San Ġiljan Sir Alex and Exiles Ferretti were the protagonists of an exciting duel yesterday, with the Saints producing a last-ditch comeback to win 17-14 after having been three goals adrift almost midway into the last session.

Karl Izzo’s team were principally boosted by a remarkable seven-goal flurry from new signing from Sirens Ritter Sport Dino Zammit who must have earned the plaudits of his team’s fans.

All in all, it was a game of ups and downs for both teams, with San Ġiljan’s experience and opportunistic goals giving them the last laugh.

A three-goal kickstart from the Saints, with two coming from Zammit, was cut back to 3-2 before San Ġiljan scored three times for a 6-2 first-session lead.

Exiles scored twice through Vojaslav Kupic, who eventually netted six times, and James Spiteri Staines but San Ġiljan went 8-4 ahead through goals from Christian Gialanze and a third from Zammit.

Exiles were still full of fight and a brace from Peter Borg cut the leeway to 8-6 before Kupic made it 8-7.

The good patch by the team from Sliema prevailed into the third session when three goals in quick succession by Romain Blary, Kayne Lanzon and Kupic put them 10-8 in front.

The volte face continued as first San Ġiljan made it 10-all and Kupic and Lanzon then regaining the two-goal lead for Exiles before Gialanze made it 12-11 with the last session left.

With Exiles having Nicholas Portelli and James Spiteri Staines fouled out, Kupic and Borg opened a three-goal lead on 14-11.

However, the team from Balluta Bay fought back admirably with two goals from Zammit who reached his seventh conversion and helped the team bounce back into a 15-14 advantage with over two minutes left.

The last goal had resulted from a contested decision which handed possession to the Saints.

But another brace at the death, netted by Claudio Spiteri de Barro and Biros, gave victory to San Ġiljan who now join Neptunes Emirates at the top of the table with three wins each.

Last-session spurt

Until midway in the last session of the opening match in programme yesterday, there was little in it as Marsaxlokk ASC were leading Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 10-9.

But then, a spurt mainly led by all-rounder Peter Markoch and chief scorer Yuri Selesz turned the tables in favour of Ta’ Xbiex who now lead the Division One championship standings with seven points.

After two early goals from Ta’ Xbiex, the Southerners levelled the first-session scores. The equilibrium prevailed in the second quarter, with the teams again sharing four goals.

Three consecutive conversions by Edward Meli helped his team pull clear on 8-5 in the third session, before goals by Selesz and another by Markoch closed the third session on 8-7 for Marsaxlokk.

Ta’ Xbiex went on the rampage in the last quarter of the match when they scored six goals to their opponents’ three to seal victory on 13-11.

Today’s Fixtures

16.45 ASA Under-17 vs Valletta
18.00 Marsascala vs Otters
19.15 Sliema vs Sirens

Summaries

Marsaxlokk 11
Ta’ Xbiex 13
(2-2, 2-2, 4-3, 3-6)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, J. Fenech, M. Agius 1, E. Meli 4, L. Friggieri, K. Mock 2, A. Galea, C. Bugeja, R. Kovacs 2, P. Kovacs, D. Spiteri, T. Camilleri, G. Zammit 2.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Navarro, And. Galea 1, Ant. Galea 1, S. Cini 2, R. D’Amato, K. Galea 1, M. Paris, P. Paris, P. Markoch 2, M. Spiteri, O. Zammit 1, Y. Selesz 5.

Refs: M. Dalli, S. Licari.

Exiles 14
San Ġiljan 17
(2-6, 5-2, 5-3, 2-6)

Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, N. Paris, D. Pace Lupi, R. Blary 2, N. Portelli, J. Spiteri Staines 1, V. Kupic 6, K. Grixti, P. Borg 3, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg, K. Lanzon 2.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, C. Gialanze 2, K. Galea 2, K. Dowling, M. Zammit, M. Avramovic 2, J. Sammut, C. Spiteri de Barro 2, P. Biros 2, P. Fava, D. Zammit 7, M. Pisani.

Refs: P. Balzan, B. Navarra.

Action on the Exiles goal during yesterday’s match at Tal-Qroqq. Photo: Jason Borg