San Giljan 19 Exiles Elia Caterers 14

Partial scores (5-1) (5-1) (4-4) (5-8)

Exiles suffered yet another defeat against a San Giljan when last Saturday evening both teams met in the second round of the Waterpolo Premier League

Exiles had a poor start and San Giljan drilled ten goals against two of an erratic Exiles side in the first two quarters of the match to wrap up the contest. Igor Vukanovic was deprived of regular goalkeeper Matthew Castillo who was forced out of the match due to an injury and was substituted  by young Max Martin. His decision to play a zone defence did not pay dividends and possibly a riskier press might have avoided  some of the goals scored by San Giljan in the first half of the match. Wasted passes on Exiles’ part gave the opportunity to their opponents to maintain possession and break on the counter.

The second part of the match was used by the San Giljan Coach Marko Orlovic to experiment with the ‘second-liners’. During the third and fourth quarters Exiles fought back to reduce the eight-goal margin (10-2) midway to five goals by the final horn with an eight-goal spree in the last eight minutes for a reasonable final score-line.

Man-Up Exiles 3 on 7 occasions as well as converted 2 penalties awarded. San Giljan converted 4 of the 5 man-ups and three penalties.

Igor Vukanovic  made use of the following players Max Martin, Michele Stellini (2 goals), Marco Jelaka (2 goals), Timmy Sullivan (3 goals), Sean Xerri de Caro, Mark Fenech (1 goal), Kurt Griscti, Milos Vukicevic (6 goals), Aurelien Cousin, Nicky Paris and Philip Paris.

Next match sees Exiles play Sliema and is scheduled for next Tuesday 30th July at 18.15.

KaFa

photo by Adrian Farrugia shows Milos Vukicevic blue cap aiming at the San Giljan fort

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