Steve Camilleri looking to deliver a pass. Photo: Jason Borg

Neptunes Grimaldi made sure of a record fifth consecutive title and their 23rd in history with two matches to spare after beating Sliema Frank Salt in a tactical encounter which deservedly went the Reds’ way.

This was Neptunes’ 10th win of the season and they are still unbeaten. It was difficult to select the best player for the Reds yesterday as the whole team combined perfectly from start to finish.

Neptunes’ marking and blocking when defending was second to none and they made life difficult for Sliema to find the net. Indeed, the Blues were erratic in their conclusions and messed up several scoring opportunities.

Sliema forged ahead through Antonio Petkovic but Neptunes equalised through their captain Niki Lanzon and with Mark Meli out Peter Biros gave the Reds a 2-1 lead.

In the second session, Steve Camilleri made it 3-1 after having the better of keeper Ryan Coleiro who produced two superb saves on Biros to keep his team in the match.

Sliema, however, never looked 100 per cent focused and with a minute and 58 seconds to go Biros capitalised to make it 4-1 following a fast break.

After the interval, Neptunes continued to cruise and with Petkovic out, Jordan Camilleri scored a fifth with a great flick.

John Soler pulled one back and then, with Molnar out, Ivan Basara put the Blues back in the game (5-3).

However, Sliema failed to score from another man-up situation with just over a minute to go and did not profit again with an extra man. Lanzon scored a sixth for Neptunes with four seconds left.

Sliema battled on and Basara made it 6-4 but Steve Camilleri again opened a three-goal margin for Neptunes, giving Sergei Mar-koch’s men more confidence.

Sliema needed a win to maintain their slim hopes of winning the league and Petkovic made it6-5 but then Jerome Gabaretta was sent off for dissent with substitution.

The Blues lost their rhythm and Steve Camilleri pounced with two quick goals to send the Neptunes fans in delirium.

Earlier, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos produced their finest game of the season after beating Otters Nivea by a comfortable margin.

The Gozitan team sorely missed Andre Edward who made way for young and inexperienced goalkeeper Aleksa Kalicanin.

Otters were too erratic and also committed too many fouls, conceding no fewer than 11 man-ups from which Ta’ Xbiex scored seven times.

Otters 7
Ta’ Xbiex 20

(4-6, 1-6, 2-4, 0-4)

Otters: A. Kalicanin, G. Attard 1, G. Zammit 1, A. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici, A. Borg, J. Paris 1, S. Dimech, J. Micallef, A. Cachia, C. Martin 1, I. Vuksanovic 2, K. Grima Scott 1.

Ta’ Xbiex: L. Borg, M. Maksimovic 4, M. Camilleri, S. Aquilina, M. Agius, J. Cauchi, S. Gravina 2, K. Debattista 3, E. Gravina, L. Pace, R. Attard 2, O. Zammit 4, P. Markoch 5.

Referees: M. Ruscica, S. Salino.

Neptunes 9

Sliema 5

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

Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, G. Mizzi, M. Stellini, T. Agius, M. Zammit, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 1, A. Zarb Cousin, P. Biros 2, B. Muscat, T. Molnar, C. Mercieca.

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

Referees: R. Colombo, M. Ruscica.

Premier League

First Division