Sirens raise game to wallop Exiles

SIRENS 14

EXILES 5

(2-2, 4-0, 3-2, 5-1)

SIRENS T. Micallef, P. Serracino, K. Erdogan 1, J. Sciberras 4, J. Zerafa Gregory 2, G. Farrugia,  M. Chircop 1, I. Riolo 2, J. Napier 1, M. Cutajar, M. Sciberras 1, M. Azzopardi 2, M. Bonello Dupius.

EXILES M. Castillo, N. Saliba 1, L. Gialanze, P. Paris, T. Sullivan, S. Xerri de Caro, M. Fenech 1, K. Griscti, N. Paris, J. Bajada 1, M. Aquilina 2, D. Fenech, G. Borg.

Refs: T. Petrini, R. Spiteri

Sirens shook off their initial inertia to recover and collect the spoils against Exiles on Wednesday.

In a first session in which both teams went for an uncompromising attacking style, Exiles took a 2-0 advantage through goals from Max Aquilina and Niall Saliba. Exiles’ goalkeeper even saved a penalty on Matthew Sciberras. Two quick goals by Jacob Sciberras put Sirens back in it.

When Sirens were on target, Jacob Sciberras was always behind the northerners’ efforts. When the floodlights were turned on in the second session, it became suddenly overcast for Exiles. A second brace by Jacob Sciberras and two other goals from Matthew Sciberras and Isiah Riolo made it 6-2 for Sirens.

To this, the disappointing Exiles had no response. There was only one team in it. Further humiliation was in store for the Sliema side when Riolo finished a slick man-up transfer of the ball to make it 9-2. Jake Bajada’s conversion on 9-4 did raise a minimal excitement from the Exiles’ supporters.

Sirens went on to finish at a canter when they scored five more through Azzopardi and Zerafa Gregory, scorers of a brace each as Ken Erdogan, Matthew Chircop, and John Napier put their names on the scoresheet.

MARSASKALA 3

VALLETTA 4

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

MARSASKALA J. Micallef, L. Falzon, A. Camenzuli , P. Privitera, R. Greco, G. Galea, K. Navarro 1, D. Pace Lupi , G. Sammut , J. Ciantar 1, M. Carani 1, A. Muscat, S. Fava, F. Scardino

VALLETTA B. Busuttil, N. Farrugia, M. Pace, T. Said, S. Busuttil 1 , Z. Micallef, D. Paolella , M. Mifsud , J. Culic, A. Agius 2, K. Galea, K. Cremona, A. Bugeja, L. Felice 1, R. Attard

Refs: R. Magri, T. Petrini

In the first match, Valletta opened up the throttle decisively in the last quarter to turn the tables on Marsaskala in a low-key encounter.

It was all-square at the end of the opening quarter which produced little excitement. Andrea Agius opened the scoring for Valletta. Yet, Marsaskala were the smarter lot and as the time passed, they started to make their technical superiority count, scoring three goals without reply to take a strong foothold in the match after the opening 12 minutes.

As Valletta stalled, Marsaskala appeared to be a good bet to collect maximum points as they led 3-2 with the last session to go. However, the Citizens staged a bold recovery with Agius and Sebastian Busuttil netting the decisive goals.

OTTERS 2

MARSAXLOKK 5

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

OTTERS M. Xerri, M. Bonnici, K. Scicluna, L. Grech Carr 1, M. Farrugia, D. Dimech, I. Azzopardi,  S. Dimech, L. Dimech, S. Apap, Z. Bartolo 1, A. Dimech, G. Gatt Ellis.

MARSAXLOKK S. Mifsud, R. Spiteri 1, C. Cutajar, B. Zammit, T. Agius 1, D. Bugeja, M. Zammit, L. Mallia, L. Saliba, R. Galea 3, J. Valletta, E. Mallia, M. Farrugia.

Refs: A. Zedda, N. Mercieca.

The lower division match between Marsaxlokk and Otters resulted in an easy, if not overwhelming, victory for the southseasiders, who again had Ryan Galea as their leading scorer with three goals.

Fixtures

Friday 6.15pm Crossovers  First Division Valletta vs Barracudas; Premier Division 7.20pm Sliema vs Sirens; 8.25pm B’Bugia vs Exiles