Balzan and St George's stay in the hunt

Mosta 0
Balzan Youths 3

Balzan Youths maintained their quest to secure a second promotion on the trot when they beat Mosta 3-0 yesterday.

The Blues had to do without Mark Briggs but Ivan Zammit's side were worth their win mainly because they looked the more focused team.

At first, Balzan found it hard to create openings. But a double substitution midway through the first half did wonders as Simon Shead and Zammit came on and their contribution made the difference. Veteran striker Shead went on to score a hat-trick.

Balzan and St George's are now joint second in the standings, a point ahead of Vittoriosa who play leaders Marsaxlokk next Saturday.

Mosta started off to an early flurry and a Julian Vella header, following a Mark Brincat free-kick, was turned to a corner by the well-placed Frederick Tabone.

Balzan responded with a Peter Anizoba run down the right finished off with a rasping drive that was ably stopped by Jonathan Debono.

Vella had a header saved following a Lee Grima free-kick and, at the other end, a fine Anizoba delivery found Aaron Agius whose effort was kept out by the Mosta keeper.

On 39 minutes it was Anizoba again whose deft footwork put Mosta in all sorts of trouble but his centre found no takers.

This was Balzan's best moment and a minute before the break they forged ahead. Following a melee inside the Mosta box, Shead was quicker than Debono before sending a perfect ball to Anizoba at the far post to head home.

Mosta tried to stage a fightback but Balzan made it 2-0 on 57 minutes when Shead buried the ball home from inside the box.

The Blues ran out of breath and Shead made sure of Balzan's victory when tapping in a measured pass by Matthew Sciortino.

Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, B. Galea, L. Stivala, M. Brincat, J. Vella, L. Grima (A. Cini), L. Micallef, T. Vella, C. Pace (J. Bajada).

Balzan: F. Tabone, S. Aquilina, R. Farrugia, J. Francica, B. Bondin, G. Tanti (I. Zammit), M. Sciortino, C. Caruana (D. Agius), D. Fenech (S. Shead), A. Agius, P. Anizoba.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Man of the match: Peter Anizoba (Balzan Youths).

Melita 0
St George's 3

St George's strengthened their promotion aspirations after doing the double over Melita.

The Saints were back to winning ways following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Mosta in their previous match as mid-table Melita are still not safe from relegation.

Nicolo Baldacchino hit a post for Melita early on following a long Jonathan Mifsud throw-in but St George's were soon in control and Anthony Ewurun should have done better in front of goal after an inviting pass from Benior Fenech.

Fenech had a free header on six minutes but failed to score from a Silvio Sciberras cross as Joey Falzon's Saints continued to press forward.

Their efforts were rewarded on 24 minutes when, after a series of near misses, Josef Dalli's volley gave Karl Zahra no chance in the Melita goal.

Melita could have equalised on 31 minutes when Baldacchino ran past keeper Thomas Galea but his attempt at goal was cleared off the line by defender Emmanuel Sevasta.

The Saints were seeing more of the ball and before half-time Glenn Bonello made it 2-0 with a crisp shot from outside the Melita box following a measured Dalli ball.

The pattern did not change much as the second half got underway. Zahra did well to keep out an Emerson Amaira header and from a quick break Sevasta was again on the right spot to keep out Baldacchino's header following a Mark Attard cross.

Melita pushed more men forward in the late stages as St George's opted for quick counter-breaks that could have yielded more goals had Nicholas Ciappara and Ewurun not missed their chances from ideal scoring positions.

Then, deep into stoppage time, St George's were awarded a penalty for a foul on Sciberras by Zahra who was sent off. Melita had already made three changes so Nicholas Zammit deputised in goal but could not prevent Ewurun from making it 3-0 from the spot.

Melita: K. Zahra, N. Zammit, D. Gravino, M. Cachia, T. Terpougoff (M. Attard), J. Galea, K. Micallef, N. Baldacchino, J. Mifsud (M. Fenech), S. Micallef, S. Galea (L. Micallef).

St George's: T. Galea, E. Sevasta, C. Grech, E. Amaira (M. Xerri), B. Fenech, G. Bonello (C. Ciappara), J. Dalli, G. Mallia, S. Sciberras, A. Ewurun, N. Caruana.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Man of the match: Silvio Sciberras (St George's).