At the moment, Neptunes Emirates are streets ahead of all the other contestants.

Another superb showing, this time against championship contenders San Ġiljan Sir Alex, confirmed that Sergei Markoch’s troops are pure class.

It was a performance that rendered the duel similar to one of men against boys. Swimming, shooting power, elegant passing and solid defending were all in the repertoire of the Reds who are now sole leaders with maximum points from four games.

San Ġiljan could do little against their opponents’ scoring machine even if six-goal Dino Zammit must be commended for his scoring exploits. Otherwise, the Saints were outclassed.

Neptunes took a four-goal lead in the opening session as they displayed better tactical sense and sharper scoring instincts.

San Ġiljan were unable to make their presence felt but Zammit managed to cut the leeway to 4-1.

The Saints’ central zone was proving costly since Neptunes exploited their outside men on the four and five positions with snap shots which caught goalkeeper Dean Camilleri napping.

Neptunes scored another five goals and conceded two as the advantage started getting wider.

Goals alternated in the third quarter with eight conversions maintaining Neptunes’ their lead of five goals before the start of the last session.

Zammit reached his remarkable tally of six goals but that was the only satisfaction for the Saints’ clan.

The lead was extended to 16-8 with less than five minutes to go. Neptunes’ superiority was such that the game had long fizzled out as a non-contest. Another bonanza in that last part of the game had them scoring six more to annihilate their Balluta Bay neighbours.

In the opening match yesterday, Valletta United registered a surprisingly, but deservedly, easy win over Ta’ Xbiex Amigos with their goals mainly coming from veteran Charlie Zammit who scored six times.

Valletta were in complete control as they took a 5-1 lead in the opening session which was extended to 10-3 by the half-way mark. That advantage widened to 14-5 into the last quarter as Valletta’s superiority was beyond question.

In the final session, Ta’ Xbiex tried to fight back and succeeded in winning that last part of the game 7-4 for a final 18-12 scoreline.

Summaries

San Ġiljan 9
Neptunes 19

(1-4, 3-5, 4-4, 1-6)

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 4, A. Sammut, M. Stellini 2, T. Agius, A. Ciric 1, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 3, G. Pace, S. Gravina 2, B. Lanzon, T. Molnar 2, C. Mercieca 1.

Refs: M. Dalli, M. Piano.

Ta’ Xbiex 12
Valletta 18

(1-5, 2-5, 2-4, 7-4)

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Asciak, And. Galea 3, Ant. Galea 1, S. Cini, R. D’Amato, K. Galea, M. Paris 1, P. Paris, P. Markoch 3, M. Spiteri, O. Zammit, Y. Szeles 4.

Valletta: R. Sciortino, S. Meli 1, R. Calleja, M. Korolija 4, M. Cordina, S. Cachia, R. Mock 1, C. Zammit 6, C. Debono 2, R. Scerri, N. Bonello Ghio, D. Filipovic 4, Z. Sciberras.

Refs: M. Angileri, R. Spiteri.

Next matches
Sunday: KO preliminary round – 18.00 Otters vs Ta’ Xbiex; 19.15 San Ġiljan vs Sliema.

Premier League

Division One