SIRENS 13
SLIEMA 16
(4-6, 4-4, 1-2, 4-4)
Sliema claimed the ENEMED Cup after a high-scoring final in which the Blues led throughout, even though Sirens stayed firmly in contention until late in the match.
Sliema pulled three goals clear with just three minutes remaining to take the trophy.
It was a fully deserved victory which, following last week’s qualification for the Challenger Cup, provided a fitting end to the year and helped erase the frustrations of last summer’s trophyless campaign.
A penalty in the first 40 seconds by Dino Zammit was saved by his former team-mate Nicky Grixti, now guarding Sirens’ goal.
However, shortly after, Elijah Schembri lobbed the ball over Grixti to give Sliema the lead.
Sam Engerer, fresh from his Malta national team call-up, doubled the advantage to 2-0. Mathias Ortoleva pulled one back for Sirens, but the latter suffered a major setback when Matthew Mifsud was shown a straight red card. On the resulting man-up, Benji Cachia made it 3-1.
Engerer continued to impress and added another goal for the Blues.
The experienced Gabriel Pace then inspired his team during a difficult phase and reduced the gap to two goals.
Schembri extended his scoring streak with another goal for 5-2, followed by Jayden Cassar who made it 6-2.
Ortoleva struck again as Sirens enjoyed their best spell when Jerome Zerafa Gregory closed the gap further, with Sliema ending the first session 6-4 ahead.
Zach Mizzi brought Sirens within touching distance of Sliema early in the second session, and Matthew Sciberras then drew them level for the first time, wiping out Sliema’s four-goal cushion.
But Sliema hit back quickly, with former Sirens player Jake Cachia nudging the Blues ahead once more before Benji Cachia restored their two-goal advantage.
A brilliant backhand from Ortoleva lifted Sirens’ spirits, but Jake Cachia was on hand again to restore Sliema’s two-goal lead.
Liam Galea pushed the score to 10-7, though Zerafa Gregory kept Sirens’ heads above water as the teams switched ends at 10-8.
Isaiah Riolo suffered the same fate as Mifsud early in the third session, being excluded with a substitution.
Sirens were further frustrated when referee Alex De Raffaele awarded a penalty for Ortoleva’s foul – a decision that visibly irked the Northerners – before Liam Galea calmly converted from the five-metre mark.
Still, Sirens refused to roll over, with Sciberras striking his second of the match.
But Jake Cachia answered swiftly at the other end, completing his hat-trick.
Ortoleva, with his fourth goal of the match, responded to Cassar’s strike.
But Andreas Galea, formerly of Sliema, found the angle on Dzanovic’s right to cut the deficit to 13-11.
However, Schembri and Liam Galea restored Sliema’s grip on the match with two crucial goals three minutes from time.
Matthew Sciberras and Zach Mizzi then pushed the score to 15-13, before Liam Galea sealed the final 16-13 scoreline from a five-metre throw.
At the end of the match, ASA president Karl Izzo presented the trophy to Sliema skipper Dino Zammit.
SIRENS: N. Grixti, P. Serracino, A. Galea 1, G. Pace 1, J. Zerafa Gregory 2, K. Agius, M. Ortoleva 4, I. Riolo, M. Mifsud, M. Sciberras 3, Z. Mizzi 2, A. Dimech, I. Schembri, N. Rafalovic.
SLIEMA: B. Busuttil, S. Busuttil, L. Galea 4, J. Gambin, J. Cassar 2, B. Cachia 2, G. Gatt, D. Rizzo, E. Schembri 3, J. Chircop, J. Cachia 3, D. Zammit, Z. Dzanovic, S. Engerer 2.
Refs: Rob Bijeman (Netherlands), A. Deraffaele.
