Ta’ Xbiex edge through to clinch cup
Zammit’s men keep their cool in tense finale
In a close contest, which at times grew nervous, Ta’ Xbiex ASC beat Marsascala meat.com yesterday to secure the Division Two BOV KO title, a success they worked hard for.
The contest developed on interesting lines as the lead alter-nated but towards the end the team mentored by Mario Zammit did well to keep hold of their nerves and emerge winners.
After Ta’ Xbiex took a one-goal lead, through Tamas Gyrovath, Marsascala responded with three goals from Ranier Scerri, Claudio Spiteri de Barro and Duncan Cassar before Yuri Szeles pulled a goal back.
Goals in the second quarter generally alternated until Ta’ Xbiex took a 7-5 lead which they preserved until the teams changed ends.
Meanwhile, Cassar was already on the three-goal mark at this juncture.
Three consecutive conversions for the southseasiders tilted the scoreline their way but a late goal from Reinhard Attard restored the balance on 8-8 with the last session to go.
Ta’ Xbiex again pulled two goals clear as exchanges grew acri-monious.
With John Licari sent off for good, for passing remarks, Scerri netted his third goal (as did Tamas Gyrovath for the winners). But that was to no avail.
Ta’ Xbiex 10
Marsascala 9
(2-3, 5-2, 1-3, 2-1)
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Paris 1, S. Vassallo, C. Cluett 1, C. Saliba 1, B. Muscat, T. Gyrovath 3, E. Bonello, M. Cordina 1, M. Agius, R. Attard 2, M. Spiteri, Y. Szeles 2.
Marsascala: S. Farrugia, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, M. Pace, Milos Koralji, D. Caruana 1, E. Arrigo, J. Licari, J. Cremona 1, B. Plumpton, R. Scerri 3, D. Cassar 3, K. Navarro, Mih. Koralji.
Referees: P. Balzan, S. Licari.