Neptunes captain Steve Camilleri celebrated his 39th birthday in the best possible fashion, coming to his side’s rescue with five goals in the final session as the Reds emerged 17-15 winners over Sliema in the derby.
It was an extraordinary match, played at a relentless pace from start to finish.
Neptunes looked to be in complete control before Sliema produced an extraordinary recovery in the third session, overturning a 9-6 deficit to lead 12-11.
However, Camilleri came to the fore in the final quarter, restoring order and taking the game beyond Sliema with a captain’s performance.
Neptunes made the brighter start.
Marco Zuvela converted the first man-up opportunity to open the scoring before doubling the advantage after the Reds failed to capitalise on their second extra-man situation.
Zuvela then excelled at both ends of the pool, stealing possession before releasing Steve Camilleri, who squared the ball for Mark Castillo to make it 3-0.
Sliema struggled to find any rhythm early on as Neptunes completely neutralised their attacking threats, particularly in the centre.
It was only on their first man-up, two minutes from the end of the opening session, that Elijah Schembri reduced the deficit.
Yet Zuvela completed his hat-trick before the end of the quarter to restore Neptunes’ three-goal cushion.
Jayden Cutajar rattled the frame of the goal for Sliema, while Matthew Castillo produced an excellent block on Schembri, with the Blues also wasting another man-up opportunity.
A double man-up allowed Benji Cachia to make it 4-2 before Mark Castillo maintained Neptunes’ efficiency by converting another extra-man opportunity.
Sliema began to settle, with Schembri scoring his second goal to reduce the gap to 5-3, but their struggles on man-up situations continued as they missed three of their first four chances.
Neptunes, by contrast, remained clinical, with Zuvela converting their third of four man-up opportunities before Jake Cachia kept Sliema in touch at 6-4.
Aleksander Ciric called a timeout before Neptunes’ fifth man-up, and the move paid off as Julian Valletta converted.
Referee Juame Teixido later excluded both Jordan Camilleri and Jamie Gambin with substitution, while Jayden Cutajar finally converted a man-up for Sliema, only their second success from five attempts.
Daniel Rizzo then added another for Sliema, but Steve Camilleri restored the three-goal advantage from the penalty spot as the Reds went into the second half leading 9-6.
Sliema’s revival began immediately after the restart. Benji Busuttil produced a remarkable save from Steve Camilleri’s penalty to keep his side alive before Barroso reduced the deficit further.
Ivan Nagaev restored Neptunes’ three-goal lead after following up his own penalty rebound off the crossbar, but the momentum had shifted.
Jake Cachia and Cutajar both found the net to bring Sliema within one goal, prompting coach Pascual Ferran to call a timeout on a man-up opportunity.
Although Matthew Castillo denied Sam Engerer with a reflex save, Sliema retained possession, and Jake Cachia bounced his effort beyond the Neptunes goalkeeper to level the contest.
Nagaev combined brilliantly with Zuvela, who finished expertly to edge Neptunes back ahead at 11-10.
At the opposite end, Sam Gialanze produced a vital defensive intervention by dispossessing Dino Zammit as he prepared to shoot, but Rizzo’s effort skipped off the water and crept under Matthew Castillo’s arm.
Then, with just 14 seconds remaining in the third session, Barroso gave Sliema their first lead of the match at 12-11, completing a stunning comeback.
The final quarter, however, belonged entirely to Steve Camilleri.
The veteran captain woke up to his responsibility immediately, restoring parity before converting a penalty after Barroso fouled Zuvela.
Barroso completed his hat-trick to keep Sliema level, but Camilleri had moved into another gear, repeatedly finding the net whenever his side needed him most.
Busuttil continued to frustrate Neptunes with another outstanding save from Zuvela, but the Croatian international eventually extended the Reds’ advantage before Camilleri calmly converted yet another penalty.
Barroso reduced the deficit to 16-14, while Schembri struck again on a man-up to keep Sliema’s hopes alive.
But fittingly, it was Camilleri who had the final say.
The Neptunes captain scored once more to seal a 17-15 victory, capping a memorable birthday performance that ensured the Reds claimed the first derby honours of the Premier Division season
MARSAXLOKK 30
BARRACUDAS 15
(7-3, 4-6, 10-4, 9-2)
MARSAXLOKK: M. Farrugia, Z. Cutajar Licari, N. Bogdanovic 18, N. Spiteri 1, A. Buhagiar 2, K. Dowling, S. Mifsud 3, J. Pawley 1, B. Lewis, J. Borg Tabone 5, J. Cauchi, E. Mallia, A. Micallef, B. Schranz, M. Fenech.
BARRACUDAS: S. Camilleri Bowman, M. Doczi 8, A. Magri 1, J. Abela Meli, W. Ruggier, R. Sciortino, J. Schembri Young 2, L. Bowman 1, L. Schiavone 1, G. Massa, L. Purshouse 2, H. Brincat, J. Bonello, H. Brincat, J. Bonello, M. Agius, C. Harrison.
Refs: A. Doro, D. Tully.
BIRŻEBBUĠA 26
TA’ XBIEX 16
(6-2, 8-4, 5-4, 7-6)
BIRŻEBBUĠA: M. Sladden, N. Bugelli, M. Cassar 3, J. Abdilla, J. Ciantar 5, M. Manara, M. Radulovic 7, A. Aquilina 2, D. Farrugia, M. Cutajar, M. Aquilina 6, M. Curmi 1, S. Livori, L. Axisa 2, R. Bugelli 1.
TA’ XBIEX: T. Schembri, J. Farrugia, V. Figliomeni 4, R. Spiteri, S. Van Wyk 1, G. Bonavia 1, R. Greco, R. Pelicari 8, J. Zammit, J. Culic, Z. Bartolo 1, Z. Campbell, Z. Attard, N. Cstillo, J. Dimech.
Refs: A. Doro, S. Licari.
NEPTUNES 17
SLIEMA 15
(4-1, 5-5, 2-6, 6-3)
NEPTUNES: Matthew Castillo, M. Lanzon, S. Gialanze 1, L. Mallia, J. Camilleri, J. Valletta 1, S. Camilleri 6, I. Nagaev 1, Mark Castillo 2, J. Bajada, M. Azzopardi, M. Zuvela 6, M. Rossi, A. Fava, H. Schramm.
SLIEMA: B. Busuttil, A. Barroso 4, J. Briffa, J. Gambin, J. Cassar, B. Cachia 1, J. Cutajar 2, D. Rizzo 2, E. Schembri 3, J. Cachia 3, J. Chircop , D. Zammit, M. Bonello Dupius S. Engerer, S. Busuttil
Refs: J. Teixido, R. Viltory.
