Sliema earned a morale-booster victory against arch-rivals Neptunes in the Enemed Cup, ahead of their quarter-final encounter with Slovenian side VK Ljubljana Slovan in the Men’s Challenger Cup next week.
A mouth-watering fixture between Sliema and Neptunes greeted the return of the Enemed Cup following the national team’s exploits in the World Cup Division Two in Turkey.
The bitter rivalry between these arch-rivals makes every game between these two powerhouses significant, regardless of the competition or their position on the table.
Sliema took just one session to shake off Neptunes’ challenge and managed to pull away after the break.
The lead alternated with Sliema 3-2 in front after the first session.
Sliema won a penalty to take an early lead with Neptunes equalising soon afterwards through Steve Camilleri’s five-throw metre.
Two goals from Dino Zammit, the first on set play and then on a man-up, sandwiching Neptunes’ momentarily 2-1 lead.
Andreas Galea scored with a salvo typical of this utility player to give the Blues a slim lead at the end of the first quarter.
That was soon extended by Liam Galea at the start of the second session.
Then, Matthew Castillo, formerly of Sliema, made a vital block on Sam Engerer from a five-metre throw, to keep Neptunes’ heads above water.
Sliema soon paid the penalty when Jake Bajada reduced the deficit to 4-3.
Goals from Elijah Schembri and Ben Cachia left the Sliema team enjoying a 6-3 advantage before the change of ends.
It seemed to be all over shortly after the start of the third session as Sliema extended their lead to 8-3.
Sam Gialanze scored to cut the leeway before Engerer restored Sliema’s five-goal lead.
Gialanze refused to throw in the towel to score a penalty.
Yet Schembri heaped further misery on the Reds to net the tenth goal with a diagonal shot. And every time Neptunes tried to mount a comeback, Sliema suffocated their reaction as the third quarter closed on 11-7 for Sliema.
An uphill task faced Aleksander Ciric’s side as the last quarter got underway. But Liam Galea completed his hat-trick to pile more misery on Neptunes.
Camilleri reduced the deficit again. But there was no respite from Cachia to grab another goal complete his hat-trick.
Earlier, Exiles easily overcame the challenge of Marsascala.
Victory was earned principally courtesy of seven-goal Mark Fenech who helped his side in their late surge which gathered momentum after the change of ends.
The club from Sliema pulled the strings from the opening session and conducted the score-line from the start.
Niki Lanzon’s side combined perfectly as a whole team from start to finish whereas the Southseasiders never looked 100% focused on the task ahead.
EXILES 13
MARSASKALA 6
(3-0, 2-2, 5-2, 3-2)
EXILES: A. Borg Cole, G. Gatt 2, Z. Micallef, M. Martellaci 1, M. Paris Roding, M. Fenech 7, K. Griscti, M. Naudi, K. Tanti 2, K. Navarro 1, L. Felice, G. Galea Curmi.
MARSASKALA: A. Muscat, D. Ciantar 1, T. Fenech 1, J. Pace Mizzi, J. Simpson, R. Greco 2, M. Agius, C. Harrison 1, K. Grech, G.Sammut, E. Bilgin, J. Colombo, L.Gatt, N. Spiteri 1.
Refs: N. Mercieca, J. Cauchi
SLIEMA 13
NEPTUNES 8
(3-2, 3-1, 5-4, 2-1)
SLIEMA: N.Grixti, E. Schembri 2, L. Galea 3, J. Gambin, J. Cassar, B. Cachia 3, D. Rizzo, J. Brownrigg, A. Galea 1, J. Chircop, D. Zammit 3, B. Busuttil, S. Engerer 1.
NEPTUNES : M. Castillo, M. Lanzon 1, S. Gialanze 2, J. Pawley, L. Mallia, J. Valletta 1, S. Camilleri 3, M. Castillo, S. Mifsud, J. Bajada 1, A. Fava, E. Mallia, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri.
Refs: F. Brasiliano, A. DeRaffaele
