Resounding wins for Neptunes and Sliema

Marsascala 5
Neptunes 14
(1-3, 0-6, 1-3, 3-2)

As expected, champions Neptunes Vodafone and Sliema McDonald's found little difficulty in disposing of modest opposition in yesterday's BOV National League preliminary round matches at the National Pool.

Marsascala Ocean and Sky and Marsaxlokk Freeport were easy prey for the more illustrious league contenders who scored at random and also found time to introduce their tailenders with the points safely tucked in their bags by the half-way stage.

Andrea Tringali opened the score for Marsascala, but Neptunes soon started to pummel the southerners and score at will. At half-time, the Reds led 9-1.

Marsascala tried their utmost to avoid a heavy drubbing but their efforts to contain the likes of Adam Decker, of Hungary, and Croat Ivan Milakovic were futile. Along with Steve Camilleri, the foreign players ran the show for the Reds in a one-sided match.

Marsascala, at least, did manage to concede less than the 18 goals suffered in their previous match against Sliema.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze, F. Valenti 2, A. Tringali 2, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Griscti, J. Licari, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, J.C. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, S. Farrugia, J.C. Decelis, S. Farrugia.

Neptunes: N. Gouder, A. Decker 3, J. Camilleri, K. Galea 2, E. Cachia, I. Milakovic 2, S. Camilleri 3, D. Caruana, D. Camilleri 1, T. Agius, J. Paris, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 1, K. Micallef, R. Sciortino.

Referees: M. Caruana, A. DeRaffaele.

Sliema 24
Marsaxlokk 1
(6-1, 4-0, 8-0, 6-0)

In the second match, Sliema were streets ahead of Marsaxlokk as the 24-1 final emphatic scorline clearly indicates.

Marsaxlokk were once again without foreign players in their line-up as they are still awaiting the Belarus authorities' go-ahead to clear the necessary documents and sign two players from the former Soviet republic.

The Blues pressed forward and never relented despite having most of their fringe players in the water during parts of the match.

All players in the Sliema line-up, bar the two goalkeepers, finished on the scoresheet as John Soler looked the sharper of the lot. He scored five goals, a couple of which from the distance.

Sliema: J. Cachia, E. Aquilina 1, R. Fodor 3, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 5, M. Toth 4, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono 1, J. Valletta 3, J. Spiteri Staines 1, N. Lubrano 1, J. Gabarretta 1, M. Manara 1, R. Coleiro.

Marsaxlokk: R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, G. Attard, A. Farrugia, K. Farrugia, C. Bugeja, M. Buttigieg, D. Schembri, E. Bonello, K. Grima Scott, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 1, K. Sciortino.

Referees: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano.

Next matches:
(Friday)
6.15 p.m. Sliema vs Ta' Xbiex;
7.30 p.m. Neptunes vs Marsaxlokk.

(Saturday)
5.15 p.m. Sirens vs Marsascala;
6.30 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Exiles.