Wins for San Ġiljan Sir Alex and Neptunes Emirates were on the cards when the two teams met Valletta United and Marsaxlokk yesterday afternoon.
Any semblance of resistance from the City team, slightly evident in the first session, soon fizzled out as the Saints, strengthened by the return of Matthew Zammit, took over completely to continue widening the scoreline gap.
The more potent finishing on the part of Karl Izzo’s team, especially that of seven-goal Karl Galea, had no answer from Valletta. Their team was shorter than that of their opponents by five units.
San Ġiljan’s edge had been beyond question even with the introduction of their tailenders.
In the subsequent match of the day, Neptunes cantered to a decisive victory against a fragile opposition put up by Marsa-xlokk.
It was another embarrassingly one-sided match which could not be seriously regarded by the Reds as a gauge of their strength.
Their accurate and forceful finishing and their constant rotation of their men heaped misery on opponents willing to fight but unable to compete.
Double figures were reached midway through the second session after which the teams shifted ends on 12-1.
The momentum of wholesale substitutions by the Reds was never halted as did their scoring rate which reached the 20-goal mark in the third session.
The rout was completed in the last session.
San Ġiljan 19
Valletta 4
(4-3, 4-0, 7-1, 4-0)
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar 2, J. Sammut, Karl Galea 7, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 3, A. Bugeja, A. Bianchi 2, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, Keith Galea 1, P. Fava 3, A. Galea, M. Pisani, B. Plumpton.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, K. Scicluna, R. Calleja, M. Pace, S. Cachia 1, R. Mock 2, J.C. Farrugia, M. Cordina, R. Scerri 1, A. Arrigo, A. Galea.
Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Peter Balzan.
Marsaxlokk 2
Neptunes 25
(0-6, 1-6, 1-8, 0-5)
Marsaxlokk: D. Spiteri, A. Bajada 1, G. Merten, K. Mock, A. Galea, C. Bugeja 1, T. Camilleri, J. Fenech, G. Zammit.
Neptunes: A. Sammut, N. Lanzon 5, S. Xerri de Caro, M. Stellini 3, Z. Mizzi 4, G. Pace 3, K. Debattista 1, J. Camilleri 3, M. Lanzon, S. Gravina 1, B. Lanzon 4, T. Agius 1, C. Mercieca, A. Borg Cole.
Referees: Massimo Angilleri, Stefan Licari.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Neptunes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 13 | 9 |
| Sliema | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 11 | 6 |
| Exiles | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 27 | 6 |
| San Ġiljan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 13 | 3 |
| Sirens | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 27 | 3 |
| Valletta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 51 | 0 |
| Marsaxlokk | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 46 | 0 |
Next fixtures: April 12 − 6.45pm San Ġiljan vs Neptunes; 8pm Sirens vs ASA U-17. April 13 − 4.45pm Valletta vs Marsaxlokk; 6pm Exiles vs Sliema.