Neptunes 15 Exiles 5

Partial scores (3-0) (7-2) (4-2) (1-1)

Round one of the Preliminary Round  finished with a  dismal display by Exiles when tonight they were thumped by a sharp Neptunes outfit.The momentum built by the Exiles team over their previous three clashes fizzled out as the Dorian Pisani’s team threw in the towel in the second session conceding seven goals to end 2-10 at the half-way mark.

The current champions made sure of blocking Exiles’ centre, Slobo Nikic out of the proceedings with heavy marking to limit his expected damage. In fact the Serbian had only four shots at goal throughout the match. a flick which went wide, a shot that was ruled irregular by the referee and two shots that were saved by Alan Borg Cole. Unable to serve their prolific centre, Exiles passed the ball around hoping to shoot at goal in the dying seconds of the 30-second possession but this bore no fruit. One might have expected a shift in the attacking plan by inserting Slobo just outside the opponents’ seven-metre area but the team stuck to its original detail throughout the match.

Of consolation to Dorian Pisani was the return of Benji Lanzon from an injury as well as the precious minutes of playing time given to the youngsters on the bench and who also managed also to find the net.

Another miserable record for Exiles was the missing of all the seven man-ups at their disposal. Neptunes converted three of their four extra man situation as well as a penalty.

The following players took the water for Exiles: Mattgew Castillo, Julian Rizzo Naudi, Michele Stellini, Timmy Sullivan, Sean Xerri de Caro (2 goals), Slobodan Nikic, Kurt Griscti (1 goal), Nicky Paris (1 goal), Andrea Bianchi, Benji Lanzon, Luca Felice (1 goal) and second goalkeeper Steve Galea Pace who entered in the third session.

Exiles’ next match is against Sliema on Saturday 1st July at 19.30 hours

KaFa

photo by Adrian Farrugia shows Exiles goalkeeper Matthew Castillo attempting a save off Neptunes’ Stevie Camilleri

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