The BOV Winter League First Division championship, this year in its second edition, remained in the south of the island.

Only that this time it changed hands.

Marsaxlokk Fischer yesterday pipped their neighbours from Marsascala Nutrition Empire on a better goal difference after the head-to-head clash produced no breakthrough.

The game developed into a keen tussle, with Marsascala always conducting the scoreline which eventually stretched to 11-7, just one goal short of their target, with three-and-a-half minutes to go.

However, Marsaxlokk, directed from the bench by Ian Azzopardi, held out. Their four-goal deficit (they won the corresponding first round match 10-5) was narrowed to three after their chief scorer Claudio Spiteri Debarro netted his team’s eighth goal to make it a hat-trick.

The outgoing category champions, Marsascala, for whom Clyde Bonello struck four times, deserve credit for making a fight of it.

On the other hand, it was a memorable day for Anthony Galea and Timmy Camilleri, two veterans of the winning side, who had Andrew Zarb Cousin, joining the south seasiders from Neptunes for leisurely pastures, also in the scoring mix with a brace.

At the end of the match, BOV chief officer Peter Perotti, flanked by ASA president Joe Caruana Curran, presented the cup to captain Galea.

In another match from the First Division yesterday, Ta’ Xbiex Amigos ensured that they remain in third place out of the four competing teams when defeating Otters Nivea a second time, on this occasion 8-5, after they had won 9-8 in the previous round.

The winners’ chief scorer was Joseph Galea who netted five goals, with Christophe Martin scoring a hat-trick for the young team from Gozo.

Summaries

Marsaxlokk 8
Marsascala 11

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

Marsaxlokk: A. Xuereb, C. Spiteri Debarro 3, A. Galea, C. Gialanze 1, C. Bugeja, N. Portelli 1, T. Camilleri, A. Zarb Cousin 2, R. Scerri 1, J. Cremona.

Marsascala: K. Schembri, M. Pace 2, C. Bonello 4, J. C. Cutajar, L. Grixti, J. Busuttil, J. Cremona 1, S. Micallef, K. Navarro 1, D. Cassar, C. Mifsud 3, F. Buhagiar.

Referees: P. Balzan, M. Angileri.

Otters 5
Ta’ Xbiex 8

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

Otters: R. Bonnici, A. Cachia, A. Camenzuli 1, A. Azzopardi, A. Borg, E. Pace Bonello, N. Camenzuli, M. Borg Millo, M. Dimech, D. Borg Millo, C. Martin 3, J. Galea 1, P. Teuma.

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, G. Attard, M. Camilleri, S. Aquilina 1, R. Greco, J. Galea 5, A. Bajada, P. Micallef, E. Gravina, L. Pace, K. Grima Scott 2.

Referees: R. Spiteri, S. Licari.

Premier League

Remaining matches
May 9: 14.30 Sirens vs Valletta; 15.45 San Giljan vs Sliema.

First Division