Neptunes keep clean slate after 18-10 victory

Neptunes Emirates may have lifted off slowly in yesterday’s match against Sirens Ritter Sport. However, when they did they showed their mettle to break their opponents’ initial resistance and thus maintain a clean slate.

After taking a comfortable lead in the second session, the Reds made sure that matters would pass completely in their hands in the third session and thus were able to finish Sirens, who had regular keeper Joseph Sammut absent, in decisive fashion.

Goals alternated at regular intervals in the first session, with Sirens always nosing in front only for Neptunes to level the score. While the northerners were looking confident, Neptunes had a somewhat subdued air about them.

The Balluta Bay team moved up a gear in the second quarter and three goals in less than two minutes had them pulling away on 7-4 and eventually on 8-5 by the time ends were changed.

Vladimir Gojkovic, a class act on his own merit, was already on three goals but he was eventually surpassed by ‘goal machine’ Steve Camilleri.

Although putting in some tailenders in the third session, including the returning Sean Gravina, Neptunes were able to show the potency of their firing line when netting a remarkable eight goals to put the issue beyond doubt with a session left.

Their relentless pace may have gone down by a few notches in that last session as many of their top-order players were on the bench.

That did not matter as they had already scored what in cricket terms was a ton.

In the Division Two match, Otters Nivea surprised Ta’ Xbiex to record their first victory but, more importantly, the result ensured that Valletta Dhalia obtained second place in the table.

The Gozitan team deserved their victory after a massive recovery in the last two sessions.

Ta’ Xbiex took a 4-1 lead in the first session with Otters caught in some loose marking when not in possession. After trimming the deficit to 4-3, Alfred Cachia’s Otters again went two goals adrift before Duncan Schembri netted his second to make it 6-4.

A brace by Edward Bonello and Tamas Gyrovath put Ta’ Xbiex 8-4 ahead at mid-point.

In the third quarter, Schembri brought up his tally to four goals as did Zoltan Radocz and with Otters firing in seven they tilted the balance in their favour on 11-10 with one session left.

They maintained their come-back in the next part of the match and with barely 40 seconds left they led by three goals after which six-goal Yuri Szeles scored a brace which, however, still left his team stranded.

Summaries

Otters 15
Ta’ Xbiex 14
(1-4, 3-4, 7-2, 4-4)

Otters : J. Cremona, G. Attard 3, G. Zammit, P. Martin, D. Schembri 4, K. Scicluna, M. Balatoni 2, S. Dimech, Z. Radocz 4, A. Borg, C. Martin, S. Scerri, K. Grima Scott 2.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Paris, S. Vassallo, C. Cluett 1, D. Borg, B. Muscat, T. Gyrovath 2, E. Bonello 3, M. Cordina 1, C. Saliba, R. Attard 1, J.C. Decelis, Y. Szeles 6.

Referees: S. Licari, A. DeRaffaele.

Sirens 10
Neptunes 18
(4-4, 1-4, 3-8, 2-2)

Sirens : N. Griscti, A. Attard 1, B. Micallef, P. Borg, S. Kiss 2, R. Mock, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, G. Krstonosic 3, C. Zammit 2, L. Caruana, D. Zammit, C. Mercieca 1.

Neptunes : I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 2, J. Camilleri 1, Z. Mizzi, S. Camilleri 5, V. Gojkovic 4, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 4, M. Pisani.

Referees: P. Balzan, L. Castagnola.

Playing today

Division Two: 4.45 p.m. Valletta vs Marsascala.

Division One: 6 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Sliema.