Sirens pull away in last two sessions

San Giljan 9
Sirens 14
(0-2, 2-2, 4-5, 3-5)

Sirens Hard Rock Cafe were the better team in this match with San Giljan Zara always chasing the result. However, it had to be a Tamas Marcz goal, 27 seconds from the end of the third session, that gave the St Paul's Bay side some headway and for the first time, opening a three-goal advantage.

The Saints looked to have given up hope in the last session, paving the way for a clear and merited Sirens victory.

As expected, this was a game which was played for the sake of honouring the fixture as both teams had nothing to play for except pride. Both clubs, however, are eyeing a better performance in the KO competition which will be played next week.

Following a slow start, the game came into life after the halfway mark with some superb goals, particularly from Marcz who showed his true potential.

Matthew Zammit was again missing for the team from Balluta Bay and, again, he was sorely missed.

Of some consolation for San Giljan is that he will be able to join the team in the KO SF against opponents that will come out of the hat at this evening's draw.

In a game of man-marking Sirens looked sharper and more clinical in front of goal. In fact, after a minute Paul Fava made it 1-0 and with chances far and few in between due to a tight press, it was Marcz who made it 2-0 with eight seconds to go.

San Giljan played better in the second session. Following some near misses, mainly through Spiteri Debarro who shot straight at the goalkeeper from three metres out, Marco Cuk, again his team's inspiration, made it 2-1 and Chris Bonello drew soon after.

But a minute from time Marcz again gave Sirens the lead with a drive from a tight angle. With only a second left on the clock, Charlie Zammit scored with a bounce ball from six metres to restore Sirens' two-goal lead.

Soon after the start of the third session, Debarro's back-hand foiled Alan Grech in the Sirens goal and then Silvio Borg equalised for the battling Saints. David Cutajar, however, made it made it 5-4 for Sirens.

Borg hit back again for San Giljan from a man-up situation after pouncing a rebound but from a similar 6 on 5 Marcz's missile gave the San Giljan keeper no chance.

But as if to confirm his presence in the water, the valid Cuk did the same for San Giljan.

Now the goals were flowing in and Jurgen Borg scored twice for Sirens to make it 8-6 with 57 seconds to go. Marcz then scored with a stunner from an acute angle and that strike practically sealed the issue.

In the last session, Montfort and Marcz made it 11-6 with Cuk reducing the arrears. Montfort scored again and Spiteri Debarro pulled one back with a push-shot with two minutes to go.

Peter Borg made it 14-8 and San Giljan's John Xerri De Caro scored the last goal on the day for a final 14-9 scoreline.

San Giljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, A. Galea, C. Bonello 1, E. Cachia, M. Cuk 3, D. Camilleri, M. Pace, A. Borda, S. Borg 2, J. Xerri De Caro 1, K. Lanzon ,

Sirens: A. Grech, P. Fava 1, T. Marcz 5, P. Privitera, J. Rizzo Naudi, P. Borg 1, J. Borg 2, D.Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 3, C. Zammit 1, C. Mercieca, R. Attard, E. Arrigo

Refs: L. Bianco, A. DeRaffaele.

Division Two

Marsaxlokk 18
Otters 8
(4-2, 2-2, 4-3, 8-1)

Belarus player Sergey Frolov made all the difference in this match, netting no fewer than 11 goals as Marsaxlokk Freeport swept past bottom-placed Otters.

Although by the end of the third session, the Gozitans were still in contention, the game eventually distanced away from them in the fourth quarter.

Marsaxlokk were faster and more eager to win the points than Otters yesterday.

The difference emerged in the fourth session when the southerners hit eight goals past the Gozitans who looked out of breath and only managed to score on one occasion.

Marsaxlokk completed their league commitments in third place on nine points, the same tally as Ta' Xbiex. The Division Two title went to Marsascala 7-Up who last weekend beat Exiles to make sure of the top place.

Marsaxlokk: A. Sammut, G. Attard, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia 2, K. Farrugia 1, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani 2, D. Schembri, S. Frolov 11, K. Grima Scott 1, G. Ghirxi, N. Agius 1, R. Bonnici.

Otters: E. Farrugia, D. Saliba, G. Zammit 3, S. Grech 1, S. Cutajar, D. Saliba, P. Saliba, K. Mizzi, L. Cachia 2, C. Saliba 1, T. Simon 1, G. Xuereb, S. Xerri.

Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Caruana.

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