Blues make it a double

Sliema 14
Neptunes 11
(3-1, 3-4, 3-2, 5-4)

Sliema McDonald's ended the 2008 season in a blaze of glory. They defeated rivals Neptunes Vodafone to carry off the KO for the 23rd time and the double, making it another memorable season in their chequered annals.

And if any proof was needed that they had the strongest squad with the best three foreigners (one of whom left after the preliminary round) this was provided yesterday when they conducted the match scorewise almost throughout and then digging into their ample reserves of know-how and fighting spirit to pull away decisively in the last session after Neptunes had repeatedly neutralised their lead.

The Reds then went in front in the third quarter but Sliema came back. The protagonist this time was six-goal hero John Soler and Edward Aquilina, scorer of a hat-trick, at a crucial moment in the match.

Short of the unfortunate forfeit of their 2007 Player of the Year Steve Camilleri, yesterday again unavailable, and the departure of their best foreigner Ivan Zanetic, Neptunes cannot state a valid case. They were simply second best this season.

Although yesterday they forged in front when Niki Lanzon prodded in on a man-up, it was the Blues who looked the smarter lot early on with their first-time shots off cross passes bringing goals from Soler and Otto Frick after the former had levelled matters from a distant shot.

Sliema's stringent marking was costing them more expulsions but the Reds only reduced the arrears after wasting two man-ups. Raymond Fodor converted a penalty after which David Camilleri made it 4-3, only for Karl Galea to restore parity towards the end of the second session.

Here, Igor Gocanin was red-carded for persistent protests.

Tension started brewing at this point. Hungarian Fodor again put the Blues in front on 5-4. An accurate Soler lob caught Nicky Gouder unawares and Sliema were again leading by two goals. However, Matthew Zammit drilled in from a free-throw to reduce the gap to 6-5 before the teams shifted sides.

It was still very tense. Zammit equalised and with the Blues marking very rigidly Neptunes had to fight hard.

Milan Aleksic netted powerfully off a break to give Neptunes the lead.

Goals kept coming at either end before Aquilina equalised and Soler scoring twice for a 9-7 lead for Sliema at the end of the third session.

Aquilina made it 10-7 with Stellini replying in the last quarter. Valletta, Soler and Frick scored three more goals with Decker and Aleksic reducing the arrears for the Reds. Towards the end, Sliema's better play was evident. Fodor and Pisani closed the account for either side.

At the end of the match, BOV executive officer Peter Perotti presented the cup to captain Josie Cachia and medals to his team-mates amidst the jubilation of the Sliema fans who went on to celebrate their team's latest triumph on the way to their club house.

Sliema:
J. Cachia, J. Gabaretta, E. Aquilina 3, R. Fodor 2, M. Meli, J. Soler 6, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, J. Valletta 1, J. Falzon, O. Frick 2, R. Coleiro.

Neptunes:
N. Gouder, A. Decker 2, M. Aleksic 1, K. Galea 1, E. Cachia, M. Zammit 2, S. Camilleri, J. Paris, D. Camilleri 1, N. Lanzon 1, R. Sciortino, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 1.

Referees: M. De Chiara, M. Dalli.