Sliema ease past San Giljan to reach final

San Giljan 8
Sliema 17
(2-5, 1-4, 1-4, 4-4)

Sliema McDonald's completely put behind them their severe thrashing at the hands of Neptunes Vodafone last Saturday when yesterday they inflicted a heavy defeat on San Giljan Zara to book a berth in Sunday's Division One Knock-Out final against the winners of the Sirens-Neptunes clash today.

Tactically the Blues were streets ahead. Tightness and flexibility at the back were the base on which they built incisive breaks and the likes of Tamas Varga, Jonathan Valletta and John Soler, amongst others, obliged to net goals at regular intervals.

Not unexpectedly the contest fizzled out early on with Sliema in complete command and San Giljan's band muted for long spells. The Blues' rediscovered touch, albeit against opponents who gave up their ghost early in the match, will definitely go some way towards bolstering their spirits in their bid to end the season on a high note. And given their recuperative quality, Sliema had it in themselves to save their season. They demonstrated all their skills yesterday.

Their first possession resulted in a goal, netted by Varga with Marco Cuk immediately replying in style. Debono made it 2-1 before Cuk failed to convert a penalty. But he made amends soon after to level matters.

Valletta again edged Sliema in front and then scored his second personal goal with Soler making it 5-2 seconds before the first session ended.

Sliema's cushion was a psychological boost which helped them lift their game for the remainder of the match. Their tight press near the goal zone and quick conversions on the opposing centre were giving their opponents no opportunities for a pot at goal.

The Saints disintegrated in the second session in the face of the Blues attacking force. Goals from Valletta, Soler and two more from Varga put the Blues in cruise control and the 9-3 advantage, after Matthew Zammit had reduced the gap, removed any semblance of a contest.

Kayne Lanzon cut the leeway to 9-4 before goals from Valletta, Michael Rizzo, Mark Meli and Soler made it 13-4 at the end of the third session.

Complete silence heralded the start of the fourth session. Some of Sliema's tailenders were given a feel of the water and the exchanges ambled through.

Goals from Lanzon were followed by Meli and Andrea Bianchi with Clyde Bonello, Zammit and Claudio Spiteri de Barro making it 15-8. But Edward Aquilina and Soler hammered in the last nails in the Saints coffin.

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

Sliema: J. Cachia, C. Gialanze, S. Meli, M. Rizzo 1, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 4, T. Varga 3, J. Valletta 4, C. Debono 1, E. Aquilina 1, D. Paolella, M. Asciak, A. Bianchi 1.

Refs: M. Dalli, M. De Chiara.

Marsascala on course for double

Marsascala 13
Marsaxlokk 6
(3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 4-1)

Marsascala 7-Up booked a place in Sunday's Division Two KO final after beating neighbours from the south Marsaxlokk Freeport. The result means that Marsascala remain on course for the double after making sure of the league title earlier this month.

Marsaxlokk, without the injured first-choice goalkeeper Reuben Bonnici and with Simon Cachia still replacing coach Anthony Farrugia, who is away with the national youths squad on a training camp in Hungary, were always made to chase the score which hovered between a three- or four-goal deficit until that disadvantage opened up to seven goals.

The team led by Mario Zammit had the faster swimmers, especially in Sicilian Fabio Valenti, Darren Ciappara, Mark Borg Spiteri and John Licari.

Though netting three times Sergei Frolov was well marked out of the game and this cut down Marsaxlokk's menace to a minimum.

On the other hand, Marsascala thrived up front as their superior drive found no answer from Marsaxlokk. They will now play Ta' Xbiex in Sunday's final.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, J.C. Cutajar, S. Farrugia, A. Galea 1, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Grixti, J. Licari 3, M. Borg, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar 1, D. Cassar 1, F. Valenti 3, D. Ciappara 2.

Marsaxlokk: A. Sammut, G. Attard 1, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, E. Pisani, D. Schembri, S. Frolov 3, K. Grima Scott 1, G. Ghirxi 1, N. Agius.

Refs: I. Sciriha, A. DeRaffaele.

Playing today: Division One SF 6.45 p.m. Neptunes vs Sirens.