Sliema McDonald’s served notice to Neptunes Emirates that they are out for retribution in tomorrow’s BOV KO final after they lost the league title to the Reds last Saturday.

A slick display from them, backed by precision and power, tore into the heart of San Ġiljan Firetech with John Soler and Jerome Gabaretta playing the scoring tune.

With Karl Galea back from suspension and Claudio Spiteri de Barro also in the squad but not utilised after missing the last game against Sirens Ritter Sport, it was thought that the Saints would again find their battling instints, so evident in their last three outings.

But, the approximate condition of Heiko Nossek, who played a small part in the game, was an added liability for them. However, Sliema are a team of superior qualities and these all came to the fore against their erstwhile frail opponents.

San Ġiljan’s early lead was soon wiped out as Soler started the scoring spree for Sliema who had a 7-2 lead after the first session.

The Saints could not make any impact and a 4-2 scoreline in the Blues’ favour in the next session extended their advantage to 11-4.

Goals for Sliema came from Mark Meli, Bogdan Rath, Clint Debono, Michael Rizzo and Gabaretta in these first two sessions with San Ġiljan replying through Marton Toth (twice), Paul Fava and Nossek.

It was time for the Sliema tail-enders in the third session even if their introduction was spiced by prudence. There was more stringent press from the Blues, still they roared for more as Rizzo, Aliosa Kunac (twice) and Paul Privitera opened a 15-6 lead by the end of the third quarter. Toth hit back for the Saints with a brace.

The exclusion with substitution of Rizzo and that of Rath and Soler (both after three personal faults), were insignificant episodes.

It was more of the same in the last session with Sliema again having the better of their opponents by a margin of two goals. Gabaretta went on to increase his tally to five as did Soler, with Lubrano also adding his name to list.

Galea and Toth each scored a brace with the Hungarian bringing up his total to six goals.

The battle of the titans in the KO final tomorrow evening will be a veritable climax to the season and another bumper crowd is expected at the National Pool.

Sliema 21
San Ġiljan 10
(7-2, 4-2, 4-2, 6-4)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 5, N. Lubrano 2, P. Privitera 1, M. Meli 2, J. Soler 5, M. Spiteri Staines, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono 1, A. Kunac 2, M. Rizzo 2, B. Rath 1, D. Abela.

San Ġiljan: K. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro, M. Pace, K. Galea 2, C. Gialanze, K. Dowling, H. Nossek 1, A. Bianchi, E. Aquilina, K. Galea, P. Fava 1, M. Toth 6, J. Ebejer.

Refs: M. Dalli, D. De Meo.

Next Fixtures

Tomorrow (KO finals): 4 p.m. Marsascala vs Marsaxlokk; 5.30 p.m. Sliema vs Neptunes.

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