Morale-boosting win for Neptunes ahead of KO

Neptunes 10
Sirens 9
(2-1, 3-4, 3-3, 2-1)

After the recent turn of events culminating in Sliema's title victory on Saturday, the last clash of the league season between Neptunes Vodafone and Sirens Go Mobile petered out in significance.

Apart from the prestige and a morale-boosting element ahead of the Knock-Out competition, due to be completed by the coming weekend, there was nothing at stake in yesterday's match between two teams that ended their league commitments on a disappointing note.

Sirens' failure to maintain their early season rhythm and Neptunes' inability to get their act together when it came to the crunch matches, could only be partially righted by a salvaging act in the KO.

With the sparse crowd deserting the stands due to the almost incessant drizzle, there was little to arouse any enthusiasm.

The gloomy weather added to the drabness of the atmosphere. However, the exchanges were full of fire and brimstone as first one team and then the other nosed in front.

Neptunes managed to keep their heads higher at the end of an exciting duel, a scoreline which helped the Balluta team clinch the third place on goal difference.

More than that, the Reds would derive confidence from this scoreline in view of their impending semi-final tie against Sliema on Thursday.

Neptunes got a headstart through goals from David Camilleri (man-up) and Niki Lanzon (penalty), before the Reds squandered their chance on their second man-up. Veteran John Farrugia took his chance when Neptunes were a man less.

Within seconds of the start of the second session, Neptunes made it 3-1 through Charlie Zammit, but Karl Montfort reduced the gap.

Both teams were basically going for press, with Neptunes looking brisker on the break. But they were again erratic on their next man-up.

Not so Sirens who had Christoff Cauchi netting the equaliser with a Reds' player excluded.

Two quick goals on breaks put Neptunes 5-3 ahead, but a ghastly pass from Nicky Gouder handed the trailing Jonathan Valletta with a goal on a plate.

Montfort made it 5-5 on another man-up seconds before the end of the second quarter.

Sirens went ahead for the first time shortly after ends were changed. Matthew Pisani converted his team's fourth man-up to make it 6-6.

Neptunes were denied a penalty on a ball-under near the goalmouth and suffered the consequence when Valletta lobbed for a 7-6 Sirens' lead. Montfort made it 8-6, but Edward Cachia's lob cut the leeway to 8-7.

Despite the absence of lively support, the exchanges remained fiery. Michele Stellini missed a great chance, but atoned on his next break to draw the teams level. It was Valletta's turn to muff an open opportunity but was then reprieved by De Meo when showing dissent.

With the teams sharing 16 goals, everything was to be played for in the last quarter. Press cover became more stringent at both ends.

Sirens lost a man-up and paid dearly when Malcolm Azzopardi took Joe Caruana Dingli by surprise to make it 9-8.

The Northerners equalised through Valletta from a penalty. It was tit for tat, but Neptunes were still more wasteful on man-ups with Azzopardi missing when Sirens were a man less.

The St Paul's Bay team frittered a two-one break and immediately went behind on 10-9 with the goal again coming from Azzopardi.

With a minute to go, excitement went brewing up. Sirens missed their next man-up and called for a time out nine seconds from time.

Their attempts to play for a penalty proved futile and Neptunes conserved the lead.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (1), S. Camilleri, K. Galea, E. Cachia (1), J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, C. Zammit (1), David Camilleri (1), M. Azzopardi (2), Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini (2), M. Pisani (2).

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, C. Spiteri De Barro, K. Rizzo Naudi, S. Cachia, C. Cauchi (1), J. Valletta (3), J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (3), W. Degiorgio, N. Imbroll, J. Farrugia (1), N. Cassar (1).

Referees: M. Ancilleri, S. De Meo.