In a tension-packed match played in front of a bumper crowd supporting the Blue and Red colours in a warm manner, Neptunes Emirates showed their mettle this season when they inflicted the first defeat on Sliema McDonald’s to take a small but positive step towards wresting the league crown from their opponents which they had last won in 2007.
Led by an immaculate Vladimir Vukasinovic and the free-scoring centre Tamas Molnar, who was also complimented by the excellent Nikki Lanzon, the Balluta team led throughout, their only blip coming in the second session when they were caught up by their opponents. Otherwise the Reds played with poise, power and penetration to steal a march on Sergio Afric’s team.
Looking more potent, the Reds took a 5-2 lead in the opening session. They went behind but were unperturbed as Vukasinovic directed operations by scoring a brace together with Lanzon, with the other coming from Molnar. John Brownrigg had momentarily reduced the deficit to 3-2.
After Molnar had given Neptunes a 6-2 lead in the second session, there was more excitement as goals kept coming at a brisk rate.
At one point the Blues levelled matters on 7-7 thanks to two goals from John Soler after Bogdan Rath, Aljosa Kunac and Daniel Paolella had clipped the deficit. However, Steve Camilleri’s penalty and a goal from Michele Stellini on a break put the Reds in front again before Kunac made it 9-8.
Molnar netted his third goal for a 10-8 lead. A penalty in Sliema’s favour, converted by Kunac, reduced the gap. Although there were fewer goals in this session drama was at a high pitch as both teams contrived to miss favourable man-up sets.
So it was into the last part of the game with the Reds 11-9 up. Despite Sliema’s fighting stance, the Balluta team were showing the better fare.
With Lanzon and Stellini scoring further goals to give their team a 13-9 lead, Steve Camilleri, who was not at his very best yesterday, lost a golden opportunity to increase that lead.
Paul Privitera managed to make it 13-10 with over four minutes to go. Stellini lost another great chance but the talismanic Vukasinovic righted matters for the Reds.
Sliema lost a man up with two minutes left as Neptunes opted to administer their four-goal lead by which time the Camilleri brothers had been fouled out.
Mark Meli’s last goal for the Blues was only platonic. It had been Sergey Markoch’s and his team’s day.
Earlier, in a balanced match which had the lead alternating, Ta’ Xbiex Mermaids Paradise eventually pulled away from Otters Nivea to win by a three-goal margin, thus opening up the Second Division title issue.
The breakthrough for Marco Manara’s team came in the last session with two goals each from Dave Gabriel and David Caruana.
Ta’ Xbiex 17
Otters 14
(4-5, 4-4, 4-2, 5-3)
Ta' Xbiex: A. Xuereb, L. Borg, D. Caruana 2, A. Farrugia 2, C. Bugeja, J. Tabone, E. Bonello 2, D. Gabriel 5, A. Galea 1, M. Spiteri, T. Gyrovath 5.
Otters: A. Sciberras, M. Galea Pace 1, G. Zammit, Z. Radocz 5, D. Saliba 1, D. Schembri 1, K. Mizzi, K. Baco 4, C. Saliba, C. Martin, A. Arrigo, A. Zammit 1, K. Grima Scott 1.
Refs: I. Sciriha, R. Spiteri.
Neptunes 14
Sliema 11
(5-2, 4-6, 2-1, 3-2)
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 3, B. Lanzon, M. Stellini 2, D. Camilleri, V. Vujasinovic 4, S. Camilleri 1, J. Camilleri, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina, T. Molnar 4, M. Pisani, I. Bugeja.
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera 2, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, A. Kunac 3, M. Rizzo, B. Rath 1, A. Bianchi.
Refs: M. Angilleri, F. Brasiliano.
Next fixtures
Friday: 6 p.m. Marsascala vs Ta’ Xbiex; 7.15 p.m. Neptunes vs Exiles.
Saturday: 5 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Otters; 6.15 p.m. Sliema vs San Ġiljan.