Neptunes maintained their flawless record in the Maltese Summer League with an 18-14 victory over Sliema in Thursday’s top-of-the-table encounter.
The Reds recorded their eighth win from eight matches, ending Sliema’s four-game winning run and moving clear at the top of the standings.
Marko Zuvela led Neptunes with five goals, while Steve Camilleri scored four. Francesco Di Fulvio was Sliema’s leading scorer with four, followed by Dino Zammit with three.
Neptunes made the stronger start, with Jordan Camilleri opening the scoring before Sliema responded through Zammit and Jayden Cutajar. Steve Camilleri levelled the contest, while Zuvela converted the first penalty of the evening to restore Neptunes’ advantage.
Elijah Schembri made it 3-3 with a clever bouncing finish, but goals from Julian Camilleri and Steve Camilleri gave Neptunes their first two-goal lead. Zammit replied before the break, leaving Sliema one behind at 5-4.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Sliema repeatedly closing the gap but unable to draw level.
Steve Camilleri scored from the penalty line before Jake Cachia answered for the Blues. Jake Bajada, Ivan Nagaev and Zuvela all found the net for Neptunes, while Di Fulvio, Benji Cachia and Cutajar kept Sliema in contention.
Zuvela completed his hat-trick shortly before half-time, ensuring Neptunes entered the interval with a 10-8 advantage.
Neptunes created the first three-goal lead of the match early in the third quarter when Nagaev found Jordan Camilleri with an excellent pass, allowing the youngster to finish from close range.
Di Fulvio and Jake Cachia kept Sliema within touching distance, but Mattias Azzopardi, Steve Camilleri and Zuvela continued to respond for the league leaders.
Di Fulvio converted his third goal from the penalty spot before a late Sliema strike reduced Neptunes’ advantage to 14-12 ahead of the final quarter.
Sliema threatened another comeback when Di Fulvio scored his fourth to make it a one-goal game, but Neptunes remained composed.
Steve Camilleri quickly restored the two-goal cushion before Zuvela scored his fifth of the match. Zammit struck through a crowded defence to keep Sliema alive, but Nagaev converted another penalty and Sam Gialanze sealed the result from five metres.
The 18-14 victory leaves Neptunes as the only unbeaten team in the competition, with eight victories from their opening eight matches.
Quarter scores: 5-4, 5-4, 4-4, 4-2.
Sliema scorers: Francesco Di Fulvio 4, Dino Zammit 3, Jayden Cutajar 2, Jake Cachia 2, Benji Cachia 1, Elijah Schembri 1, Julian Chircop 1.
Neptunes scorers: Marko Zuvela 5, Steve Camilleri 4, Jordan Camilleri 2, Ivan Nagaev 2, Sam Gialanze 1, Julian Camilleri 1, Jake Bajada 1, Mattias Azzopardi 1, Jake Valletta 1.
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