Sirens 6
Sliema 11
(1-1, 1-3, 1-4, 3-3)

The form shown by both Sliema McDonald's and Sirens Ritter Sport this year could not have suggested but a win for the Blues, fresh from their championship success.

So it was, as the confident Blues swept past their opponents from the north to secure a berth in Sunday's knock-out final and with that the possibility of adding the third silverware this year to their already impressive tally.

It may not have been a runaway lead for them after the first two sessions, but their composure on man-ups and sharper pot at goal were clearly evident. In the third session, their advantage was stretched to comfortable proportions, resulting in the game being won and lost. The Blues again demonstrated their edge over the St Paul's Bay team.

There was no score for almost six minutes in the first session as both teams were forced to speculative shots from a distance but then John Soler converted a penalty with Ryan Mock not untypically scoring a fine goal from the distance.

Soon after the first restart, Otto Frick made it 2-1 with a goal of stunning simplicity as the ball was shifted swiftly on a man-up.

Clint Debono increased the lead before Clint Mercieca's ghastly error gifted John Brownrigg with a fourth goal. Baranyi reduced the deficit to 4-2 before teams changed sides.

For a while Sirens remained competitive as Marcz closed the gap to 5-3. But then the difference started showing as Soler, Mark Meli and Brownrigg netted three goals for an 8-3 Sliema advantage.

It was a fait accompli as the fourth session started. Soler scored his team's ninth goal with Mercieca twice and Cutajar replying for a 9-6 scoreline. But Sliema's tailenders Nicolai Lubrano and Michael Rizzo rounded up the result.

The Blues will now meet the winners' of today's match between Neptunes and San Ġiljan which frankly one wonders why it was programmed to start at 7.15 p.m. and not earlier.

Sirens: J. Sammut, A. Baranyi 1, A. Galea, P. Privitera, R. Scerri, R. Mock 1, J. Borg, D. Cutajar 1, A. Attard, C. Zammit, D. Zammit, T. Marcz 1, C. Mercieca 2.

Sliema: J. Cachia, J. Gabaretta, N. Lubrano 1, R. Fodor, M. Meli 1, J. Soler 3, D. Paolella, J. Brownrigg 2, C. Debono 1, J. Valletta, M. Rizzo 1, O. Frick 2, R. Coleiro.

Referees: M. Angilleri, D. DeMeo.

Division Two KO SF

Marsascala jolted the aspirations of Exiles Jet Services when they booked a place in the final of the BOV Division Two KO after beating them 8-7 in a tight contest.

Anthony Farrugia's team thus derived some satisfaction when they made amends for their previous defeat against Exiles in the league. Marsascala played to a well-devised plan as they locked up their rearguard in expert fashion and at the same time grabbed most of their chances well, first through Joe Cremona and then Gabor Suti, each scorer of a hat-trick.

The winner was netted 90 seconds from time Hungarian Botond Szabo.

Marsascala 8
Exiles 7
(3-2, 0-2, 3-2, 2-1)

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg, J.C. Cutajar 1, M. Borg, G. Ghirxi, L. Grixti, J. Licari, J. Cremona 3, S. Micallef, R. Cutajar, B. Szabo 1, G. Suti 3, S. Farrugia.

Exiles: A. Borg Cole, J. Rizzo Naudi 2, K. Rizzo Naudi, D. Pace Lupi, T. Sullivan, A. Cachia, R. Chomakhidze 3, K. Griscti, A. Zarb Cousin, A. Cousin 2, S. Vassallo, S. Cini, M. Calleja.

Referees: A. DeRaffaele, M. Dalli.

Next Fixtures

Today: Division One KO SF 7.15 p.m. Neptunes vs San Ġiljan.

Sunday: 5.15 p.m. Division Two KO final Marsaxlokk vs Marsascala. 6.30 p.m. Division One KO final.