Prolific Cannella powers Sliema past Neptunes and into Play-off Final

NEPTUNES 11

SLIEMA 16

(3-4, 3-7, 4-3,1-2)

A perky Sliema side stepped into the driving seat from the second session onwards to take Neptunes by storm and book a place in tomorrow’s BOV Play-off final against San Giljan.

This was a sound performance by the Sliema side, backed once again by an extraordinary Giacomo Cannella.

It was another steely match in front of a very good crowd. At one point in the third session, Neptunes came back momentarily but the Blues soon regained their composure courtesy of the Italian player as well as the fine covering from Matthew Castillo, the Sliema goalkeeper.

As it turned out, Neptunes huffed and puffed for most of the match against Sliema but that four-goal lead gained by the Blues in the second session made all the difference.

The Reds’ flying start through Jake Muscat and Sam Gialanze was neutralised in almost same timeframe by the Blues led by the prolific Cannella who netted a hat-trick before Muscat scored his second goal as Sliema edged Neptunes 4-3 by the end of the first session.

Sliema went on full throttle as they scored seven to their opponents’ three in the second quarter for a 11-6 lead.

At the beginning of the third session, Neptunes scored three goals in quick succession with Mark Castillo, Muscat and Steve Camilleri with a five-metre throw to cut the leeway to just two goals. But in no time, the inimitable Cannella restored Sliema’s comfortable lead with a quick-fire brace before Dino Zammit made it 14-9.

But the Camilleri brothers gave Aleksandar Ciric’s side courage when they scored on either side of the start of the final quarter.

The Reds were still clutching at the final straw and the final blow was delivered soon after when Dimitrii Kholod was dismissed with substitution for a foul on Cannella.

Andreas Galea and Benji Cachia added gloss to Sliema’s victory.

NEPTUNES: A. Borg Cole, D. Kholod 1, S. Gialanze 1, G. Pace, J. Camilleri 1, L. Mallia, S. Camilleri 2, M. Castillo 2, J. Muscat 4, J. Bajada, A. Fenech, E. Mallia, M. Rossi, D. Bugeja.

SLIEMA: N. Grixti, E. Schembri 1, L. Galea 1, J. Gambin, G. Cannella 7, B. Cachia 2, J. Cutajar, D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg, A. Galea 2, S. Engerer, D. Zammit 3, M. Castillo, J. Cassar.

Refs M. Angileri, L. Bianco.