Sliema ASC earn spoils in low-scoring encounter

Barely four days after their 9-8 defeat at the hands of San Ġiljan, Sliema bounced back to defeat Sirens in a low-scoring contest that finished 5-3.

In yesterday’s clash between Sliema and Sirens nothing but a win was sufficient for Sergio Afric’s team in order to redeem themselves after losing against San Ġiljan.

But Sliema’s form suggested that they are not yet out of the woods.

Sliema inched ahead on 3-2 in the dying seconds of the first session with Michael Spiteri Staines scoring twice after Sirens had taken an early lead.

Spiteri Staines’ snap shot in the second session increased the lead as ends were changed with Sliema enjoying a two-goal lead.

Sirens potted a great goal through a fine move involving three players to reduce the gap at the beginning of the third session. 

Triston Said initiated the action from the right side as he lifted the ball towards Mikhael Cutajar who instantly fed Lucas Falzon to exploit Sliema’s indecision to make it 3-4.

It was everything to play for in the final quarter. The northerners repelled anything Sliema could throw at them as Jerome Gabarretta was well supervised collectively.

Lucas Falzon was unlucky to be denied by the woodwork. The Blues shifted the ball rapidly on the other side as Jacob Sciberras buried the ball into the net.

In the first cross-overs, Marsaxlokk picked maximum points when beating Otters 10-6. It was all Marsaxlokk throughout as conversions were regular with five of their players featuring on the scorer’s list, led by Timothy Agius.

OTTERS 6

MARSAXLOKK 10

(1-3, 0-2, 1-2, 4-3)

Otters: M. Xerri, C. Spiteri de Barro 1, R. Caruana, M. Lanzon, E. Meli 1, L. Gialanze 1, K. Scicluna, I. Azzopardi, D. Dimech, D. Zahra 3, M. Farrugia, S. Xerri, D. Spiteri

Marsaxlokk: R. Coleiro, J. Rizzo Naudi, M. Martellacci 2, J. Porteli, T. Agius 3, L. Saliba, J. Galea, K. Cremona 1, S. Micallef 2, M. Pace, M.  Cacici, O. Zammit, B. Lanzon 2.

Refs: Peter Balzan, Aldo Rovandi.

SIRENS 3

SLIEMA 5

(2-3, 0-1, 1-0, 0-1)

Sirens: J. Parnis, J. Ciantar, K.Erdogan 1, G. Mellilo, J. Zerafa Gregory, T. Said, L. Falzon 1, I. Riolo, J. Napier M. Cutajar, M. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi 1, O. Gauci.

Sliema: N. Grixti, J. Gabarretta, L. Galea 1, J. Sciberras 1, M. Meli, B. Cachia, M. Spiteri Staines 2, J. Cutajar, J. Brownrigg, Z. Mizzi, N. Bugelli, Z. Sciberras.

Referees: Raffele Colombo, Alex de Raffaele.