Spoils shared in close contest

San Ġiljan 6
Sirens 6
(0-1, 2-2, 1-2, 3-1)

As a result of their drawn match, rather than earning a point, both Sirens Ritter Sport and San Ġiljan Tropicana squandered the possibility of keeping as close as possible to joint leaders Neptunes Vodafone and Sliema McDonald's.

The duel, a low-scoring one, was not of the highest order as both teams displayed nervy moments of play, especially San Ġiljan who were guilty of more missed man-up chances, including a penalty.

For most of the game, Sirens looked to be the better side and their fans and team mentors uttered some acrymonious feelings as they thought they had the rough edge of the referees' decisions.

The Saints, on their part, are to be commended for coming back and taking the lead late in the game only to concede the equaliser at the death.

In the first session, Sirens forged ahead when Attila Baranyi converted an extra-man set after which it was unproductive play at both ends. After the first resumption, exchanges livened up with Sirens taking a 2-0 lead through Anthony Galea.

Claudio Spiteri de Barro broke the Saints' duck to make it 2-1 before goals at either end from Ryan Mock and Federico Pagani had the teams changing ends on 3-2 for Sirens.

The Saints made it 3-3 through a Yugoslav Vasovic penalty but the northerners replied with two goals by Clint Mercieca and David Cutajar to take a two goal lead before the last session started.

At this point, Vasovic had a second penalty saved by Joseph Sammut.

It was everything to play for in the final quarter, especially after Matthew Zammit and Vasovic scored to make it 5-5.

The Saints re-doubled their efforts and what seemed to be a justified appeal for a penalty for them, as Baranyi was impeded, it went unheeded by the referee.

Zammit's excellent back-hand put San Ġiljan in the lead but in the dying seconds Tamas Marcz equalised.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, C. Gialanze, F. Pagani 1, M. Borg Spiteri, M. Zammit 2, P. Fava, A. Bianchi, M. Pace, K. Schembri, Y. Vasovic 2, J. Xerri de Caro, K. Lanzon.

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Baranyi 1, A. Galea 1, P. Privitera, R. Scerri, R. Mock 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, A. Attard, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 1, T. Marcz 1, J. Cremona.

Referees: I. Sciriha, D. Bianco.

Marsaxlokk 9
Ta' Xbiex 9
(1-1, 2-2, 4-4, 2-2)

The opening match of the day, between Marsaxlokk and Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise, developed into another close contest, with the southseasiders always forging ahead only for Ta' Xbiex to respond on no fewer than seven occasions.

That trend was reversed when Andrea Razzi, scorer of four goals, put Marsaxlokk in front in the last session. However, Ta' Xbiex recovered in time to save the match.

Marsaxlokk: E. Arrigo, G. Attard, R. Calleja, A. Farrugia 1, A. Razzi 4, C. Bugeja 1, M. Bartolocci, E. Bonello, M. Buttigieg, K. Grima Scott 1, R. Attard 1, M. Zammit 1, A. Xuereb.

Ta' Xbiex: A. Bianchi, S. Cachia, M. Manara 1, G. Desira Buttigieg, G. Bianchi, B. Szalma 1, P. Paolella, K. Engerer, J. Tabone 2, E. Aquilina 2, A. Tanti, D. Pisani, Y. Szeles 3.

Referees: M. Dalli, R. Spiteri.

Next fixtures

Friday: Division Two, 6.15 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Exiles. Division One, 7.30 p.m. Sliema vs Sirens.

Saturday: Division Two, 4 p.m. Marsascala vs Ta' Xbiex; 5.15 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Otters. Division One, 6.30 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Neptunes.