Depleted Reds derail Blues in epic battle

Neptunes 12
Sliema 11
(4-0, 2-2, 1-3, 3-5, 1-1, 1-0)

Neptunes Vodafone's burgeoning young talent Steve Camilleri turned out to be the unexpected hero, when he grabbed a sensational winner nine seconds from the end of a six-session thriller, which must have been too much for the faint of heart to take.

Indeed, this was an epic match which I would rank as the best, so far, this season.

The traditional rivalry of the two teams added to the expectancy of this contest. Sliema Burger King, unbe-aten in summer against Neptunes, would have dearly wanted to maintain their blazing trail of success and hit the 'double' jackpot for the 12th time. But they were derailed by the Reds.

In fact the Balluta Bay team, so often derided for their lack of killer instinct rose to the occasion... but only after surviving a huge fright.

They got off to a storming start which had them leading 6-1 almost at the end of the second session, But, not untypically, Sliema nibbed their way back to cut down that huge lead, before levelling matters on 10-10 eight seconds from time.

However, Neptunes, despite having four men fouled out, three of whom in the first session of extra-time, had the final say.

The Reds had a head start courtesy of a Lanzon backhand and a close-range conversion from Charlie Zammit after they missed out on their first man-up.

Sliema did likewise before David Camilleri extended the lead to 3-0. Neptunes were infinitely the better side at this stage with Sliema betraying signs of nervousness, none moreso when Aquilina missed a solo break and then when they wasted their second man-up.

Neptunes responded at the death when Lanzon earned a penalty on session time and converted to give his team a comfortable 4-0 cushion.

Soon after the restart, the Balluta Bay team made it 5-0 when Galea anticipated Soler to hand the ball on a plate to Cachia who had followed up expertly.

Lanzon lost a break before Debono reduced the arrears on a man-up at Sliema's third time of asking. Neptunes were still playing sharper waterpolo and David Camilleri converted when Sliema had a man excluded.

With Josie Cachia, getting minimum punishment when he was only dismissed after showing unsporting dissent towards referee Balzan, Neptunes failed to take advantage of the situation.

A rasping shot from Clint Debono made it 6-2, a scoreline maintained until the teams shifted ends.

With the Reds relying on press, another expulsion against them was withstood. However, N. Falzon made amends to reduce the deficit to 6-3. Inaccurate passing cost Neptunes another extra man set, but Stellini soon righted matters for the Reds when sweeping a sizzler past Cachia. Cutajar's backhand made it 7-4.

Aquilina earned the Blues a penalty and Soler brought hope in the Sliema camp as the gap was bridged to 7-5.

A foul taken from the wrong spot eventually resulted in the Blues earning their sixth man-up. But then failed to convert and the last session started on Neptunes still 7-5 ahead.

Soler rounded Zammit to make it 7-6 but the excellent David Camilleri tormented Sliema yet again for an 8-6 scoreline.

A quick free-throw on an expulsion against Neptunes had Soler despatching past Gouder. Soler was sowing psychological panic in the Reds' camp.

Although slowing down considerably in an effort to calm down the game, Neptunes somehow kept their noses in front, with Zammit breaching the Blues' zone from a distance.

Paris appealed for a penalty, but then managed to release himself to reduce the gap to 9-8 with three minutes left.

The excitement was growing to a climax. Sliema lost an important man-up before Neptunes squandered a break on an erratic pass. With 77 seconds left Aquilina scored a remarkable goal off a lightning shot.

Malcolm Azzopardi restored Neptunes lead 60 seconds from the end. When the clock was showing that 15 seconds were left Sliema won possession and called for a time-out. Neptunes lost concentration and left Debono unmarked as the Blues shrewdly split up to enable their pivot to equalise eight seconds from the end.

Neptunes' time-out proved fruitless and so it was on to extra-time with Sliema enjoying a mental edge.

My man-of-the-match David Camilleri reached his poker to help Neptunes regain the lead through a distant shot which caught Cachia unawares.

Soler's shot took a slight deflection to end in the net for an 11-11 scoreline at the end of the first three-minute session.

But Pisani and Cachia joined Stellini on the fouled-out list. Zammit followed suit as the Reds' army were whittled down considerably. In the meantime, Sliema lost their second man-up in succession only for Neptunes to do likewise.

But the drama unfolded with nine seconds to go as Camilleri unleashed a shot from eight metres to bring a gleaming smile on his team's fans. It was a game to remember.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon (2), S. Camilleri (1), K. Galea, E. Cachia (1), J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, C. Zammit (2), Dav. Camilleri (4), M. Azzopardi (1), Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini (1), M. Pisani.

Sliema: J. Cachia, N. Falzon (1), E. Aquilina (1), M. Galea Pace, J. Falzon, J. Soler (4), J. Paris (1), K. Engerer, C. Debono (3), F. Cutajar (1), R. Coleiro, I. Muscat, A. Bianchi.

Refs: P. Balzan, F. Rotunno.

Today: 5.30 p.m. Marsascala vs Sirens. Sunday - Final at 5.30 p.m.