Action on the Sliema goal, yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Sliema 6
San Ġiljan 7

(1-0, 2-0, 1-2, 2-5)

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta 1, K. Dowling, T. Sullivan, M. Meli, J. Soler 3, M. Spiteri Staines, C. Cluett, N. Bugelli 1, J. Brownrigg, M. Bodegas, A. Attard, N. Dedovic 1.

San Ġiljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Vapenski 1, G. Molina 2, M. Zammit, K. Galea, Darren Zammit, B. Plumpton, A. Cousin 2, P. Fava, Dino Zammit 2, D. Spiteri.

Referees: F. Ricciotti, S. Scappini.

The 2015 BOV Premier League crown will definitely stay in Balluta Bay this summer and will be contested between San Giljan Crystal Finance and holders Neptunes Grimaldi.

This was the main outcome in a match wrapping up the first phase of the championship which was marked by the Saints’ hard-earned victory over Sliema Frank Salt.

San Ġiljan had a great comeback that reached its peak in the last session of the match when they overturned a 4-2 deficit to end up 7-6 winners.

This was a recovery of gargantuan proportions which had teamwork, determination and scoring protagonists in the shape of Guil-lermo Molina, Aurelien Cousin and Dino Zammit who each struck twice for the winners.

Molina’s goal midway through that last session and his previous one in the second deserved to be hung in the gallery of picture goals.

The indications were far from bright for Marko Orlovic’s side as they stumbled to a four-goal deficit by the half-way mark in the third quarter as the Blues, for whom John Soler netted a hat-trick, did everything right in the blocking stage except in extra player sets which in the end had them missing six on seven.

Not that San Ġiljan fared any better when they had numerical advantage. They wasted all their first ten set-pieces but then profited from their vital last three as the Blues’ stringent press was being punished regularly.

Sliema’s longer bench, at least, helped coach Dejan Milakovic rotate his units without really weakening his team.

San Ġiljan’s grit and the encouragement of their coach played a big part in their recovery which started in the third session and was wrapped up in the last.

Sliema will henceforth only play for prestige in the Championship Pool with the Saints leading the standings in their bid to win the first Premier League title in 20 years.

Premier League