Calascione goal rewards Stripes

Balzan Youths 0
Birkirkara 1

There is an old belief in football about small, compact stadia favouring the underdogs when they come up against stronger opponents. The decision to switch the Balzan-Birkirkara match to the Centenary Stadium, after it had been postponed on Sunday, will not have been welcomed by Birkirkara, the league leaders.

Balzan must have taken heart from a goalless first half which saw the Stripes dominating large swathes of possession but failing to find a breakthrough to ease their nerves.

Competitive spirit laced with persistence - often the trademarks of future champions - were rewarded as Matthew Calascione struck six minutes into the second half to give his team a slim 1-0 victory.

Birkirkara thoroughly deserved their success even if Balzan, true to their growing reputation, did their utmost to make life difficult for their more illustrious neighbours who have now moved six points clear of Sliema Wanderers at the top.

In spite of his imminent departure, Sunday Eboh was handed a starting berth yesterday to fill the void left by the absence of the suspended William Camenzuli.

Last month, Birkirkara officials said that they have agreed a contract with Nigerian midfielder Precious Monye to become their third foreign player instead of Eboh when the transfer window opens in January.

Flank defender Mark Anthony Bonnici and striker Michael Galea were ruled out of the match by injury while skipper Chucks Nwoko was among the substitutes.

Birkirkara went through an anxious moment just five minutes into the game. Anthony EviParker advanced down the left, evaded Haruna Doda's challenge before floating the ball towards the advancing Nikolai Filipov just inside the area. Balzan's Bulgarian midfielder chested down the pass but was intercepted by goalkeeper Justin Haber as he was about to shoot home.

It did not take Birkirkara long to muster their first shot at goal. Clint Micallef, back in the starting formation as Bonnici's replacement, fashioned a dipping shot which touched the crossbar.

Calascione, yesterday handed the captain's armband, then accelerated into space before firing a low drive that ended wide.

The start to the game was brisk, perhaps fuelled by the players' desire to warm up as quickly as possible in chilly conditions. On 18 minutes, a corner from Adrian Ciantar was met by Eboh but his header flew wide.

It was now the Birkirkara forwards who were doing most of the running. A curling free-kick by Ciantar dropped in the goalmouth where Calascione stretched his right foot in an attempt to stroke the ball past Ernest Barry only for his effort to roll wide.

Barry showed fine reflexes when rushing out to intercept a cross aimed at George Mallia who then headed wide a cross by Micallef, very active on the right in those initial stages.

Birkirkara's better exploitation of the flanks was helping their bid to make headway against Balzan's committed defence. Doda was next to fluff an inviting chance when nodding wide Lino Galea's service from the left.

The eerie silence on the stands - few fans dared to brave the cold weather - was interrupted when referee J.R. Attard awarded a throw-in to Balzan in spite of Calascione's bold claims that an opposing player had touched the ball last.

Ciantar spurned a golden chance to put his team ahead on the stroke of half-time when, after exchanging passes with Doda, he struck the ball past the near post with only Barry to beat.

Birkirkara coach Stephen Azzopardi also got embroiled in an exchange of words with the referee who ordered him off the bench. Play was delayed by a few seconds more as the visibly distraught Azzopardi walked across the pitch on his way to the stands.

Mallia's cross-shot became dangerous when taking a deflection but the ball dropped wide five minutes into the second half.

A minute later, Birkirkara hit the jackpot. Doda released Calascione who advanced a couple of metres before hammering a powerful shot that went in via the bar.

Their plucky resistance broken by that Calascione scorcher, Balzan now had little option but to try and intensify their attacks.

Marx, their main source of creativity in midfield, fashioned a free-kick which Haber saved easily.

Barry had a harder task when faced with a fierce Briffa grounder but he did well to block with his feet.

Azzopardi, now watching proceedings from a vantage position inside the VIP zone, instructed his colleagues on the bench to throw Nwoko into the fray instead of Briffa.

Nwoko may have wrapped up his team's success when Doda's cut-back found him unmarked inside the area but his header missed the target by a whisker.

At the other end, Haber fisted away a Marx volley while Barry kept Balzan in the game by keeping out Eboh's shot.

Playing today: (Centenary Stadium - Division One) 6 p.m. Marsa vs Naxxar; 8 p.m. Rabat vs St Patrick.

Balzan: E. Barry, A. Muscat (M. Valenzia), N. Gatt (K. Coleiro), S. Cappitta, S. Tellus, M. Caruana, N. Filipov, J. Marx, A. EviParker, S. Zahra (A. Gera), K. Curmi.

Birkirkara: J. Haber, L. Galea (R. Sammut), S. Eboh, M. Calascione, H. Doda (A. Tabone), C. Micallef, L. Dronca, K. Scicluna, R. Briffa (C. Nwoko), G. Mallia, A. Ciantar.

Referee: J.R. Attard.

Scorer: Calascione 51.

Yellow Cards: Micallef; Muscat; Calascione; Nwoko; Filipov; Valenzia; Dronca.

MIA Player of the Match: Jaroslav Marx (Balzan Youths).