There were victories for Neptunes and San Ġiljan as the Winter League resumed yesterday at Tal-Qroqq.
Neptunes scored a last-gasp winner over Exiles while the Saints, as anticipated, overcame the ASA Under-17 selection in a non-competitive match.
In the opener, Miguel Zammit netted his team’s winner from a man-up, their third from eight such set-pieces, with just over one second remaining to down Exiles.
It may not have been a matter of the Reds’ blushes being saved considering that their 13-man squad was made up of no fewer than nine players drafted from the junior squads.
By contrast, Exiles presented a strong team with the experienced Michele Stellini, Timmy Sullivan, scorers of three goals between them, Andrea Bianchi and Sean Xerri de Caro adding more quality than of late to Dorian Pisani’s side.
Exiles were the better team in the opening quarters during which they twice led by two goals.
However, Slovan Maslovar managed to help his boys stage a stealthy comeback when they won the third session 3-1, their last goal from Sean Gravina putting his side ahead for the first time late in the third session.
That was followed early in the fourth by Sullivan’s equaliser on 5-5 before Zammit hit that dramatic winner.
Neptunes 6
Exiles 5
(0-1, 2-2, 3-1, 1-1)
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, L. Calleja, E. Erdogan, T. Agius, M. Tabone, S. Gravina 1, J. Culic, J. Abela, M. Zammit 2, M. Martellacci, M. Azzopardi 1, I. Bugeja.
Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, J. Bajada, M. Stellini 1, T. Sullivan 2, S. Xerri De Caro 1, D. Borg Millo, K. Griscti, N. Paris 1, A. Bianchi, B. Lanzon, L. Felice, S. Galea Pace.
Referees: Alex DeRaffaele, Ronnie Spiteri.
Malta U-17 8
San Ġiljan 16
(1-6, 3-4, 2-1, 2-5)
Malta U-17: T. Micallef, K. Erdogan, J. Culic, J. Sciberras 3, S. Mallia 1, T. Said, B. Grech 2, J. Busuttil, L. Galea 1, G. Sammut, M. Martellacci, M. Tabone 1, J. Muscat.
San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg 4, A. Galea 2, C. Farrugia 1, D. Zammit 2, A. Saliba, B. Plumpton 3, J. Galea 3, A. Abela, M. Borg, L. Saliba, D. Zammit 1.
Referees: Richard Magri, Massimo Angileri.