Sirens pull away in final session

Sirens 10
Marsascala 7
(2-2, 2-1, 2-2, 4-2)

If Friday's matches were lop-sided affairs, yesterday's contests which had Sirens Centro Casalinga facing Marsascala Ocean and Sky and San Ġiljan Tropicana Juices playing Exiles Elle-et-Vire were balanced from start to finish with the issue being sealed late in both games.

In the first match the verdict went to the St Paul's Bay team who managed to pull away from their opponents only in the last session and after the southseasiders had run out of steam and ideas.

It had been a close contest throughout, with Marsascala forging ahead on three occasions in the opening two sessions before Sirens, led by Marco Baldinotti from the bench and with Karl Montfort returning to the squad for the first time this season, started nosing in front.

Marsascala kept utilising that slim lead until the beginning of the last session, after which three goals in the space of 90 seconds gave Sirens some breathing space. They then managed to administer their advantage and seal the scoreline on 10-7.

Paul Privitera was Siren's chief scorer with four goals.

San Ġiljan and Exiles were locked up in another tight duel which offered good fare to the fairly-sized crowd, particularly courtesy of some excellent goals mainly coming from the foreigners.

Radu Gospodinov, of San Ġiljan, a left-handed quality player, stood out in this respect with a well-taken poker that helped the Saints to victory.

Sirens
A. Grech, R. Mock, T. Galea, P. Privitera 4, A. Babay 1, A. Barany 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, K. Montfort 1, R. Scerri, C. Mercieca 2, P. Borg, J. Sammut, A. Attard, J. Cremona.

Marsascala
I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze 1, F. Valenti 3, A. Tringali 1, M. Borg Spiteri 1, L. Grixti, J. Licari 1, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, S. Farrugia, J.C. Decelis, J.C. Cutajar.

Referees: I. Sciriha, A. DeRaffaele.

San Ġiljan 9
Exiles 7
(1-1, 3-1, 1-2, 4-3)

Exiles also played their part in this balanced match, but their main menace only came from their French duo Aurelien Cousin and Romain Blari.

On their part, San Ġiljan, even with a below-par Matthew Zammit, had more potential scorers. Apart from this, they were tighter at the back with good front cover in the centre. They also managed to take their chances better than their opponents who were always forced to change the scoreline.

The last session ended with a flurry of goals, seven in all, and that helped to keep the excitement up till the very end.

For all their generous contribution Exiles failed to save the day.

Next fixtures: Friday 6.15 p.m. Sirens vs Marsaxlokk; 7.30 p.m. Sliema vs Exiles. Saturday 5.15 p.m. Neptunes vs Ta' Xbiex; San Giljan vs Marsascala.

San Giljan
D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, R. Gospodinov 4, M. Pace, A. Bianchi 1, M. Zammit 1, E. Arrigo, V. Kritkovic 1, A. Borda, P. Fava 1, J. Xerri de Caro 1, K. Lanzon.

Exiles
A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, C. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi 1, T. Sullivan, R. Blari 2, M. Rizzo, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin 3, A. Cousin, C. Enriquez, S. Vassallo, M. Calleja 1, A. Cachia, S. Cini.

Referees: Mario Dalli, M. Angilleri.