[attach id=259619 size="medium"]Matthew Zammit (no.6) netted six goals in San Ġiljan’s victory over Sirens. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

Matthew Zammit, the prolific scorer of San Ġiljan Sir Alex, netted six times to help his team register a clear victory over Sirens Ritter Sport, who were making their debut in the summer league for 2013.

It was a deserved victory for the Saints which matured in the opening two sessions as they took a 9-4 advantage. Sirens battled boldly to keep the defeat within reasonable proportions but in the end they had to bow to superior opponents.

Both teams had a player missing through suspension, with San Ġiljan having to do again without Andrea Bianchi while Sirens missed the services of Jurgen Borg.

After four goals were shared in the opening seven minutes, the Saints scored twice in the closing stages to take a 4-2 lead in the first session.

San Ġiljan’s superiority was more evident in the second quarter, with their forceful play producing five goals to their opponents’ two.

Marko Avramovic was already on a hat-trick while Sirens had the useful Alex Attard fouled out with almost three minutes left of the halfway mark.

Zach Mizzi scored a spectacular goal to make it 9-5 seconds into the third quarter, with Csaba Kiss emulating Mizzi, this time with a fine backhand from half pitch on the stroke of possession time.

Matthew Zammit’s powerful qualities again made it a five-goal cushion for his team with one session left.

That final quarter was again balanced scorewise, which meant that San Ġiljan maintained their advantage at five goals as their goleador Zammit brought his tally to an impressive six goals.

In the opening match, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos and Otters Nivea shared 12 goals and took a point each in a low-key duel in which the foreigners for both teams were largely well shadowed, even if Ionut Necsulescu and Peter Markoch scored four and two goals respectively as did the promising Andreas Galea for Ta’ Xbiex.

After going behind, Ta’ Xbiex turned the tables when Necsulescu scored three only for Galea to reduce the arrears before the first session ended.

Galea netted his second to equalise with Andrei Edward’s conversion sandwiched the brace scored by Markoch for a 5-4 lead at the end of the second quarter.

A goal at each end netted by Keith Galea and Keith Grima Scott in the third session kept the contest in the balance with Ta’ Xbiex leading 6-5.

Again there was little in it in the last session with goals at both ends being at a premium.

Necsulescu saved the game for the Gozitans with a goal 76 seconds from the end.

Summaries

Ta’ Xbiex 6
Otters 6

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

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Navarro, A. Galea 2, A. Galea, S. Cini, M. Spiteri, K. Galea 1, M. Paris, P. Paris, P. Markoch 2, R. Attard, A. Zammit, Y. Szeles 1.

Otters: N. Grixti, G. Attard, G. Zammit, G. Tabone, M. Dimech, A. Cachia, K. Scicluna, D. Schembri, A. Edward 1, S. Dimech, K. Martin, I. Necsulescu 4, K. Grima Scott 1.

Refs: S. Licari, A. De Raffaele.

San Ġiljan 14
Sirens 9

(4-2, 5-2, 3-3, 2-2)

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, C. Gialanze, K. Galea 2, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 6, M. Avramovic 3, J. Sammut, C. Spiteri De Barro 1, P. Biros 1, P. Fava, D. Zammit 1, M. Pisani.

Sirens: A. Grech, Z. Mizzi 2, M. Grech, J. Napier, A. Babay 1, T. Kiss 3, A. Camenzuli, D. Cutajar 1, A. Zarb Cousin 1, A. Attard, S. Micallef 1, J. Zampa, J. Cremona.

Refs: P. Balzan, P. Bensaia.

Today: 18.00 Valletta vs Marsascala; 19.15 Neptunes vs Sliema.

Premier League

Division One