Neptunes pass Sirens test before season's showdown

Sirens 4
Neptunes 5
(0-0, 1-2, 0-1, 3-2)

Neptunes Vodafone were yesterday put to a severe test against a gritty Sirens Go Mobile before finally seeing off their opponents on the tightest of scorelines.

The Reds may have made John Farrugia's team chase them all the way, at times taking a two-goal lead. But there was almost a feeling of déjà-vu as Sirens, again trailing by two goals before the final session tried their best to recover the leeway, something which they managed to do in the previous two matches between the sides.

The Reds, once more almost threw it away as they failed to infuse calm in their play. However, this time their zone-blocking tactics did the trick for them, even if they were helped by shot-shy opponents.

What mattered for the Reds was that they held out till the end and now await the outcome of today's match between Sliema and Marsascala before they lock horns with the champions in the season's plum match.

Neptunes lost their first man-up with Sirens following suit on three occasions. The Reds had twice gone on two-clear breaks but lost both opportunities.

The first session ended goalless with cover provisions at both ends only allowing for hurried pots at goal.

Attempts by Neptunes at driving into the four-metre area were proving unsuccessful, with Sirens looking rather static and unable to negotiate thrusting swims. That was provided by Karl Galea who went past Karl Montfort before beating Joe Caruana Dingli with a fine angled push-shot. Montfort equalised with his eight-metre effort glancing in off the post via Nicky Gouder's arms. Steve Camilleri restored the Reds' lead with a lob.

Neptunes' substitutes, especially Steve Camilleri, were proving their worth and so was Galea whose backhand caught Caruana Dingli unawares for a 3-1 Neptunes' lead.

There were more squandered chances on extra-man sets with Matthew Pisani even missing out from a four-metre shot in what had been a controversial decision. It was the third penalty in a row missed by Neptunes in as many games.

Was it going to be another replica, with Sirens saving the game in extremis after starting the last session two goals behind? The St Paul's Bay team finally broke their duck on the fifth time of asking when Valletta made it 3-2 but so did Galea when John Farrugia's team had a man sent off. Mercieca scored his team's second man-up from a total of seven to make it 4-3.

Steve Camilleri regained the two goal advantage to score Neptunes' only man-up from six sets.

Valletta finally breached the Reds' zone from a distance to reduce the arrears with a couple of minutes to go. Squandered man-ups at either ends brought the crowd to their toes with Sirens missing out the final opportunity in the last 32 seconds.

Finally, Neptunes could sigh with relief.

Sirens: J. Caruana Dingli, N. Imbroll, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Zammit, C. Cauchi, J. Valletta (2), J. Borg, D. Cutajar, K. Montfort (1), W. Degiorgio, C. Mercieca (1), R. Attard, N. Cassar.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, S. Camilleri (2), K. Galea (3), E. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, S. Gravina, C. Zammit, David Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, Dean Camilleri, M. Stellini, M. Pisani.

Refs: M. Ancilleri, V. Vecchio.

Division Two

Marsaxlokk 2
Exiles 5
(1-3, 1-1, 0-0, 0-1)

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, C. Cachia, R. Calleja, K. Incorvaja, N. Kerr (1), C. Bugeja, R. Cutajar (1), S. Cutajar, G. Ghirxi, K. Enriquez, D. Cassar, L. Cachia, A. Privitera, M. Cutajar.

Exiles: A. Grech, M. Grima, M. Zarb, D. Pace Lupi (1), T. Sullivan, K. Camilleri, D. Sullivan, J. Cremona, J.J. Tabone (2), K. Rizzo Naudi, A. Arrigo, J. Vella (2), M. Calleja, J. Cuschieri.

Refs: M. Dalli, P. Balzan