San Giljan Crystal Finance 9 Neptunes Grimaldi 11
(3-3, 2-3, 3-3, 1-2)
The champions bettered their second placing in the standings, as they had the better of San Giljan, in a tough encounter, and now there are two leaders in the league table. Neptunes also avenged the single goal defeat they suffered against the Saints, at the start of the league campaign.
San Giljan were only in front once, in the opening session, and the rest of the time had them chasing their adversaries, although they were on tied scores on numerous occasions. The champions made the breakthrough in the last session, when they opened a two goal advantage for the second time in the match, and although San Giljan pulled a goal back, they couldn’t go alongside one more time, and quick reflexes from Jordan Camilleri, in the last stages of the game, when he flicked the ball into the Saints’ goal, after Michele Stellini had hit a post for Neptunes, killed off the match in favour of the champions.
It was anybody’s match for most of the time, as both sides enjoyed leads in the opening session, which had the Neptunes coach, Zoran Mustur, shown the red card, presumably for protests. Neptunes were into their first double advantage in the second session, but Matthew Zammit pulled a goal back, and the Saints were 5-6 behind at the interval.
San Giljan tied the score on three occasions after the break, but a NIki Lanzon goal had the champions on a 9-8 lead, going into the last session. Steve Camilleri gave Neptuines a double advantage once more, but Gullermo Molina gave the saints fresh hopes, which were dashed by Jordan Camilleri’s strike, The final seconds had Alan Borg Cole, in Neptunes’ goal, repelling the last, frantic San Giljan shots.
Neptunes had a good outing in their man ups, scoring six times from nine occasions. Not so the Saints, who converted three from eight man ups.
Steve Camilleri shot in four goals for the champions. San Giljan’s two foreigners scored seven goals between them, with Molina bagging four and Boris Vapenski scoring three.
San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg , A. Galea , B. Vapenski 3, G. Molina 4,M. Zammit1 , K. Galea , J. Busuttil , B. Plumpton , A. Cousin , P. Fava , Di. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri
Neptunes: A. Borg Cole, N. Lanzon 2, M. Castillo , M. Stellini 1, T. Agius , I. Krapic 2, S. Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri 1, J. Abela , P. Biros 1, B. Lanzon , S. Xerri de Caro , C. Mercieca
Referees: P. Balzan, M. Calabro’
Source: www.independent.com.mt