There was no doubt about it. Neptunes Emirates deserved the title of champions this season, their 20th success and the fourth in the last six years. It must be remembered that they also carried off the Knock-Out. They were the most consistent side from start to finish despite two blips when Sliema McDonald’s, yesterday’s opponents, lowered their colours twice in the play-offs.

It was an exceptional finale with the five-match series drawing crowds never seen before at the National Pool. The Reds’ victory was the climax of a mega season and in the words of their president Matthew Bonello, who has been at the helm for the last six years, “all the praise must go to the boys for a great victory in a very tough season.”

Neptunes managed to overcome the psychological drawback of having been defeated against the Blues in their last match. Moreover, they also succeeded in wiping off another mental handicap of having to deploy the in-experienced Ryan Sciortino in goal in lieu of the injured Ian Bugeja. The youngster acquitted himself very well in the circumstances.

Otherwise, Neptunespresented a standard formation, including Brian Buhagiar back in the team for the last three games after injury.

Sliema were unable to bank on the usual John Soler to provide the goals and had little to show in their repertoire except flashes of the action midway through the proceedings and in the last session.

Nevertheless, Sliema are to be commended for giving their share in making it a memorable climax to the season.

Eight goals were shared in a combative first session which had Blues player Mark Meli annulling Steve Camilleri’s (he totalled a staggering 97 goals this season) two goals for the Reds.

The Balluta team twice edged ahead through Niki Lanzon and Michele Stellini with Daniel Paolella levelling matters each time.

It was again a ding-dong affair in the second quarter with Neptunes twice taking the lead through Vladimir Gojkovic and Steve Camilleri and Sliema equalising through Raymund Fodor and Bogdan Rath, before the Hungarian put Sliema ahead 7-6 for the first time.

However, Michele Stellini levelled matters. The battle hinged on both goalkeepers’ ability to pull off vital saves. The ability of a player netting an exquisite goal was also not discounted.

Gojkovic showed these masterful qualities with some vintage goals, two of which came in the third session with Lanzon and Tamas Molnar scoring the others.

That gave Neptunes an 11-7 lead before Paul Privitera reduced the arrears late in that penultimate session.

Although the Reds somehow administered their advantage, they were aware of Sliema’s recuperative powers. Guided by the astute Gojkovic, Neptunes summoned all their expertise to stifle their opponents’ final charge to save the game.

The last session ended in Sliema’s favour by three goals to two but that was not enough as the Neptunes fans went wild with jubilation as the final buzzer went.

Before BOV chief officer Peter Perotti presented the cup to captain Lanzon, who incidentally had a great season.

The match was admirably controlled by both referees.

Man-up statistics: Neptunes – three on seven; Sliema – five on eight.

Neptunes 13
Sliema 11
(4-4, 3-3, 4-1, 2-3)

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 2, J. Camilleri, B. Lanzon, S. Camilleri 4, V. Gojkovic 3, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 2, M. Pisani.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta, N. Lubrano, R. Fodor 2, M. Meli 3, J. Soler, D. Paolella 2, M. Rizzo, C. Debono, P. Privitera 2, B. Rath 2, J. Spiteri Staines, D. Abela.

Refs: I. Sciriha, M. De Chiara.

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