Valletta McDonalds 10 San Giljan Crystal Finance 13
(1-3, 2-2, 4-2, 3-6)
San Giljan are once again sharing the top spot in the standings, with champions Neptunes, but they made a hard job of their victory over the Citizens, and were only sure of all the three points late in the encounter.
The Saints started well enough, scoring three times in a row, and were still three goals to the good in the next session, before Valletta reduced their deficitfor a 3-5 score. After the break Valletta twice were within a goal of their opponents, and two late strikes also brought them on level terms, at 7-7, with a last quarter to be played.
San Giljan went on a double advantage, with the Citizens pulling a goal back on two occasions. The Saints then struck twice more, but Gergely Kiss again scored for Valletta. Late in the match Dino Zammit made the issue safe for the Saints, to ease their minds, as they partially recovered from their defeat by Neptunes just days ago, but they still looked a bit shellshocked.
Valletta were without their skipper, Charlie Zammit, who was just a spectator for the match, and they roped in Ryan Coleiro in goal, who was a stand-n in their last two games, in lieu of Dean Camilleri. Man-ups were positive at either end, with Valletta netting four times from six occasions, and San Giljan converting six times from their ten man ups.
Aurelien Cousin netted a poker of goals, and Matthew Zammit scored a hat trick for the Saints. Valletta had Gergely Kiss also on three goals.
Valletta: R. Sciortino, O. Zammit, M. Rizzo 1, K. Galea , A. Agius 2, R. Mock 1,G. Kiss 3, N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina 1, D. Paolella1, D. Filipovic 1, D. Camilleri
San Giljan: J. Sammut, P. Borg 1, A. Galea , B. Vapenski 1, G. Molina 2, M. Zammit 3, K. Galea , Da. Zammit , B. Plumpton 1, A. Cousin 4,P. Fava , Di. Zammit 1, D. Spiteri
Referees: R. Spiteri, G. Fusco
Source: www.independent.com.mt