Without setting any bushes ablaze, Neptunes Emirates were good enough to beat Exiles Ferretti by a two-goal margin, a result which put the Balluta Bay team temporarily at the top of the standings with Sliema having today’s game against Sirens to recoup.

With Sergey Markoch making more use of his middle order units, except for a couple of players, the Reds did not quite pick efficiently except for five-goal Steve Camilleri, a solid Alexandar Ciric and the hard-working Niki Lanzon.

Exiles fought as well as they could and managed to put up some resistance despite the scoreline which in the latter sessions showed a discreet advantage for Neptunes.

Exiles had a flying start as they took a 2-0 lead. However, the Reds did not take long to respond when scoring four in quick succession for a 4-2 first-session lead.

After extending that advantage by another goal, Neptunes went into pause mode while Exiles generated some steam to level matters on 5-5.

The Reds extended their lead to 7-5 with their opponents pulling a goal back before the change of ends. Aljosa Kunac, of Exiles, was on two faults at this point.

Aurelien Cousin’s team were putting an effective cage around Tamas Molnar while ensuring swift marking on the opposing five and six outside positions.

Ryan Sciortino replaced Ian Bugeja in the Neptunes goal after the second restart and the champions held sway to eke out a 4-2 advantage for an overall 11-8 lead with the last quarter to go.

Steve Camilleri reached his fifth goal, Ciric eventually scored three with Michele Stellini and Molnar inserting their names in the scorers’ list. Kunac and Julian Rizzo Naudi netted Exiles’ goals

The last session had an initial tame imprint about it as the Reds took a 13-8 advantage.

However, three goals in succession from Exiles, one of which by the surviving Kunac, somewhat revived the final exchanges even if the game petered out to an unimpressive victory for Neptunes.

Yesterday’s opening match was another high-scoring duel marked by several alternating scoring twists.

In the end the result went the way of Otters Nivea who have thus secured third place and a semi-final play-off against Valletta.

League leaders Marsascala Mor€ seemed a diffident lot, even at times affording the luxury of resting their chief scorer Joseph Kayes who netted seven goals.

For the Gozitans Mate Balatoni also hit seven followed by five-goal John Paris who maintained his scoring streak.

Otters enjoyed the lead in the first session, opening a 12-7 advantage at the halfway mark.

The southerners pressed the button in the third quarter to level matters on 12-all, before Alfred Cachia’s team went 15-12 ahead.

Ten goals were shared in the last session leaving Otters clear winners.

Neptunes 13
Exiles 11
(4-2, 3-4, 4-2, 2-3)

Neptunes: I. Bugeja, N. Lanzon 2, E. Aquilina, M. Stellini 1, Z. Mizzi, A. Ciric 3, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri 1, B. Lanzon, S. Gravina, R. Sciortino, T. Molnar 1, C. Mercieca.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan 2, S. Vassallo 1, J. Spiteri Staines, K. Grixti, M. Paris, P. Borg, A. Kunac 3, M. Toth 2, K. Lanzon 2.

Refs: M. Angileri, D. De Meo.

Marsascala 17
Otters 20
(3-4, 4-8, 5-3, 5-5)

Marsascala : B. Muscat, G. Hegedus 4, M. Pace, K. Schembri, J. Kayes 7, L. Grixti 1, K. Navarro, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 1, R. Scerri 3, D. Cassar 1, M. Fenech, I. Borg.

Otters : A. Cachia, G. Attard, G. Zammit, D. Angyal 3, S. Dimech, M. Balatoni 7, J. Paris 5, D.Schembri, E. Farrugia, K. Debattista 1, K. Martin, K. Scicluna 1, K. Grima Scott 3.

Refs: R. Spiteri, M. Dalli.

Next Fixtures

Today: First Division – 6 p.m. Ta’ Xbiex Amigos vs Valletta Sterling . Premier Division – 7.15 p.m. Sliema McDonalds vs Sirens Ritter Sport.