Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate pipped San Ġiljan Allcare in a close encounter yesterday marked by a spate of expulsions which alternated almost throughout.

The Blues earned the verdict thanks to a better conversion rate on extra-man sets and their ability to grind their teeth at crucial moments.

They also owe their victory to their chief scorer Antonio Pet-kovic whose eye for goal makes him a top order player.

San Giljan’s resilience was evident mostly in Zejlko Kovacic who also struck four times. The Saints fought back after being in arrears by three goals at the end of the third session, but a vital man-up opportunity 33 seconds from the end went abegging.

The result earned the Blues sole second place five points behind Neptunes.

It had been close all the way, with Sliema playing with more width in their game and also displaying more aggressiveness when in possession.

They led most of the way, forcing their opponents to fight back from two and three-goal deficits in the middle sessions, before the contest drew to an exciting climax in the last part of the game.

Petkovic then gave his team the lead on 9-8 which was neutralised by Andrea Bianchi.

However, John Soler provided the final salvo when he scored the winner with under four minutes left.

Then came San Ġiljan’s last-gasp squandered chance on numerical superiority with the team’s supporters left fuming.

In the opening First Division match, Marsaxlokk Fischer beat Otters Nivea 12-10 while in the Premier League Valletta McDonald’s defeated Exiles Ferretti by an identical score.

Thanks to their victory, the City team consolidated their middle position in the three-team Relegation Pool.

The south seasiders’ win was welcome for their neighbours Marsascala as it left the Gozitan team nine points adrift in the standings with a game in hand while also helping Ian Azzo-pardi’s team to move to second place on 10 points.

Meanwhile, between the first and second matches yesterday, Sean Xerri de Caro and Michael Rizzo were each presented with a plaque after being voted BOV Player of the Month in the First Division and Premier League respectively.

Summaries

Marsaxlokk 12
Otters 10

(3-3, 3-3, 3-2, 3-2)

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, A. Agius 1, B. Fulope, A. Galea 1, G. Busuttil, C. Bugeja 1, M. Fenech 3, S. Xerri de Caro 1, A. Mifsud 3, O. Frick 2, A. Arrigo, D. Borg Millo, M. Scerri.

Otters Nivea: J. Micallef, G. Attard, G. Zammit, D. Dimech, R. Bonnici, A. Borg, J. Paris 2, D. Schembri 1, A. Edward 1, S. Dimech 1, C. Martin, I. Vuksanovic 4, K. Grima Scott 1.

Referees: R. Spiteri, A. Rovida.

Valletta 12
Exiles 10

(3-0, 2-3, 5-4, 2-3)

Valletta McDonald’s: R. Sciortino, R. Mock, M. Spiteri Staines 4, M. Korolija, N. Bonello Ghio, S. Cachia, D. Paolella, D. Abela, C. Debono, C. Zammit 3, M. Cordina 2, D. Filipovic 2, M. Rizzo 1.

Exiles Ferretti: I. Bugeja, J. Rizzo Naudi, S. Vassallo, D. Pace Lupi 4, G. Katonas 3, D. Borg, J. Spiteri Staines 1, K. Grixti 1, L. Sekulic, P. Borg 1, B. Lanzon, S. Galea Pace, K. Lanzon.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, M. Calabro.

Sliema 10
San Ġiljan 9

(2-2, 4-2, 2-1, 2-4)

Sliema Frank Salt: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 2, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, J. Borg, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg, A. Attard, I. Basara 1, A. Petkovic 4, K. Schembri.

San Ġiljan Allcare: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, A. Galea, Karl Galea, K. Dowling 1, M. Zammit 1, A. Radovic 1, A. Bianchi 2, Keith Galea, Z. Kovacic 4, P. Fava, D. Zammit, J. Sammut.

Referees: M. Dalli, A. Rovida.

Premier League

First Division