Sliema ease past Saints to maintain perfect run

San Ġiljan 8
Sliema 14
(1-3, 4-4, 2-4, 1-3)

Sliema McDonald's maintained their 100 per cent record in the BOV National League after they strolled past San Ġiljan Tropicana Juices yesterday.

It was the Blues' seventh successive win in the preliminary round and are now sure of starting the Division One championship in pole as they are currently enjoying a four-point advantage over rivals Neptunes and Sirens who meet in today's main match.

The Blues were in top form yesterday with Marton Toth displaying all his class with a top-drawer performance which saw him score no less than seven goals. However, special mention must also go to goalkeeper Josie Cachia, who effected a string of fine saves, and the solid trio of John Soler, Jonathan Valletta and Clint Debono.

On their part, San Ġiljan did offer some resistance to the Blues but they could not keep out with the superior pace of their opponents who strolled home in the final two sessions.

Sliema gained the edge in the opening session with the prolific Toth hitting the target twice as the Blues raced to a 3-1 lead.

The second quarter saw San Ġiljan coming more into the picture with Matthew Zammit hitting the target twice to put the Saints just one goal behind, 6-5, with only 41 seconds to the end of the session. However, it was Toth who had the final say as Sliema led 7-5 when ends were changed.

However, that was how far San Ġiljan came close to Sliema as the Blues stepped up the gear in the final two sessions with Toth taking centre stage with some spectacular goalscoring as the Blues cruised home.

San Ġiljan
D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, R. Gospodinov, M. Pace, A. Bianchi 1, M. Zammit 4, E. Arrigo, V. Kreckovic, A. Borda, P. Fava 1, J. Xerri de Caro 2, K. Lanzon.

Sliema
J. Cachia, J. Brownrigg, E. Aquilina, R. Fodor, M. Meli, J. Soler 1, D. Paolella, M. Toth 7, C. Debono 1, J. Valletta, N. Lubrano, O. Frick 4, J. Gabaretta, J. Falzon 1, R. Coleiro.

Referees: E. Carannante, P. Balzan.

Otters 8
Marsaxlokk 16
(1-3, 2-5, 2-4, 3-4)

In the opening match of the day Marsaxlokk Freeport found little difficulty in easing past Otters to the tune of 16 goals to eight.

As the scoreline clearly indicates, the southerners were a cut above their opponents with Dimitry Venkeirch and Sergei Frolov, who scored nine goals between them, proving to be the main difference between the two teams.

Marsaxlokk all but assured themselves of taking maximum spoils from the match by the end of the second session when they held a comfortable 8-3 lead.

From then on, Marsaxlokk easily administered their lead and although coach Ian Azzopardi effected several changes in the final two sessions, they still enjoyed the edge.

At the other end, Peter Szabo, scorer of four goals, worked hard to keep Otters in the match but he was not given too much support by his team-mates.

Otters
R. Grech, K. Scicluna, G. Zammit 1, S. Grech, B. Szabo, P. Szabo 4, K. Mizzi, J. Vella 1, C. Martin, M. Calais 1, L. Cachia, M. Tabone 1, S. Scerri, F. Bajada, E. Farrugia.

Marsaxlokk
R. Bonnici, S. Cachia, G. Attard, A. Farrugia 1, K. Farrugia 2, C. Bugeja, M. Buttigieg, D. Venkeirch 5, S. Frolov 4, E. Bonello, G. Ghirxi, M. Zammit 4, K. Sciortino.

Referees: M. Caruana, R. Spiteri.

Marsascala 7
Exiles 14
(0-6, 2-4, 3-1 2-3)

In the second match, Exiles Elle-et-Vire gave another clear demonstration that they will be the team to beat in this summer's Division Two championship after registering a comfortable win over Marsascala Ocean and Sky.

The Sliema team practically sewed up the points early in the match as a strong performance in the opening session saw them scoring six goals without reply.

Marsascala were rattled and inspired by veteran Joe Cremona they tried hard to get back into the match. However, their task proved too much for them as Exiles continued to control proceedings with the hard-working Michael Rizzo netting four goals.

Marsascala
I. Bugeja, C. Gialanze, F. Valenti, A. Tringali 1, M. Borg Spiteri, L. Grixti 2, J. Licari, J. Cremona 4, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, D. Cassar, M. Spiteri, J. Cutajar, J. Decelis, S. Farrugia.

Exiles
A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Lupi 1, T. Sullivan, R. Blari 4, M. Rizzo 4, K. Grixti 1, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 3, S. Vassallo, A. Arrigo, M. Calleja 1, A. Cachia, S. Cini.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, A. Farrugia.