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week 5 - May 3 2008
Sirens Hard Rock Café 9 – Exiles Pender Gardens 8
(3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-2)
Reigning winter league holders Sirens managed to book the last slot in the semifinals when they registered their first seasonal win after beating Exiles, with a minimal margin, in the last match of the first phase.
Exiles fought bravely throughout the match, and clawed back to neutralising a 0-3 score and then also coming to just goal away a couple of times later into the game, but had to succumb to more consistent opponents and they will surely kick themselves for missing two penalties in the match.
Clint Mercieca opened the score with Pace Lupi excluded in the third minute of play. Exiles had a good opportunity to equalise 14 seconds later when they won a penalty but Allan Grech effectively saved Sullivan’s free 5 metre shot directed to the left corner.
Sirens’ morale was now high and they, despite missing on two man-ups, opened a 3-0 lead with goals from Ranier Scerri and Jurgen Borg.
David Pace Lupi scored Exiles’ first on the day when he did not miss when came face to face with opposing custodian Grech.
The game livened up as Exiles managed to equalise at 3-3 after Julian Rizzo Naudi and Martin Calleja (with a nice high lob) netted a respective goal midway in the 12th minute of play.
However Sirens seemed to take the game fully in control when they scored three goals in a row till the second session’s end.
Ryan Mock scored on a J. Rizzo Naudi exclusion and this was followed with David Cutajar’s first of three and Borg’s brace (this coming off a solitary break on the right).
Sirens’ lead was extended to a maximum at 7-3 when Cutajar beat Alan Borg Cole (who had a fine showing in the Exiles’ goal) in the 18th minute.
The game was not over as Exiles made another comeback and registered a 3-0 run. Pace Lupi scored on a Privitera exclusion and then Timmy Sullivan made it 7-5 45 seconds later.
With Sirens missing a man-up, Exiles made it a one-goal game through a Michael Rizzo strike.
Sirens’ coach Simeonov called a timeout on a K. Rizzo Naudi exclusion and Paul Privitera beat Borg Cole when play resumed for 8-6 at the end of the third session.
Cutajar’s hat-trick opened once again a 3-goal lead for Sirens but Exiles kept believing in their chances and Sullivan (off a Calleja assist) and Rizzo (a gem of a goal through an 8 metre bounce shot off a foul) grabbed their braces for 9-8 with four minutes to go.
Exiles could have equalised when they won another penalty but Rizzo’s shot hit the right post.
Both sides then missed a respective man-up as Sirens held to their tight lead and managed to win the last semifinal place.
Sirens : Allan Grech, Reinhard Attard, Anthony Galea, Paul Privitera 1, Edward Bonello, Ryan Mock 1, Jurgen Borg 2, David Cutajar 3, Peter Borg, Rainier Scerri 1, Tyson Debono, Clint Mercieca 1, Joseph Sammut.
Exiles : Alan Borg Cole, Simon Vassallo, Karl Rizzo Naudi, David Pace Lupi 2, Timmy Sullivan 2, Julian Rizzo Naudi 1, Michael Rizzo 2, Kurt Griscti, Mark Galea, Karl Enriquez, Alan Arrigo, Andrew Zarb Cousin, Martin Calleja 1, Rueben Bonnici, Gabriel Galea.
Refs : Massimo Angilleri, Alex Deraffaele
Sliema McDonalds 17 – San Giljan Zara 5
(3-1, 3-2, 6-1, 5-1)
Sliema made it an en plein in this first phase of the Winter League with their fourth consecutive win, this time beating San Giljan with a handsome margin of twelve goals.
The crucial phase is yet to come as from two weeks time (there will be no senior games next week) when the cross semi-final playoff games will be played with Sliema facing, winter league title holders, Sirens whilst San Giljan will have to cross swords with their neighbours Neptunes.
John Soler excelled on the blues’ offensive front as he netted a total of seven personal gaols, two of these coming on a man-up situation and another from a penalty.
In fact Soler had already grabbed a brace by the fifth minute as Sliema opened an early 3-0 lead with Jonathan Valletta adding the other goal.
The Saints replied with a penalty, scored by Matthew Zammit (his only goal in the game) early in the sixth minute and then Matthew Pace made it a 3-2 game in the 11th minute of play.
San Giljan paid dearly for two man-up misses as Clint Debono beat Camilleri and then, a minute later, Daniel Paolella once again opened a three goal margin with a man-up goal with Caludio Spiteri de Barro excluded. The latter pulled one back for the Saints but Edward Aquilina duly replied on the opposite end for a 6-3 score midway into the game.
The third session fully determined the outcome of the game as Sliema took absolute control and netted six goals (two on man-ups) against a solitary man-up goal from San Giljan.
The last session was a mere formality with Sliema extending further their lead, including three goals in a matter of 47 seconds during the third minute in the session.
Unfortunately a respective player from both sides was sent off late in the game as Bianchi (San Giljan) was sent off for abusive language and then, seconds later, Aquilina (Sliema) was sent off for misconduct.
Sliema: Josie Cachia, Chrsitian Gialanze, Edward Aquilina 2, Jerome Gabaretta, Mark Meli 1, John Soler 7, Daniel Paolella 2, John Brownrigg, Clint Debono 3, Jonathan Valletta 2, James Spiteri Staines, Nikolai Lubrano, Ryan Coleiro.
San Giljan: Dean Camilleri, Claudio Spiteri de Barro 1, Glen Ghirxi, Kurt Grech, Matthew Zammit 1, Andrea Bianchi, Matthew Pace 1, Paul Fava 1, John Xerri De Caro, Kayne Lanzon 1.
Refs: Mario Dalli, Miro Caruana
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