Barely three days after being thrashed 18-5 by Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate in a cup match, Exiles Ferreti, produced a disciplined performance, backed by fast swimming and bold attacking play to hold their opponents to a sharing of spoils.
Indeed, it was the St Julian’s Bay team who were denied of what would have been a merited win against their more-fancied opponents who could only save their faces with two goals in the dying seconds of the game.
The Blues may have been over-confident after seeing off their opponents so easily on Tuesday. However, Maurizio Mirarchi’s team managed to put their heavy defeat behind them and never looked inferior as their well-marshalled blocking and quick counter-thrusts very often left the Blues reeling.
It was three all after the first quarter and a further six goals were shared before ends were changed.
Exiles had momentarily taken a 5-3 advanatge at one point as Sliema sweated to get back into some sort of stride.
Midway in the third session Ivan Basara was red-carded with substitution and although the Blues took a 9-7 lead shortly afterwards, a bold reaction by their opponents earned them a lead of 11-9.
With 107 seconds left, Antonio Petkovic saved his team’s blushes with two goals.
It was certainly a labouring outing for the Blues against a completely transformed Exiles side.
A goal netted by Liam Grixti one minute 24 seconds from the end resolved yet another balanced match in favour of Marsascala Mor€ at the expense of Ta’ Xbiex Amigos.
The result hoists the southerners to the top of the First Division table on eight points and one ahead of Otters who have a game in hand.
The lead alternated in the first three sessions, with Ta’ Xbiex taking a 3-1 advantage at the start of the second quarter.
But Marsascala bounced back to nose repeatedly in front before their opponents levelled matters each time.
The last say, though, came from Marsascala who took the points.
Marsascala 7
Ta’ Xbiex 6
(1-2, 2-1, 2-2, 2-1)
Marsascala: D. Spiteri, J.C. Cutajar 1, S. Mora, C. Bonello 1, E. Meli, L. Grixti 1, K. Rizzo Naudi, J. Cremona, S. Micallef, M. Pace, D. Cassar, G. Marnitz 4, J. Cremona
Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, L. Pace, M. Camilleri, S. Aquilina, M. Agius, K. Mock, S. Gravina 1, K. Debattista, E. Gravina, M. Maksimovic 1, R Attard, O. Zammit 2, P. Markoch 2
Referees: R. Spiteri, F. Brasiliano
Sliema 11
Exiles 11
(3-3, 3-3, 3-2, 2-3)
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano 1, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1, J. Borg 2, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg, A. Attard, I. Basara 2, A. Petkovic 3, K. Schembri
Exiles: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi 1, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 2, G. Katonas 2, S. Galea Pace, D. Borg, K. Grixti 1, L. Sekulic 2, P. Borg 2, B. Lanzon, N. Portelli, K. Lanzon 1
Referees: M. Dalli, M. Piano