Propelled by some power play mostly engineered by chief scorers Peter Biros, Marko Avramovic, Karl Galea and Dino Zammit, San Ġiljan found Exiles easy prey yesterday as they strolled to an emphatic 19-11 win which leaves them in hot pursuit of leaders Neptunes.
As expected the Saints were several notches ahead of their opponents who fought gamely but in the end lacked the skills and resilience of San Ġiljan.
The Saints made their intentions clear from the outset when they took a 6-3 first-session lead to secure an adequate starting base. Their goals came from Avramovic, Biros (two each), Dino Zammit and Andrea Bianchi.
Exiles replied through two-goal Nicholas Portelli and Diego Borg who had momentarily equalised on 1-1.
In a keenly-fought second quarter San Ġiljan went 9-3 ahead thanks to goals from Avramovic, Matthew Zammit and Biros with Exiles making it 9-6 through Cupic, David Pace Lupi and Radovic.
Another goal at each end made it 10-7 at mid-point.
Sergio Afric’s team again pulled the trigger in the third session as they scored six more to extend their lead to 16-9.
Matthew Zammit’s definite dismissal shortly into the last session was of no consequence.
Victory had long been in the bag. A 3-2 reading in terms of goals in that last session in favour of San Ġiljan set the seal on their comprehensive success.
In a high-scoring First Division game, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos picked three points at the expense of a battlign Marsaxlokk ASC, the main protagonist being the promising Andreas Galea, Yuri Szeles and all-rounder Peter Markoch.
Ta’ Xbiex started well and took a 5-2 first-session lead with two goals coming from Galea and Szeles who eventually scored five and four respectively.
That three-goal advantage was maintained at the interval after the teams shared four conver-sions.
Twelve goals, six for each side, were scored in the third quarter during which Szeles netted a fine goal following a rapid swivelling movement.
The victory was definitely sealed in the last session which went the way of Ta’ Xbiex on 5-3.
Ta’ Xbiex 18
Marsaxlokk 13
(5-2, 2-2, 6-6, 5-3)
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, J. Navarro, And. Galea 5, Ant. Galea 1, S. Cini 2, M. Asciak, K. Galea 1, M. Paris, M. Spiteri, P. Markoch 3, R. Attard 2, O. Zammit, Y. Szeles 4.
Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, L. Friggieri, M. Agius 1, E. Meli 2, K. Grech 2, K. Mock, A. Galea 1, C. Bugeja 2, R. Kovacs 1, P. Kovacs 3, T. Camilleri, J. Fenech, G. Zammit 1.
Refs: R. Spiteri, S. Licari.
San Ġiljan 19
Exiles 11
(6-3, 4-4, 6-2, 3-2)
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, J.C. Cutajar, C. Gialanze, K. Galea 4, J. Sammut, M. Zammit 1, M. Avramovic 5, A. Bianchi 1, C. Spiteri de Barro, P. Biros 5, P. Fava, D. Zammit 3, M. Pisani.
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 1, N. Portelli 2, A. Radovic 2, J. Spiteri Staines, V. Cupic 2, K. Grixti, P. Borg 1, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg 1, K. Lanzon 1.
Refs: S. Stappini, A. De Raffaele.
Playing Today: 16.45 Marsaxlokk vs ASA U-17. 18.00 Otters vs Marsascala. 19.15 Sirens vs Sliema.