Sliema fend off Exiles’ challenge

Sliema McDonald’s were somewhat stretched by sturdy Exiles Jet Services when winning their match 14-10 to keep within two points of leaders Neptunes with two championship matches to go for each team.

Although deserved, the victory for Sliema came mainly courtesy of the sharp-shooting John Soler who netted four goals, but otherwise they could not quite relax as their lead was being constantly cut down by their fighting opponents.

Exiles surged ahead on 2-0 after showing the better ideas early on. The Blues reduced the gap but were then relieved when their opponents spurned a great opportunity to go 3-1 ahead. Exiles had scored through John Rizzo Naudi and Aurelien Cousin, the first of his six goals, with Soler replying for the champions.

Sliema were still finding the going tough against their opponents who would not buckle. However, they equalised almost two minutes into the second session through Aljosa Kunac before Soler put them ahead for the first time midway through the quarter. Cousin levelled matters only for Kunac to miss a penalty.

Soler reached his hat-trick to edge his team in front again.

Three goals within a minute by Mark Meli, Bogdan Rath and Jerome Gabaretta brought relief in the Blues camp but John Paris and Cousin restored some hope for their side when they clipped the arrears to 7-5.

The high-scoring rate in this third session was being maintained with John Brownrigg and Meli extending the lead and Cousin replying for a 9-6 scoreline before the session ended.

Two goals at each end by Kunac, Cosmin Bonca, Paul Privitera and Cousin brought the score up to ­11-8, with Privitera’s goal being hotly contested by Exiles coach John Caruana Dingli.

Then more conversions from Gabaretta, Paris, Soler and Cousin made it 13-10 before Meli reached his hat-trick to seal Sliema’s ­victory.

Division Two

Ta’ Xbiex Mermaids Paradise kept alive their slim hopes of laying a final surge for the Second Division title when they beat Marsaxlokk 12-8 in the first match of the day.

The turning point came in the third session when the team from Gżira overturned a 5-4 deficit to a 10-6 lead after winning the quarter 6-1. No doubt, Marco Manara could rely on a more balanced squad despite the team being spearheaded scorewise by Hungarian Tamas Gyrovath.

For Marsaxlokk, the most valid performers were five-goal David Pace Lupi and Englishman Chris Vang.

Sliema 14
Exiles 10
(1-2, 3-1, 5-3, 5-4)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 2, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 3, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, A. Kunac 2, M. Rizzo, B. Rath 1, D. Abela.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, C. Bonca 1, T. Sullivan, M. Calleja, J. Paris 2, K. Grixti, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 6, A. Cachia, S. Cini, K. Lanzon.

Refs: M. Dalli, D. Raffaele.

Ta' Xbiex 12
Marsaxlokk 8
(2-3, 2-2, 6-1, 2-2)

Ta' Xbiex: A. Xuereb, S. Cachia, D. Caruana, A. Farrugia, L. Borg, C. Bugeja 2, J. Tabone 1, E. Bonello, D. Gabriel 3, A. Galea 2, I. Azzopardi, M. Spiteri, T. Gyrovath 4.

Marsaxlokk: A. Sammut, K. Vogel 1, R. Calleja, D. Pace Lupi 5, M. Paris, C.Vang 2, E. Pisani T. Camilleri, M. Grima, N. Camilleri.

Refs: A. De Raffaele, P. Giordano.

Next fixtures

Wednesday
6 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Exiles
7.15 Sliema vs Sirens.

Friday
6 p.m. Marsascala vs Marsaxlokk
7.15 p.m. Sirens vs Exiles.

Saturday
5 p.m. Ta’ Xbiex vs Otters
6.15 p.m. Neptunes vs San Ġiljan.