After their recent shattering defeats at the hands of leaders Neptunes Grimaldi, San Ġiljan All Care Insurance regained some lost pride when they defeated Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate 12-9, yesterday evening.

Aside from boosting their ego, the Saints did their neighbours a good turn when they dented the Blues’ aspirations of dethroning Neptunes as champions.

The Reds are now eight points ahead of Sliema with three matches remaining for each side.

Aleksander Nikolic must have been proud of his boys as they never lost their grip on the proceedings despite their opponents’ efforts to save their faces.

For all his remonstrations when contesting close calls, Vincze Balasz must have been disappointed by his team’s lack of accuracy and bluntness when in possession.

In fact, a healthier man-up reading for San Ġiljan, five on nine, against Sliema’s five on 12 also contributed for the Blues’ downfall.

Aleksander Radovic, scorer of five goals, and Matthew Zammit had another excellent match as the Saints led 3-2 after the first session after which the equilibrium prevailed as ten goals were shared in the middle sessions.

With San Ġiljan 8-7 to the good, going into the last quarter, the Blues grew increasingly edgy and after they made it nine all, they lost composure in the last three minutes to allow their tension-free opponents to move convincingly ahead, with the last goal coming from young Andreas Galea.

In the previous match, Marsa-xlokk Fischer maintained their slim hopes for the title after defeating Otters Nivea 8-7.

Taking a first session 3-1 lead, the Gozitans looked confident, but then they conceded three quick goals in the second quarter to trail their opponents 4-3.

A goal at each end kept the southerners in front at midpoint after which they extended their lead to 8-5 going into the last eight minutes.

Otters’ brace of goals and final efforts to save the game, however, were not enough.

Otters 7
Marsaxlokk 8

(1-1, 3-4, 1-3, 2-0)

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

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, A. Agius 1, B. Fulope 4, A. Galea, G. Busuttil, M. Fenech, S. Xerri de Caro 1, A. Mifsud, O. Frick 2, A. Arrigo, D. Borg Millo, M. Scerri.

Referees: S. Licari, M. Angileri.

Sliema 9
San Ġiljan 12

(2-3, 3-3, 2-2, 2-4)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, N. Lubrano, T. Sullivan 1, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 2, J. Borg, C. Cluett, J. Brownrigg, N. Bugelli, I. Basara 1, A. Petkovic 3, K. Schembri.

San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri De Barro, A. Galea 1, B. Plumpton, K. Dowling, M. Zammit 3, A. Radovic 5, D. Zammit, Keith Galea, Z. Kovacic 1, P. Fava, D. Zammit 2, J. Sammut.

Referees: P. Balzan and D. Rotondano.

Premier League

First Division