 seconds from the end, but Valletta was dismissed with substitution with 36 seconds left. Possession was retained until Malcolm Azzopardi rounded off a fine move to put the issue beyond doubt almost at the death. Sirens who kept chasing the scoreline from the second session had given their all. But that was not enough.

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

Neptunes: A. Cachia, N. Lanzon (1), D. Pisani (2), K. Galea, E. Cachia (1), D. Camilleri (3), J. Licari, C. Zammit (2), N. Gouder, M. Azzopardi (1), I. Azzopardi, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.

Referees: I. Sciriha, M. Di Chiara.

Exiles, Marsaxlokk maintain impetus

Leaders Exiles RMF and champions Marsaxlokk Freeport kept up the challenge for second division honours when they beat Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise and Valletta respectively.

In the first match the southseasiders easily dismissed Valletta by 17 goals to seven to go on 13 points from as many matches, while Exiles steadily pulled away from a disappointing Ta' Xbiex to register a 12-6 victory which puts them on the 15-point mark.

Marsaxlokk 17
Valletta 7
(6-1, 4-4, 3-1, 4-1)

Scorers: Marsaxlokk - J. Zammit 3, K. Incorvaja 3, D. Sullivan 2, A. Privitera 4, D. Cassar 3, S Cutajar 1, C. Jones 1.

Valletta - G. Zammit 3 D. Shaw 1, T. Diacono 1, Farrugia 1, Tyler 1.

Refs: A. Farrugia, T. Fenech.

Exiles 12
Ta' Xbiex 6
(2-0, 4-2, 5-1, 1-3)

Scorers: Exiles - K. Lanzon 3, S. Borg 2, D. Pace Lupi 2, S. Balzan 2, J. Vella 2, Ant. Cachia 1.

Ta' Xbiex - P. Paolella 2, G. Stellini 1, M. Psaila 1, K. Sciortino 1, D. Schembri 1.

Refs: M. Ancilleri, M. Caruana.