While full credit should go to Ta' Xbiex for a truly diligent game which stifled Neptunes, not the least some great goalkeeping from Alex Bianchi and some well taken goals from Botond Szalma, Juri Szeles and Edward Aquilina, one could not dismiss the fact that the Reds were again a miserable lot yesterday.

There was no killer touch in their game, an abundance of casual play, panic shooting and slack marking in defence, all qualities which were starkly evident once more.

Trailing 8-5, it was panic station in the Neptunes ranks as Paolo Malara again sought to seek refuge when calling a time-out. That must have worked as his team drew level on 8-8 with the last session to go.

Edward Cachia levelled matters before a late surge from the otherwise predictable Steve Camilleri who added two more to his three goals and an 11th conversion by Michele Stellini brought the resistance of the brave Ta' Xbiex to an end.

San Ġiljan could not shrug off an apparent feeling of anti-climax after Sunday's grueling victory over Sliema. In fact, they took a full 12 minutes before forging ahead on 3-2 late in the second quarter. But from then on they never looked back.

As the southerners' resistance started subsiding and with Boris Popovic and Yugoslav Vasovic reeling in four and three goals respectively they were never in danger conceding any spoils.

San Ġiljan 13
Marsascala 7
(0-0, 5-2, 4-1, 4-4)

San Giljan: S. Schembri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, C. Gialanze 1, B. Popovic 4, M. Borg Spiteri 1, M. Zammit 1, P. Fava, A. Bianchi, M. Pace 1, A. Borda, Y. Vasovic 3, J. Xerri de Caro 1, K. Lanzon, D. Camilleri.

Marsascala: I. Bugeja, P. Borg 1, J.C. Cutajar, M. Borg, G. Ghirxi, L. Grixti, J. Licari, J. Cremona, S. Micallef 1, R. Cutajar, B. Szabo 3, G. Suti 2, S. Farrugia.

Referees: I. Sciriha, R. Spiteri.

Neptunes 12
Ta' Xbiex 9
(4-3, 1-2, 3-3, 4-1)

Neptunes: N. Gouder, N. Lanzon, T. Agius, K. Galea, E. Cachia 1, R. Sciortino, S. Camilleri 5, J. Camilleri, A. Kunac 2, S. Gravina, L. Sottani, M. Stellini 2, M. Pisani 2, R. Attard, M. Ciappara.

Ta' Xbiex: A. Bianchi, S. Cachia, M. Manara, K. Falzon, G. Lubrano, B. Zalma 3, P. Paolella, K. Engerer, J. Tabone 1, E. Aquilina 3, G. Gera, D. Pisani, Y. Szeles 2, B. Desira Buttigieg, A. Tanti.

Referees: A. De Raffaele, P. Giordano.

Next fixtures

Friday: 6 p.m. Exiles vs Ta' Xbiex; 7.15 p.m. Marsascala vs Marsa-xlokk.

Saturday:” Otters vs Ta' Xbiex; Sirens vs Sliema.