Neptunes hand title to Sirens

Sirens are the 2007 Winter League champions.

Their hard-fought victory over San Giljan coupled with Sliema's defeat to rivals Neptunes was enough for the St Paul's Bay side to secure the pre-season competition.

Sirens's joy reached its peak when ASA president Robbie Ebejer presented the cup to team captain Paul Privitera.

Neptunes Vodafone, the 2006 Winter League champions, handed Sirens the title after they walloped rivals Sliema McDonald's in a game they dominated from the second session onwards.

Sliema looked a disjointed lot and were never in the same league with their rivals from Balluta Bay.

Inspired by captain Nicky Lanzon and Steve Camilleri, Neptunes were at their best yesterday showing excellent finishing in front of goal.

The opening seven minutes of the match were evenly balanced with Camilleri putting Neptunes ahead from the distance but Michael Rizzo equalised with a superb flick with 1.56 seconds remaining from the end of the first session.

Neptunes made a strong start to the second session. Karl Galea restored their lead from the centre before Michele Stellini made it 3-1 from a man-up set. Sliema soon responded with Rizzo and Francesco Cutajar levelling matters.

But any hopes Sliema might have had of winning the title crumbled when David Camilleri and Matthew Pisani put the Reds two goals up, 5-3.

Lanzon was again on target as Sliema looked a distraught lot with Camilleri and John Brownrigg adding further goals to put Neptunes 8-3 up with one minute 35 seconds to go for the end of the session.

Sliema's downfall continued as goals from Camilleri and Lanzon extended Neptunes's advantage to 10-3.

John Soler finally left his mark on the match late on when he chalked up a poker of goals to somehow restore his team's pride as Neptunes ended 11-8 winners.

Sirens found the going tough against San Giljan who deserved to at least score their first point of the championship.

San Giljan goalkeeper Keith Schembri was in tremendous form, keeping Sirens at bay on numerous occasions.

In the first session Sirens had a very good opening and looked like they were heading for an easy victory, scoring two quick goals courtesy of Paul Privitera.

But San Giljan did not lie down as they looked sharper in marking and fast breaks.

Kayne Lanzon made it 2-1, with San Giljan missing a man up in the last 15 seconds.

San Giljan continued to show the better ideas and Silvio Borg extended their lead further. But parity was restored mid-way through the second session as Mercieca made it 3-3.

Karl Montfort again scored for Sirens with a man-up set with less than three minutes on the clock.

At the beginning of the third session the unmarked Jurgen Borg made it 5-3 for Sirens. San Giljan missed a good opportunity to get back into the match when Sirens had Privitera dismissed for the second time in the match but despite their numerical advantage the Saints failed to hit the target.

Nerves were there for all to see for Sirens with Privitera being substituted by David Cutajar.

San Giljan kept plugging away and Borg reduced the gap to 5-4 before Matthew Zammit drew the teams level following a precise pass from John Xerri de Caro as the game was still wide open.

Privitera was soon back in the water for Sirens in the final session and the St Paul's Bay team skipper soon responded when he made it 6-5.

Sirens seemed to have stepped up a gear as Mercieca put them 7-5 ahead from a man-up situation. With Montfort expelled, Tony Galea pulled a goal back to 7-6 and set up a tense finale.

But despite the Saints' late pressure, Sirens did well to administer their advantage to gain a crucial victory.