It was a veritable 'battle' yesterday as Sliema McDonald's crossed swords with Neptunes Emirates in the match to decide the 2010 BOV Winter League.
The sporting duel was hard, sometimes abrasive, but very often within limits until the very last stages of extra time when tempers were frayed and a player from each side was dismissed for good.
The essential difference between the teams were Sliema's rock-solid blocking against Neptunes' sloppy finishing, enough to say that they only scored twice from 11 extra-man sets while the Blues netted six from the same number of opportunities.
The other lacuna for Neptunes was the eight-minute start they gave their opponents before making use of the available Steve Camilleri.
But Camilleri and all for the remainder of the game, until the final seconds when he too was dismissed for good, Sliema found the extra energy to lower the colours of their opponents.
Mark Meli gave Sliema a 2-0 lead before Niki Lanzon reduced the arrears on a penalty. John Soler made it 3-1 as the Blues were more economical and deadlier with the Reds starting on their long trail of missed man-up chances.
After conceding the fourth goal, Neptunes introduced Camilleri but their profligacy continued. John Brownrigg made it 5-1 before two goals within 20 seconds from Shaun Gravina and Michele Stellini reduced the gap to 5-3.
The third session turned out to be an eventful affair as Neptunes came strongly into the picture through the young Benji Lanzon but Sliema scored again through Jerome Gabaretta as his effort was deemed to have crossed the imaginary line.
Camilleri's first-time shot made it 6-5 before Nikolai Lubrano was penalised for not leaving the pitch when excluded. The penalty, by Camilleri, tore through the net. But, Sliema expertly converted a man-up by Daniel Paolella with one second left for the third session.
The last part of the game proved just as palpitating. Neptunes lost two more man-ups before Meli reached his hat-trick to make it 8-6. The Reds again failed miserably on a similar situation but Lanzon again perforated the net with 68 seconds left.
The final moments reserved more excitement as the Balluta Bay team won an expulsion followed by a penalty with three seconds to go. Camilleri equalised on 8-8.
In extra-time, Jordan Camilleri put his side in the lead for the first time but two goals by Gabaretta and Soler again gave the Blues the lead before Soler scored again when sealing it for Sliema for a final 11-9 scoreline.
The final 'sweet' moment was reserved for Sliema whose captain Clint Debono was presented with the cup by BOV chief officer Peter Perotti.
However, the shambolic finale due to some players' hot-headedness was a real pity which does no credit to the game.
Final
Sliema 11
Neptunes 9
(3-1, 2-2, 2-3, 1-2 - 2-1, 1-0)
Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabaretta 2, N. Lubrano, P. Privitera, M. Meli 3, J. Soler 4, D. Paolella 1, J. Brownrigg 1, C. Debono, J. Spiteri Staines, M. Rizzo, M. Cordina, A. Bianchi.
Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon 2, D. Camilleri, M. Stellini 1, T. Agius, B. Lanzon 1, S. Camilleri 3, J. Camilleri 1, B. Buhagiar, S. Gravina 1, K. Micallef, Z. Mizzi, M. Pisani.
Referees: M. Dalli, M. Angilleri.
Third place play-off
Sirens 13
San Ġiljan 16
(4-4, 2-4, 1-4, 6-4)
Sirens: E. Arrigo, A. Attard, P. Micallef, P. Borg 3, A. Sammut, R. Mock 1, J. Borg 1, D. Cutajar 2, O. Zammit, C. Zammit, C. Mercieca 4, D. Zammit 2, J. Cremona.
San Ġiljan: D. Camilleri, C. Spiteri de Barro, M. Pace, K. Galea 3, C. Gialanze, M. Zammit 5, R. Xerri 1, A. Bianchi 2, E. Aquilina 3, A. Borda, P. Fava 2, K. Dowling, K. Schembri.
Referees: P. Balzan, A. DeRaffaele.