Second-half snap goals floor Msida

Balzan Youths 2
Msida St Joseph 1

With both teams' sights set at minimizing the teething troubles which could be a cause of worry in the impending relegation battles ahead, there was some expectancy of positive tidings to yesterday's Balzan-Msida encounter.

Both these newcomers to top flight football had their fortunes fluctuating in obverse modes. Msida's healthier take-off and subsequent slide into anonymity contrasted with the upsurge of Balzan - except for their latest heavy defeat against Marsaxlokk - in the second round of the competition.

Yesterday, Jimmy Briffa's spirited troupes regained their positive touch when outpointing Msida in a match which produced appreciable fare after ends were changed.

If anything, it was the quality of goals which lifted the proceedings with the resultant impetus infusing more life in the game.

The definite turning point came midway through the second half when Balzan reversed the scoreline with two goals, the last netted by man-of-the-match Anthony Evi Parker whose incisive runs were a constant cause of embarrassment for the opposing defenders.

Msida, who had turned on the steam late in the first half when going ahead, fought hard to redress the imbalance. But, in the end, they had to concede defeat and with that the gap between them and Balzan grew to eight points.

Evi Parker almost netted a goal inside the opening minute when he nipped through to prod the ball past Borg but only inches the wrong side of the far post and just beyond the comfortable reach of fellow striker Stefan Zahra.

The probings from both sides lacked the subtleties to release the respective front-runners cleanly.

Zahra and Evi Parker, at one end, and Daniel Nwoke, supported by Jeremy Agius (replacing the suspended Aganun) at the other, were closely guarded.

Having had their fate sealed with regard to which pool they would end up in after the first phase, the teams had as their top priority a better points' tally for a good cushion before the fiery encounters in the drop zone get underway.

There were only two efforts at goal inside the first half-hour, both goalkeepers being called into action to deny Agius and Zahra respectively.

Given the circumstances though, the 'moratorium' flavour prevailed in the first half. Lack of action deep inside enemy territory, except for a header by Nwoke very late in the opening half - this was instinctively blocked by Ernest Barry - reflected a depression in standards.

However, Nwoke's goal in added time of the opening period sprinkled some life into the proceedings, not so much for supplying some hard currency as for the quality in its execution. The Nigerian, receiving the ball just inside the area, acted swiftly before propelling the leather beyond the reach of a stunned Barry. Certainly, a fine goal which drew deserved applause.

Balzan's long-striding target man Evi Parker was again in action shortly after the restart. This time he rifled over the target from a slightly angled position on the left.

Msida went mighty close to levelling matters minutes later. A cross from Joseph Farrugia was directed towards Nwoke, whose flick smacked against the woodwork. Ohaegbu's overhead touch, off the loose ball, seared over the top.

Play swung to and fro with an evident upping of tempo and quality. A goal could be 'invented' at any moment.

Within the space of two minutes, almost halfway in the second half, we had two 'doses' of this ingredient both of remarkable quality.

First, it was Zahra who hit beautifully on the turn after killing a floating ball from the right on his chest. That was followed by an exquisite goal from Evi Parker, this time a flashing header on Marx's cross. Suddenly, the match swung in Balzan's favour.

Msida's fate looked far from sealed. They could have scored an equaliser but the otherwise intelligent Joseph Farrugia muffed an inviting opportunity when skying from a good position.

The last desperate assaults on the Balzan fort caused some anxiety to Barry but the Youths, who also wasted a couple of openings, held out till the end.

Balzan: E. Barry, A. Muscat, S. Grima, S. Cappitta, S. Tellus, M. Caruana, N. Filipov (M. Valenzia), J. Marx, A. Evi Parker, S. Zahra (N. Gatt), N. Arpa (G. Scerri).

Msida: O. Borg, J. Galea, G. Ohaegbu, F. Cauchi (D. Gatt), T. Farrugia, V. Bellia, C. Sciberras (A. Farrugia), J. Farrugia, J. Agius, D. Cachia (K. Vella Petroni), D. Nwoke.

Referee: Mark Spiteri.

Scorers: Nwoke 45; Zahra 68; Evi Parker 70.

Yellow Card: Tellus.

MIA Player of the Match: Anthony Evi Parker (Balzan Youths).