Sirens drain Saints' spirits with late rally

Sirens 10
San Giljan 7
(1-3, 3-1, 1-1, 5-2)

Excellent goalkeeping from Keith Schembri and some steady play from his San Giljan colleagues came to no fruition as Sirens fought back in the final session to overturn the scoreline and thus keep their title hopes very much ticking.

In fact, the Saints seemed to be heading for another unexpected, but well-earned success, over more-quoted opponents as they had Pierre Borg's side chasing the adverse scoreline for all but three of the 32 playing minutes.

But with Matthew Zammit fouled out Sirens found that extra push to steal a march on their gallant opponents as Tamas Marcz and David Cutajar, each scorer of a hat-trick, led the cavalry charge which finally laid low San Giljan.

The Saints drew first blood through Matthew Zammit and with Sirens unable to make any headway against their opponents' effective cover the score remained unaltered until Clint Mercieca equalised on a break. Xerri de Caro made it 2-1 before Zammit got his second late in the first quarter.

Sirens were struggling to break their opponents, as Schembri was equal to all efforts rained at him.

Paul Fava resolved a man-up set to reduce the arrears, with David Cutajar making it 3-3 on a cross-pass. Marco Cuk converted from the five-metre spot with Marcz doing likewise at the other end for a 4-4 scoreline.

The opportunistic Xerri de Caro scooped in goal number five to put the Saints 5-4 ahead. Sirens lost two extra-man sets in succession, with Schembri still keeping the northerners at bay, but he could do nothing when Marcz broke to level matters.

With the last quarter to go, the issue was still wide open, even if Sirens started showing an edge in drive when in possession.

Cuk exploited a man-up set to again nose his team ahead. But Cutajar equalised with a lob before Edward Cachia flicked in from the inside spot on the Saints' next man-up for a 7-6 lead.

At this point, Sirens started their recovery as Marcz levelled matters and with Zammit dismissed for good, Charlie Zammit gave Sirens the lead for the first time in the match with over two minutes to go.

David Cutajar opened a 9-7 lead to drain any spirits San Giljan might have had left. Mercieca added another goal at the death.

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava 1, T. Marcz 3, P. Privitera, J. Rizzo Naudi, R. Scerri, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 3, K. Montfort, C. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca 2, R. Attard, E. Arrigo.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea, C. Bonello, E. Cachia 1, M. Zammit 2, M. Cuk 2, D. Camilleri, M. Pace, S. Borg, J. Xerri de Caro 2, K. Lanzon.

Refs: A. De Raffaele, A. Rovita.

U-19: Sliema-Neptunes 10-8.

Today: U-19 4.30 p.m. Sirens vs Marsascala. Division Two 5.45 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex. Division One 7 p.m. Neptunes vs Sliema.