A confident Sliema McDonald’s accounted for Exiles Ferretti to maintain a clean sheet in their bid to retain the BOV Winter League title.

With a homogenous squad at his disposal, coach Sergio Afric could afford to make constant substitutions in order to keep his team fresh and give everyone a feel of the water.

Timely sorties towards the opposing firing line and brisk passing helped the Blues build a commanding lead.

Exiles looked rattled and their response was non-existent. The chips were down, with Aurelien Cousin’s team sensing that defeat was inevitable although they never resorted to time-wasting tactics.

The Blues, on their part, kept pegging relentlessly to register a mammoth victory which should put them in good shape for their upcoming matches in this competition and the summer season.

Of extreme satisfaction for Sliema was not only their teamwork but also the fact that most of the players in Afric’s squad scored at least a goal yesterday. Their chief scorers were centre Jerome Gabaretta, John Soler and Mark Meli who all obtained a hat-trick, followed by Christian Cluett, Edward Aqui-lina and young Edward Meli with a double each.

In the first match of the day, Valletta cruised to an emphatic victory over lowly Marsaxlokk, sealed by an 11-6 scoreline.

The City team were definitely the side with a winning complex despite not showing any extraordinary fare against the Southerners whose generous play at least earned them six goals.

Valletta were 6-0 ahead after the second session, with Marsaxlokk breaking their duck in the third with three goals.

However, the result had never been in question.

Summaries

Valletta 11
Marsaxlokk 6

(2-0, 4-0, 4-3, 1-3)

Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja 1, K. Scicluna, K. Szilagyi 1, S. Cachia 1, R. Mock 1, J.C. Farrugia, M. Cordina 1, R. Scerri 3, A. Arrigo 2.

Marsaxlokk: D. Spiteri, A. Bajada 1, K. Mock 1, K. Grech, C. Bugeja 2, A. Galea 1, M. Grima, T. Camilleri 1, J. Fenech, G. Zammit.

Refs: S. Licari, M. Angileri.

Exiles 5
Sliema 20

(1-4, 1-4, 1-3, 2-9)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, R. Bencini, A. Cutajar, N. Portelli, J. Spiteri Staines 1, K. Grixti, M. Paris, P. Borg 2, N. Paris 1, D. Borg 1, K. Lanzon, S. Galea Pace.

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 3, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli 3, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella 1, C. Cluett 2, J. Brownrigg 1, E. Aquilina 2, E. Meli 2, D. Abela, M. Agius, N. Bugelli 1.

Refs: A. DeRaffaele, R. Spiteri.

ASA U-17 Selection 4
Sirens 7

(0-1, 1-3, 1-0, 2-3)

U-17: Z. Sciberras, M. Lanzon, A. Galea 1, M. Mifsud, G. Mizzi, B. Plumpton 1, M. Fenech 1, N. Paris, A. Mifsud, M. Zammit, K. Navarro, N. Bugelli 1.

Sirens: J. Cremona, A. Attard 4, J. Napier 1, P. Micallef, M. Grech, A. Sammut, J. Borg, N. Camenzuli, A. Zarb Cousin 1, M. Caruana, J. Zampa, D. Zammit 1, N. Grixti.

Refs: R. Spiteri, P. Giordano.

Standings