Sliema 12
Marsascala 4
(1-1, 4-1, 3-1, 4-1)

Sliema Burger King yesterday brushed aside the challenge of Marsascala ASC in impressive fashion to join rivals Neptunes Vodafone at the top of the table and set up an intriguing showdown next Sunday that could decide the destiny of this year's championship.

For the umpteenth time, John Soler grabbed the limelight for Sliema, netting six goals in his team's 12-4 win over Marsascala.

The Blues' hitman was in a class of his own yesterday, his precise shooting causing endless problems to the southseasiders. On this form, Soler should be one of the contenders to win the ASA player of the year award.

Marsascala were a shadow of the side that last week stunned leaders Neptunes. The southerners yesterday found it hard to breach the solid Sliema rearguard and, on many an occasion, were reduced to long-range efforts which failed to trouble Josie Cachia in the Blues goal.

Pierre Borg's team, who had sprung an upset when defeating Sliema in their final preliminary round game, made a bright start, John Xerri De Caro opening his team's account by firing past Cachia from an angle to maintain his record of scoring in every match he played for his side this season. However, Francesco Cutajar soon restored equilibrium for the Blues after converting his side's first man-up set.

After Sliema's Ivan Muscat was denied by Ian Bugeja, the Marsascala custodian could do little to prevent Soler from putting Sliema ahead from another man-up before John Paris increased their lead to 3-1 after finishing off a swift move.

Clint Mercieca pulled one back for the southerners midway through the second session. However, Soler, with three minutes remaining for the interval, restored Sliema's two-goal lead. Edward Aquilina scored the Blues' fifth with only ten seconds left.

After a Soler penalty was ruled out by the referee for inappropriate execution, Tony Galea reduced the deficit for the southerners one minute into the third session.

However, soon afterwards Aquilina put Sliema 6-3 up after Bugeja and the goalpost had denied Paris on two occasions. Sliema were now on a rampage as Cutajar's lob enabled them to move four goals ahead before Patrick Cachia slotted the ball behind Bugeja to make it 8-3.

The contest was now as good as over, Soler claiming his third of the match with a fine strike at the start of the fourth and final session. The Sliema player chalked up his poker when he beat Bugeja from a tight angle.

Marsascala's misery increased as Mercieca missed a penalty and a minute later the woodwork and Cachia denied Galea. It was Cremona who finally netted Marsascala's fourth four minutes from the end. But Soler completed the rout after netting twice in the space of 40 seconds with two minutes to go. Sliema were long home and dry.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon, M. Manara, M. Galea Pace, P. Cachia (1), J. Soler (6), J. Paris (1), K. Engerer, C. Debono, F. Cutajar (2), K. Schembri, I. Muscat, E. Aquilina (2).

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

Referees: M. Dalli, M. Di Chiara.

Division Two - San Giljan move into second place

San Giljan 10
Otters 4
(3-1, 2-1, 2-0, 3-2)

San Giljan yesterday found little difficulty in disposing of Otters, cruising to a 10-4 win that enabled them to join Marsaxlokk in second place.

Despite having to make do without four regular players, namely Neil Kerr, Mark Lombardi, Gary Farrugia and Charlie Bugeja, the Saints proved too strong for the Gozitan outfit and were already sure of victory by the start of the final period when they were leading 7-2.

Jean Mercieca and Keith Grima Scott led San Giljan's march towards victory yesterday by notching a hat-trick each while Mark Tabone scored a brace for Otters.

San Giljan: D. Debono, J. Mercieca (3), S. Mercieca, M. Camilleri, L. Bonello, C. Grima, P. Dimech, M. Zarb (1), A. Borda, M. Fava (2), G. Ghirxi (1), K. Sciberras, K. Grima Scott (3).

Otters: R. Grech, J. Cefai, G.L. Zammit, S. Grech (1), J. Grech, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi, K. Vella, D. Zammit (1), A. Tabone, M. Tabone (2), D. Saliba.

Referees: P. Balzan, A. De Raffaele.

U-19 result - Sirens vs Exiles 11-4

Next Fixtures:

(Saturday) Division Two 3 p.m. Otters vs Exiles; 4 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Marsaxlokk. Division One 5 p.m. Marsascala vs Sirens.

(Sunday) Division Two 4 p.m. Valletta vs San Giljan; 5 p.m. Sliema vs Neptunes.